Pesca exploratoria con trampas alrededor de las islas Robinson Crusoe y Santa Clara, archipiélago de Juan Fernández, Chile

Abstract

Looking for alternative resources to the Juan Fernandez spiny rock lobster ( Jasus frontalis), the traditional target species of the artisanal fishermen of the archipelago, an exploratory fishing campaign with fishing pots was conducted around Robinson Crusoe and Santa Clara islands. Between November 11, 1996, and March 23, 1997, a total of 71 fishing journeys were conducted, during which 241 pots were set between 50 and 1000 m depth. In these experiences different pot designs were used: conical-trunk, tetragonal, piramidal, and lobster pots with a wicket on one extreme and lobster pot with an upper wicket. The last two, are the ones often used by the archipelago fishermen to catch lobsters. The conical-trunk, tetragonal and piramidal pots were with circular or rectangular wickets. The resources caught were: Juan Fernandez spiny rock lobster ( Jasus frontalis), Juan Fernandez king crab (Paromola rathbuni), rowing crab (Ovalipes trimaculatus) and golden crab (Chaceon chilensis). The spiny rock lobster was captured between 50 and 100 m depth, while the rowing crab was found only in the 100 m isobath; Juan Fernandez king crab between 100 and 300 m and the golden crab between 200 and 1000 m. The only resource with fishing interest is C. chilensis, both by its abundance as well as for its wide distribution in depth and around these islands.