Cancer Johngarthi in the southwest region off the Baja California Peninsula Mexico: A potential new fishery

Abstract

Starting in 2002, the Mexican government promoted a fishing survey Project to obtain basic knowledge on the stock abundance, distribution, and population dynamics of Cancer johngarthi, a brachyuran crab (100–400 m in depth) recently reported as a potencial fisheries resource in the southwest region off Baja California. The research was based on the operation capacity of one boat, equipped with 800 conical traps. This test commercial effort targeted quelipeds for sale to foreign markets. The survey follows a stock-depletion experimental approach at several geographically defined locations. The results showed that C. johngarthi concentrated in areas around 150 m deep, between 24° and 26°N, with a high predominante of males that have an average carapace width of 180 mm. There is almost no bycatch, and the initial records suggest that the reproductive season could be well defined, characterized by the presence of mature females and the presence of soft carapaces. Surveys continue, but preliminary results suggest that this fishery is a good opportunity for development in Mexico.