Book of Abstracts
Transcription
Book of Abstracts
31 October 2011 – 4 November 2011 Book of Abstracts 64th Annual Meeting of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Puerto Morelos, Mexico Hosted by 64TH ANNUAL GULF AND CARIBBEAN FISHERIES INSTITUTE PUERTO MORELOS, QUINTANA ROO, MEXICO 31 October 2011 – 4 November 2011 PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES Monday 31 October PLENARY SESSION: 8:30- 10:00 Opening Address: Virdin Brown, Chairman, Board of Directors, GCFI Program Chair: Alejandro Acosta, GCFI, Dalila Aldana Aranda (CINVESTAT) and Oscar Álvarez Gil (CONANP) HONORARY GUESTS Gobernador de Quintana Roo Comisionado Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas Secretario de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales Procurador Federal de Protección al Ambiente Legisladores estatales y federales de la Comisiones de Medio Ambiente y Pesca Subsecretario de la SAGARPA Presidente del Instituto Nacional de la Pesca Subsecretario de Gestión de SECTUR Director de FONATUR Presidentes de Cámaras Nacionales de la Industria Hotelera y restaurantera Presidentes de las Cámaras de la Construcción y la Industria Inmobiliaria Keynote Speaker: Dr. Yvonne Sadovy "Conspicuous consumption and the hidden costs of luxury seafood" Coffee Break: 10:00- 10:30 * Student i Concurrent Sessions: GCFI SPECIAL WORKSHOP: “NOAA/CaMPAM Peer-to-Peer Summit on Sustainable Finance Strategies for Marine Protected Areas in the Caribbean” by invitation Contact person: Emma Doyle INTEGRATING MANAGEMENT OF WETLANDS, MANGROVES AND CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS FOR CONSERVATION SPECIAL SESSION – Part I - Mangroves Moderator: Maestra Julia Caribas 10:30 Presentation of the National strategy for the Protection of the Mangroves 10:55 Dr. Antonio Díaz de León Corral Dr. José Sarukhán Kermez 11:20 Dr. Roberto Iglesias Prieto Mangroves as ecosystems associated to the reef 11:45 Cecilia Elizondo Preliminary results of the characterization and diagnosis of Puerto Morelos mangroves and wetlands Environmental services of the mangroves Lunch: 12:30-14:00 INTEGRATING MANAGEMENT OF WETLANDS, MANGROVES AND CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS FOR CONSERVATION – SPECIAL SESSION – Part II - Connectivity and Habitat Associations Moderator: Alejandro Acosta 14:00 Chollett, Iliana Physical environments of the Caribbean Sea 14:15 Carrillo, Laura Hydrography, circulation and fish larvae in the Mesoamerican Reef System 14:30 Franks, James 14:45 Rodriguez Gil, Luis Colon, Roberto Unprecedented Influx Of Pelagic Sargassum Along Caribbean Island Coastlines During Summer 2011: Perspectives On Origin, Transport Pathways and Impacts on Fisheries El Uso de Imágenes Satelitales para la Determinación de Clorofila y su Relación con la Marea Roja en las Costas del Estado de Yucatán, México. Coral and algae cover with respect to abundances of the sea urchin Diadema antillarum in Puerto Rico. 15:00 * Student ii INTEGRATING MANAGEMENT OF WETLANDS, MANGROVES AND CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS FOR CONSERVATION SPECIAL SESSION – Part III - Ecosystem Health 15:15 McField, Melanie 15:30 Van Lavieren, Hanneke Glazer, Robert 15:45 Current Condition for the Mesoamerican Reef and the Local, National, and Regional Management Efforts to Improve It Strengthening Coastal Pollution Management in the Wider Caribbean Region. Developing strategies for marine climate change adaptation planning: the case for alternative future scenarios Coffee Break: 16:00- 16:30 FISHER’S FORUM: 16:30 -18:30 Moderator: Mitchell Lay 16:30 16:40 16:50 Past GMA winner, CNFO leading fisher Jaime Medina, GMA winner, Mexico Don DeMaria, GMA winner, USA Welcome and introduction Fisheries Governance in Mexico and Central America Fisheries Governance in USA (Gulf of Mexico, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands) Fisheries Governance in Belize Fisheries Governance in the Eastern Caribbean 17:00 17:10 Armando Ramirez, Leading fisher, Belize Sibly Charles, Leading Fisher, Policy maker, Antigua and Barbuda 17:20 18:00 18:10 Open Discussion on presentation, fisher participation, actions and partnerships Presentation of the Gladding Memorial Award to GMA winner(s) for 2011 Close Fishers Forum and Gladding Memorial Award Informal Reception & Welcome Address (19:30) Robert Glazer, Executive Director, GCFI Student Social: Students and GCFI Board of Directors (20:00) Tuesday 1 November 7:30-8:30 MEETING OF THE GCFI MEMBERSHIP (Everyone is welcome – Learn about GCFI) Concurrent activity: Fisher forum field trip (1300-1700) Contact person: Jaime Medina and Mitchell Lay * Student iii INVASIVE SPECIES: Lionfish General 8:30 Opening Remarks Lic. Aurelio Omar Joaquin Gonzalez, Mayor Municipio de Cozumel 8:45 Morris, James Strategies And Practices For Invasive Lionfish Control: A Guide For Managers 9:00 9:15 Aguilar-Perera, Alfonso Lee, Simone 9:30 Valdez, Martha Lionfish Invasion off the Northern Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, Southern Gulf Of Mexico: What Do We Know? Habitat Preference in the Invasive Lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) in Discovery Bay, Jamaica: Use of GIS in Management Strategies The new way to determine the gut content of the exotic fish Pterois volitans in the Mexican Caribbean. 9:45 Moonsammy, Stephan Assessment of the Economic Impacts of the Lion Fish (Pterois volitans) Invasion in Jamaica Coffee Break: 10:00- 10:30 10:30 Henderson, Evan* Effects of the Indo-Pacific lionfish invasion on the Bahamian lobster fishery 10:45 Ali, Fadilah* 11:00 Smith, Nicola The feeding ecology of the invasive lionfish Pterois volitans in Bonaire, Netherland Antilles; A comparative study Bahamas Lionfish Control Pilot Project: goals, challenges, opportunities and preliminary results 11:15 de Leon, Ramon Overfishing works 11:30 Stephanie Green Predicting The Vulnerability Of Atlantic Fishes To Invasive Indo-Pacific Lionfish Predation 11:45 Patin, Marion 12:00 Hinestroza, Gloria 12:15 Lad Akins Implication of the professional fishermen in the control of the invasive species Pterois volitans (lionfish) in the French West Indies Control actions on Lionfish (Pterois volitans) populations and community training on the islands of Old Providence and Santa Catalina, Colombian Caribbean Lionfish Derbies: An Effective Tool For Local Control? Lunch: 12:30-14:00 SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES and MANAGEMENT Moderator: Jim Franks 14:00 14:15 Singh-Renton, Susan Kojis, Barbara 14:30 Sandy, Keisha 14:45 Cox, Andrew* 15:00 Rueda, Mario 15:15 Savolainen, Michelle A.* Pomare J., Clinton Shivlani, Manoj 15:30 15:45 * Student Using available data and stakeholder knowledge to resolve a management dilemma for a data-poor seine fishery in St.Vincent and the Grenadines Consequences of management measures implemented in the 1st decade of the 21st century on the demographic structure of a small scale artisanal fishery in the US Virgin Islands Network analysis of two stakeholder organizations involved in the governance of the fishing industry of Trinidad and Tobago. Socioeconomics of Billfish Sportfishing in Isla Mujeres, Mexico - An Evaluation of the relationship between Willingness to Pay and Catch Per Unit Effort Status of the pink shrimp population (Farfantepenaeus notialis) and impact of the trawl fishery in the Colombian Caribbean sea The Recreational For-Hire Sector in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico: Structural and Economic Observations from the Third Decadal Survey Socio-economic aspects of artisanal fishermen from the island of San Andres-department archipelago of San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina - Colombian Caribbean Comparison of scientific review processes used in the determination of best scientific information available for fisheries management iv Coffee Break: 16:00- 16:30 Moderator: Norman Quinn 16:30 16:45 Haughton, Milton Norris, Norman 17:00 Canty, Steven 17:15 Quinn, Norman 17:30 Huchim, Oswaldo The Precautionary Principle in Fisheries Management in CARICOM States Bio-degradable Escape Panel Research on Fish Pots in Dominica: A Fisheries Resources Management Tool The influence of weather patterns on fishing activity within a small scale fishery, Utila Cays, Honduras Occupational hazards of artisanal fishers in the US Virgin Islands Fishermen social and cultural behavior associated to decompression sickness in lobster fisheries from the eastern coast of Yucatan POSTER SESSION 19:30-21:00 with Cocktails and Snacks Hosted by GCFI Poster Session Coordinator: 1. Ali, F.* Lionfish in Bonaire... Lessons learnt for Trinidad and Tobago 2. Acero, A. 3. Andrade de Pasquier, G. Andrade de Pasquier, G. Arceo-Carranza, D. Artero, C. Proliferation of Pterois volitans in Colombian Caribbean waters and research strategy for its knowledge and management State of knowledge on the fisheries of sharks and rays in the system of Maracaibo, Venezuela 4. 5. 6. 7. Management of the peacocks fishery, Cichla orinocensis and C. temensis (Perciformes, Cichlidae), introduced species in the basin of Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela Trophic ecology of marine fish juveniles in a coastal wetland of the southeastern Gulf of Mexico Ecology and Biology of French Guiana goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) Current situation of knowledge of the octopods in Chile 8. Baqueiro Cardenas, E.R. Behringer, D. 9. Beltran, J.P. Economic indicators of marine artisanal fisheries in Colombia 10. Bissada Gooding, C.* 11. Blancas García, J. R. 12. Bouchon-Navaro, Y. 13. Brito-Manzano, N. 14. Caamal, C.* 15. Caballero Vazquez, J. A. 16. Cabrera, Miguel A. 17. Candelmo, A. * Student Vessel Use Patterns and Coral Reef Damage Near Highly Urbanized Southeast Florida USA Reproductive characteristics of queen conch, Strombus gigas, in Barbados. Analysis of the red octopus Octopus maya) fishery off the coast of Ssisal, Yucatan Long term monitoring of reef fish communities in Saint-Barthelemy Island (Lesser Antilles) Preliminary results of the heavy metals content in the oyster Crassostrea virginica from Machona lagoon, in Tabasco, México. Effect of food type on reproductive capacity of wild octopus Octopus maya females under controlled conditions Individual variability and diversity in a complex food web. Population dynamics and exploitation of the state of octopus (Octopus maya) off the coast of Yucatan, Mexico Current trends of the invasive lionfish and finfish populations of South Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands v 18. Candia-Zulbarán, R. I. 19. Carrillo, L. Variability in prevalence of the PaV1 disease in Caribbean spiny lobsters occupying commercial “casitas” over a large bay in Mexico Coastal currents variability in a reef site of the Mesoamerican reef system. 20. Chavez, J. F. Larval abundance of gastropods and Strombus gigas in Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico 21. Chavez Villegas, J. F.* 22. Chuc Contreras, A.* 23. Coronado Castro, E.* 24. Cox, S. A.* Larval abundance of mollusks, fish and crustaceans in Xel-Há, Quintana Roo, Mexico 25. Deane, L.M. 26. De la cruz Abalos M. 27. Duarte, L. O. 28. Enriquez, M. 29. Escobar , F. 30. EscobarVásquez, C. 31. Euan, J. 32. Fisher, Robert 33. Flores Ramos, E. F. 34. Gallardo, P. 35. Gautier, F. 36. George-Zamora, A. 37. Gill, D. 38. Giresi, M.* 39. Gómez Poot, J. M. 40. González, C. 41. González López, W. 42. Grijalba Bendeck, L. M. 43. Guzmán Escalante, O. 44. Hernández Montenegro, E. M. * Student Coral-algae phase shift at the coral reef of Mahahual, at the Mexican Caribbean Analysis of the operating characteristics of three fleets that affects the red grouper and associated species in Yucatan, Mexico: Potential externalities The role livelihood strategies and outcomes play in adaptive co-management of the sea urchin fisheries in Barbados and St. Lucia Why communication matters: The case of the Marine resource governance in the eastern Caribbean (MarGov) project Preliminary results of the heavy metals content in the oyster Crassostrea virginica from El Carmen lagoon, Tabasco, México Spatial distribution of simple biological indicators in the artisanal fishery of the Colombian Caribbean Sea Gonadal Cycle of Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin, 1971), Mecoacan Lagoon, Tabasco, Mexico: Decreased Gametes Production in Relation to Climate Change Ecological incidence of trawling on fish associated with reefs in Colombian Caribbean Sea Isla Lobos coral community: background data for reef conservation. Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Sistema Arrecifal Lobos-Tuxpan (SALT) Monitoring vessel system to determine fleet dynamics of artisanal fleet in the Southeastcoast of Mexico Biological Assessment of Channeled Whelk (Busycotypus Canaliculatus) Populations In The MidAtlantic: Regional Management Concerns Distribution, abundance and structure of the Florida sea cucumber (Holothuria floridana) in the Campeche Coast, Mexico Application of fish waste silage in feed for aquatic organisms: chemical characterization and nutritional efficiency Small invertebrate motile fauna associated to the seagrass Thalassia testudinum in the Bay of the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin in Guadeloupe Island (Lesser Antilles) Colonization of a swamp area by the crown conch “caracol chivita” and emerging of an artisanal fishery in northwest Yucatan peninsula, Mexico Factors influencing recreational diver satisfaction in Barbados and Honduras Utilization of molecular markers to assess population structure of Mustelus canis and to differentiate among members of the shark family triakidae in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean sea Exploitation of spiny lobster (Panulirus argus), 2011-2012 season, in Xcalak reefs national park, Quintana Roo, Mexico Analysis of the spatial-temporal abundance of the sea urchin Diadema antillarum in 5 sites of Puerto Rico The mesocosmos system and its adaptation for the growing of Strombus gigas larvae Marine fish gonadal maturity evaluation from Colombia's Caribbean: Importance of implementing the use of histological techniques The fisheries of the south of Sian ka´an and its correlation environmental, biological, socioeconomic and cultural are aspects for the implementation of fisheries restoration zones Estimation of distribution, abundance and populations aspects, and habitat characteristics of white clam (Codakia orbicularis) in Xcalak reefs National Park, Quintana Roo, Mexico vi 45. Huchin Mian, J. P. 46. Johnson, D. Prevalence of clinical and subclinical infection by Panulirus argus Virus 1 (PaV1) in Caribbean spiny lobsters from a “casita”-based fishery in Mexico Reef fish larval connections across the Gulf of Mexico 47. Lasseter, A Intensification and diversification: adaptation to resource scarcity in a small-scale Mexican fishery 48. López-Gómez, M. J.* 49. Lopez-Rocha, J. Diver-Fishermen Volunteering Provided Reliable Data on the Lionfish Invasion in the Alacranes Reef National Park, Mexico Distribution and abundance of the sea cucumber Isostichopus badionotus off the coast of sisal, Yucatan 50. Lozano-Álvarez, E. 51. MagañaGallegos, E.* 52. Malca, E. Influence of local habitat features on avoidance of PaV1-diseased Panulirus argus spiny lobsters by healthy conspecifics in a ‘casita’-enhanced bay Preliminary study of the distribution and abundance of decapods crustaceans of commercial interest of the Conil lagoon (Yum-Balam), Quintana Roo Assemblage and distribution of larval and juvenile coral reef fishes in Parque Nacional Isla Contoy, Quintana Roo, Mexico Historical analysis of Marine fisheries in Barahona Province, Dominican Republic, during 1988-2010 53. Mateo, J. 54. Matos-Caraballo, D. 55. Mege, S. Puerto Rico’s Small Scale Commercial Fisheries Statistics during 2007 - 2010 56. Melendez, J. Analysis of the methods of capture use in Puerto Rico to control the population of the invasive lion fish (Pterios spp) Fine-tuning failure: how to fail to succeed 57. McConney, P. 58. Meadows, M. S. T.* 59. Miller, S. Scientific activities in pigeon islets, an area classified as a core of the national park of Guadeloupe 60. Molina-Ureña, H. Snapper Spawning (Lutjanidae) on Florida’s East and Northeast Coast and Comparisons to Conspecific Spawning in the Western Atlantic A model for collaborative conservation: The Lionfish Research and Education Program at the Cape Eleuthera Institute, Eleuthera, Bahamas. Community structure of reef fishes in a tropical seasonal upwelling area, Golfo de Papagayo, Costa Rica 61. Monroy, C. Typology of the semi-industrial Yucateca fleet that operates in Campeche Bank, Mexico 62. Nash, H.* Importance of ecologically connected habitat sites in the Gulf of Mexico and Wider Caribbean region 63. Negrete-Soto, F. An alternative to control lionfish (Pterois volitans) in Puerto Morelos (Mexico) and preliminary analysis of the potential impact of this invasive species on the local reef fauna. Influx of spiny lobster Panulirus argus puerulii in “Parque Nacional Arrrecifes de Xcalak”, Mexico. Seasonality and comparison among two types of collector. 64. OlivaresEscobedo, J. 65. Pascual, C. 66. Pascual, C. Multi-dimensional Analysis to Study Process by Panulirus argus Virus 1 (PaV1) in Spiny Lobsters Naturally Infected Heterotrophic cultivation effect on the immune status of the pink shrimp, Farfantepenaeus duorarum 67. Pérez García, I. C. 68. Prada, M. Socioeconomic characterization of the resource shell in Isla arena, Campeche 69. Ramírez-Rojas, A. 70. Reyes Peñaloza, D. 71. Rojas, A. Is the fishery of the pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides) at risk in North-West Yucatan? Effects due the presence of a parasitic isopod. Isolation of neuropeptides from by-products of Octopus maya fishery, and its implications on the process of prey handling behaviour Description of the fishery, "finfish fishery" in the Archipelago of San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina, Biosphere Reserve Seaflower Structural characterization of algal beds as a natural exploitable resource in the natural protected area of Dzilam de bravo, Yucatan. 72. RosadoEspinosa , L. A. 73. Sabido Itzá, M. * Student Characterization of the by-catch in the south-west Caribbean Lion fish population dynamics (Pterois volitans) in Xcalak reefs national park (PNAX), Quintana Roo, vii M.* Mexican Caribbean 74. Santos-Martínez, A. 75. Santos, J. 80. Suleiman, S. Historical Dynamics of Industrial Fishing in Multispecies Fish Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, Colombian Caribbean Distribution and abundance of benthic gastropod assemblage in relation to environmental variables in the Campeche Bank, Mexico Abundance and Size Frequency of Corallivores in Acropora cervicornis aquaculture farms in Culebra, Puerto Rico Ecosystem connectivity by parrotfishes between mangrove, seagrass and coral reefs in San Andres island (Biosphere reserve SeaFlower), in dry season Lionfish Pterois volitans in southern Quintana Roo, Mexico. Population characteristics based on the first year of collection efforts (2009-2010). Spatiotemporal distribution of the abundance and size of Red Octopus, Octopus maya (Octopoda: Octopodidade) in the Campeche Coastal Zone, Mexico Voluntary participation as a management strategy in growing corals for habitat restoration. 81. Traiger, S. Density and size distribution of invasive lionfish on reefs around south Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands 82. Tuz-Sulub, A. Survey of the exploited sea cucumber (Aspidochirotida: Holoturidae) in the northern coast of the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico. Experimental analyses on coral larvae settlement in Guadeloupe island (lesser Antilles) 76. Schleier, S.* 77. Sierra-Rozo, O. 78. Sosa-Cordero, E. 79. Sosa-Lopez, A. 83. Urvoix, L. 84. Vallés, H. 85. Vega-Cendejas, Ma. E. 86. Zapata, A. 87. Zetina Ríos, K. Do different community indicators of the status of exploited reef fish communities tell the same story across the Caribbean? Fish assemblages from Yucatan northeast coast Biological and economic characteristics resources snail shell in Seybaplaya, Campeche. Fish Specific Richness in spiny lobster fishing grounds in the central coast of Yucatan, Mexico Wednesday 2 November Concurrent Sessions: GCFI SPECIAL WORKSHOP: Lionfish Collecting and Handling Workshop by invitation Contact person: Lad Akins GCFI SPECIAL WORKSHOP: Fishers for Fisher Meeting. Contact person: Mitchell Lay MPA SCIENCE AND PRACTICE GENERAL SESSION – A CaMPAM SESSION Moderator: Georgina Bustamante 8:30 Aiken, Karl Creating a Fish Sanctuaries Network in Jamaica, West Indies 8:45 St Thomas East End Reserves: Management Plan development and implementation 9:00 Hoffman, Anne Marie Matthews, Thomas 9:15 Cazaubon, Nadia Introduction of New Fishing Technology To Protect Marine Reserves in the SMMA 9:30 Chi Prieto, Wendy 9:45 Day, Owen Space-time characterization of artisanal fisheries in Xcalak Reefs National Park, Quintana Roo, Mexico. The Caribbean Fish Sanctuaries Partnership Initiative (C-Fish Initiative): A New Approach To * Student Marine Litter in the Caribbean: Raising Awareness, Improving Infrastructure, and Encouraging Action viii Promote Private Sector Participation In Support of Caribbean MPAs Coffee Break 10:00-10:30 10:30 10:45 11:00 García Rivas, María del Carmen Hagan, Annelise Prevention and management of stranded vessels in the National Park “Arrecifes de Xcalak”, Mexico an early response to the success Effectiveness of Different Levels of Management on Three Marine Protected Areas. A Case Study from Belize, Central America. Ecosystem-based zoning in the bay of Samaná, Dominican Republic 11:15 Dominguez, Elianny Muller, Eduard 11:30 Barriteau, Martin Enhancing the Career Paths of Protected Area Staff: Coordinating Training and Certification as Essential Components of Professionalizing Management Transboundary marine protected area program’s in the Grenadine Islands: Sustainable Grenadines Inc. 11:45 Gombos, Meghan A Management Capacity Assessment of Selected Coral Reef Marine Protected Areas in the Caribbean 12:00 Wilson, Rich 12:15 Bustamante, G Facilitating a Collaborative Approach to Professional Development and Peer Exchange: The 2011 UNEP-CEP/CaMPAM Training of Trainers Program in Caribbean Marine Protected Area Management Session wrap up: geographic coverage, main topics, emergent issues, recommendations for GCFI 65 Lunch: 12:30-14:00 FIELD TRIP Thursday 3 November Concurrent Sessions: GCFI SPECIAL WORKSHOP: Lionfish Collecting and Handling Workshop by invitation Contact person Lad Akins GCFI SPECIAL WORKSHOP (13:30-17:30):” Setting future scenarios for management, stakeholder usage, and the health of Caribbean reef ecosystems” sponsored by FORCE Contact person: Rosanna Griffith-Mumby SCIENCE, CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF FISH SPAWNING AGGREGATIONS Moderator: Alfonso Aguilar-Perera 8:30 Nemeth, Rick 8:45 9:00 Aguilar-Perera, Alfonso Morley, Danielle Movement patterns of tiger grouper (Mycteroperca tigris) at spawning sites in the US Virgin Islands. Grouper Spawning Aggregations off the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico:Fishing, Management, and Conservation Examining reef fish aggregations in the Florida Keys. 9:15 Semmens, Brice An In Situ Visual Mark-Recapture Method to Assess The Abundance of Spawners at an * Student ix Aggregation Site 9:30 Donaldson, Terry 9:45 Tuz-Sulub, Armin Spatial Distribution of the Triggerfish Balistoides viridescens(Balistidae) on a Spawning Aggregation Site at Guam, Mariana Islands Validation of a Spawning Aggregation of Red Hind, Epinephelus guttatus, in the Alacranes Reef National Park, off Northern Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico Coffee Break: 10:00- 10:30 DEMERSAL FISHERIES 10:30 Bent, Heins Abundance of large groupers in the seaflower biosphere reserve 10:45 Brooks, Annabelle 11:00 Brulé, Thierry 11:15 11:30 Sosa-Cordero, Eloy Mumby, Peter Patch reefs as important habitat for Nassau grouper and Caribbean spiny lobster near Eleuthera, The Bahamas: Implications for MPA development Selectivity of circle hooks used for the capture of red grouper by the small-craft fishery fleet from the Yucatan Peninsula, México. Grouper fisheries in the Mexican Caribbean. Local knowledge and management issues 11:45 Jackson, Alexis Population Demography of Commercially Exploited Groupers Inferred from Nuclear and Mitochondrial DNA 12:00 Renan, Ximena Otolith morphometric analysis of Gag (Mycteroperca microlepis) from the Campeche Bank 12:15 Karnauskas, Mandy Relationships between spatial and temporal trends in fish abundance derived from local knowledge versus biological data Fishing down a Caribbean food web relaxes trophic cascades Lunch: 12:30-14:00 SOCIO-ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT Moderator: Patrick McConney 14:00 Pena, Maria 14:15 14:45 Grijalba Bendeck, Lyda Marcela Castañeda, Adriel Boen, Caroline 15:00 Tonioli, Flavia 15:15 15:30 Arnold, William Salas, Silvia 15:45 Elias, Vidal 14:30 * Student Outcomes and experiences from a small grant scheme in support of marine resource governance Marine fish resources exploited by the artisanal fishing fleet from Departamento del Magdalena (Caribbean, Colombia): Management and conservation elements Managed Access in Belize Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper IFQ Program Survey Assessment: Change in Fishermen’s Attitude Puerto Rican Small Scale Fleet Costs and Earnings Study Expanding the basis of fishery management in the U.S. Caribbean Analysis of accidents and risk conditions in artisanal fisheries in the Southeast coast of Mexico Socioeconomic characterization of the fishing cooperatives of Tampamachoco, Alvarado, Tamiahua and Pueblo Viejo in the state of Veracruz (Mexico): reconstructing (a test of) its social reality. x Coffee Break: 16:00- 16:30 Moderator: Manoj Shivlani 16:30 Forster, Johanna 16:45 Turner, Rachel 17:00 Peterson, Angelie Parsram, Kemraj* Defoe, Jullan 17:15 17:30 Marine biodiversity in the Caribbean UK overseas territories: Perceived threats and constraints to environmental management Resource user perceptions of marine governance and coral reef management in the Bay Islands, Honduras Exploring the role of different actors in Caribbean coral reef governance through multi-level social networks Social-ecological dynamics and the effects of bonding social capital on local fish marketing in Grenville Grenada Co-Management for FAD Fishery to Resolve User Conflict: Dominica Experience BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING. 18:15-19:30 RECEPTION 20:00- 23:00 Friday 4 November Concurrent Sessions: GCFI SPECIAL WORKSHOP: UNEP-CEP project "Regional support for the Caribbean Challenge initiative: Networking, consolidation and regional coordination of MPA management” by invitation Contact person: Georgina Bustamante and Emma Doyle STROMBID SCIENCE, FISHERIES, and MANAGEMENT Moderator: Dalila Aldana 8:30 8:45 9:00 Cala De la Hera, Yuself Roberto* Davis, Martha 9:45 García Rivas, María del Carmen Chavez Villegas, Jose Francisco Forbes Pacheco, Trisha Horsford, Ian 10:00 Peel, Joanne* 9:15 9:30 * Student Auto-ecology of the queen conch (Strombus gigas L. 1758) at Cabo Cruz, Eastern Cuba: management and sustainable use implications. Evidence for a significant decline in queen conch in the Bahamas, including the population in a marine protected area Use and Management of conch Strombus gigas in the Biosphere Reserve Banco Chinchorro, Mexico, a community and inter-agency effort Spatio-temporal abundance of Strombus gigas larvae (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System Larval abundance of mollusks and the Strombus gigas in Albuquerque cays, Colombia The Morphology of the Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) from the Antigua and Barbuda Shelf – Implications for Fisheries Management Growth assessment of the Pink Queen Conch Strombus gigas by direct methods in two nursery xi grounds of a natural protected area of the Mexican Caribbean Coffee Break: 10:15- 10:30 Moderator: Martha Prada 10:30 11:00 Medina, Alejandro Forbes Pacheco, Trisha Basurto, Martha Distribution and abundance of queen conch (Strombus gigas) in the Xcalak coral reef national park (PNAX), Quintana Roo, Mexico. Evaluation Of The Population Of Queen Conch, Strombus gigas (Linnaeus, 1758) In The Southern Sector Of The Seaflower Marine Protected Area, Colombian Caribbean Assessment and management of queen conch Strombus gigas in the Mexican Caribbean 11:15 Santos, Josefina 11:30 11:45 Brito-Manzano, Nancy Aldana, Dalila Distribution and abundance of benthic gastropod assemblage in relation to environmental variables the Campeche Bank, Mexico Review on the cultivation of the Queen Conch Strombus gigas over 50 years 12:00 Stoner, Allan 12:15 Prada, Martha 10:45 Behavioral ecology of the Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) in the Marine Park Xel-Ha, Quintana Roo, Mexico Negative consequences of Allee effect are compounded by fishing pressure on queen conch GCFI strengthens the use application of scientific information towards sustainable management and conservation of the conch Strombus gigas in the Caribbean Lunch: 12:30-14:00 LOBSTER SCIENCE. FISHERIES and MANAGEMENT Moderator: Tom Matthews 14:00 14:15 14:30 15:00 15:15 15:30 15:45 Behringer, Donald Buesa, Rene J. PaV1 Disease Detection by the Caribbean Spiny Lobster and its Population Structuring Dynamics Chávez, Ernesto A. Ríos Lara, Gloria Verónica Ley-Cooper, Kim Winterbottom, Marina Truelove, Nathan Effect of climate change on the Caribbean lobster fisheries Hurricanes and the Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) fisheries. Stock assessment of lobster (Panulirus argus) in different fishing zones of the coast from Yucatan and Quintana Roo, Mexico Use of artificial shelters (“Casitas”) as an alternative tool for management and stock evaluation of Caribbean spiny lobsters in Banco Chinchorro (México) Management of the Spiny Lobster Fishery in CARICOM Countries: Current Status and Recommendations for Conservation Genetic connectivity of spiny lobster in the Mesoamerican barrier reef. Coffee Break: 16:00- 16:30 OCTOPUS SCIENCE, FISHERIES and MANAGEMENT Moderator: Silvia Salas 16:30 Salas, Silvia * Student Comparative Analysis of Fishing Operations of Fleets that Catch Red Octopus (Octopus maya) in the Yucatan Shelf, Mexico xii 16:45 17:00 Cabrera, Miguel A. Juarez, Oscar Population structure analysis of red octopus (Octopus maya) in the Yucatan shelf, Mexico 17:15 Pascual, Cristina Genetic variability and management unit identification of Octopus maya using specific microsatellite markers. Morphological characterization of haemocytes of the red octopus, Octopus maya 17:30 Tello, Jorge Enzyme genetic variability and gene flow in Octopus maya from the Yucatan peninsula AWARDS AND CLOSING CEREMONY STUDENT AWARD PRESENTATIONS (1745) Presentation of the Ron Schmied Scholarship Presentation of the GCFI Outstanding Student Achievement Awards CLOSING CEREMONY (1800) * Student xiii ABSTRACTS BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Proliferación de Pterois volitans en Aguas del Caribe de Colombia y Estrategia Investigativa para su Conocimiento y Manejo Proliferation of Pterois volitans in Colombian Caribbean Waters and Research Strategy for its Knowledge and Management La Proliferation de Pterois volitans dans les Eaux Des Caraïbes Colombiens et la Strategie De Recherche Pour Sa Connaissance et sa Gestion ARTURO ACERO1*, ADRIANA SANTOS-MARTÍNEZ2, RICARDO BETANCUR-R3, ROCÍO GARCÍA4, MARCELA GRIJALBA-BENDECK5, ANDREA POLANCO F.6 y ADOLFO SAN JUAN-MUÑOZ7 1 Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Caribe CECIMAR/INVEMAR, Cerro Punta Betín Santa Marta, MG Colombia. [email protected] 2 Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Caribe Instituto de Estudios Caribeños, San Luis-Freetown San Andrés, San Andrés Colombia [email protected] 3George Washington University Washington, DC EE. UU. [email protected] 4Universidad del Magdalena Santa Marta. MG Colombia. [email protected]. 5Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano El Rodadero Santa Marta MG Colombia [email protected] 6 Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras Cerro de Punta Betín Santa Marta MG Colombia. [email protected] 7Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano El Rodadero Santa MartaMG Colombia. [email protected]. RESUMEN La invasión del pez león a aguas caribeñas colombianos se ha transformado en una plaga de amplia extensión e intensidad. Entre junio de 2009 y agosto de 2011 se visitaron cinco regiones arrecifales colombianas (San Andrés, Providencia, Capurganá, islas del Rosario, Santa Marta/Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona), caracterizadas por su buen cubrimiento coralino y alta riqueza de especies de los principales grupos que caracterizan esos ambientes. En cada una de dichas localidades se observaron, contaron y capturaron especímenes del pez invasor. Las principales localidades, en términos de la abundancia de Pterois volitans, fueron la isla de San Andrés (Caribe occidental), la región de Capurganá (límites con Panamá) y la región de Santa Marta. En cada una de ellas se han colectado más de un centenar de ejemplares, estimándose conservadoramente la presencia de varios miles de ejemplares por localidad. Es bien conocida la elevada fecundidad de la especie, así como su calidad de voraz depredador de estadios tempranos de grupos zoológicos considerados de valor económico o ecológico. Ante esta grave situación cinco grupos de investigación colombianos aunaron esfuerzos para presentar una propuesta consolidada ante la entidad que financia la investigación científica en el país, la cual ha sido financiada. Durante dos años se estudiará el origen de la invasión, incluyendo las implicaciones biogeográficas de su dispersión por el Atlántico occidental tropical, su alimentación, su reproducción y sus abundancias en el campo. Se espera de este modo diagnosticar apropiadamente la situación y presentar alternativas para el manejo de este peligroso invasor. Page 1 PALABRA CLAVE: Pez león, especie Invasora, distribución, Caribe, Colombia Grouper Spawning Aggregations off the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico: Fishing, Management, and Conservation Agrupaciones de Desove de Meros Frente a la Península de Yucatán, México: Pesca, Manejo Y Conservación Agregation Defrai de Merou dans la Peninsule du Yucatan, Mexique: Pêche, Gestion et Conservation ALFONSO AGUILAR-PERERA* and ARMIN TUZ-SULUB Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Km. 15.5, carretera, Mérida-Xmatkuil Mérida, Yucatán 97100 México. *[email protected]. ABSTRACT Very little is known on fish spawning aggregations in Mexico, and the information available stems on groupers (Epinephelidae) mainly from the Pacific and Caribbean. More scientific information is needed to provide better management options and reach proper conservation alternatives. The present work aims to elucidate the current situation on grouper spawning aggregations off the Yucatan Peninsula in terms of fishing, management, and conservation. In the Campeche Bank and the Mexican Caribbean, at least 17 grouper species are commercially exploited but only 5 species Epinephelus striatus, E. guttatus, Mycteroperca bonaci, M. venenosa, M. tigris are known to form spawning aggregations. With the exception of aggregations of M. bonaci, all aggregation´s species have been scientifically validated for few locations. Unfortunately, management approaches in Mexico have not incorporated yet aspects of aggregating behavior of groupers; thus, there is a need to use scientific approaches to identify and describe grouper aggregations, and monitor those aggregations known already. Fishing on grouper aggregations is a common practice since 1960s, and the only management measure currently available is one-month ban year-round. The fishery status of various aggregations is unknown, and some aggregations (e.g., E. striatus) have showed evidences of serious problems to the level of disappearance. Conservation initiatives on studying grouper aggregations from the Yucatan Peninsula have recently been promoted by The Nature Conservancy and helped to identify linkages between government and academia to begin addressing the importance of protecting them KEY WORDS: Groupers, spawning, coral reef, Yucatan Peninsula, Gulf of Mexico BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Lionfish Invasion off the Northern Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, Southern Gulf Of Mexico: What Do We Know? La Invasión del Pez León en el Norte de la Península de Yucatan, Sureste del Golfo de México: ¿Qué Sabemos? L’Invasion De’L Lionfish sur la Cote Nord du Yucatan, Mexique, Sud Du Golfe Du Mexique: Que Savons-Nous? ALFONSO AGUILAR-PERERA* , ARMIN TUZ-SULUB , LEIDY PERERA-CHAN , MARÍA JOSÉ LOPEZ-GÓMEZ XIMENA, and GONZÁLEZ-TRISTE Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Km. 15.5, carretera, Mérida-Xmatkuil Mérida, Yucatán 97100 México. *[email protected]. . ABSTRACT In 2009, the first lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) was found in the Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel, in Quintana Roo, in the Mexican Caribbean; however, no official record was published about this finding but just anecdotic evidence. Early in 2010, we organized workshops to lobster diver-fishermen from the northern Yucatan Peninsula on lionfish biology and potential threat of invasion, and invited them to safely collect lionfish and record basic information. In late 2010, a fisherman captured the first lionfish for the Gulf of Mexico 130 km off the northern Yucatan coast, and 50 km off eastern Alacranes Reef National Park (ARNP). Fishermen showed positive responses so more workshops were organized. From 2010 to 2011, about 318 lionfish were voluntarily collected by fishermen: 1) along the coast: Rio Lagartos (N = 7, size range 141-250 mm TL), Dzilam (N = 9: 97-140 mm TL); and 2) off the coast: Bajos del Norte (N = 21; 83-217 mm TL), Cayo Arenas (N= 4; 134-180 mm TL), Criadero (reef shoal; N = 8; 100-289 mm TL), and ARNP (N = 269; 90-290 mm TL). This work showed that 1) local community participation on conservation is viable and 2) the lionfish invaded the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. This abundance represents a pale number of lionfish since collections were only on a voluntary basis. It is necessary finding ways of collaboration with monitoring initiatives in the Mexican Caribbean and establishing others (Campeche and Veracruz) to reach decisive actions for the lionfish invasion in Mexico. KEY WORDS: Lionfish, Yucatan Peninsula, coral reef, Pterois volitans, Gulf of Mexico Creating a Fish Sanctuaries Network in Jamaica, West Indies Crear los Santuarios de Pez en Jamaica, Las Antillas Creer un Reseau de Sanctuaires de Poisson à Jamaique, Antilles KARL AIKEN1*, STEPHEN SMIKLE2, OLIVER SQUIRE2, and G. ANDRE KONG2 University of the West Indies, Dept. of Life Sciences, Mona campus, Kingston, Kingston 7 Jamaica. *[email protected]. Fisheries Division Ministry of Agriculture, Jamaica, Kingston, Kgn. 7 Jamaica. [email protected]. Fisheries Division Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries, Kingston Kgn. 7 Jamaica. [email protected]. Fisheries Division Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries, Kingston Kgn. 7 Jamaica. [email protected]. KEY WORDS: Fish sanctuaries, Jamaica, reef fisheries, fishers groups Lionfish Derbies: An Effective Tool for Local Control? Derbyes del Pez Leon: ¿Una Herramienta Eficaz para el Control Local? Derbys de Poissons de Lion: Un outil Efficace pour la Commande Locale? 1 LAD AKINS1*, STEPHANIE GREEN2 , PAMELA SCHOFIELD3, and JAMES MORRIS4 REE,F P O Box 246, Key Largo, Florida 33037 USA.*[email protected]. Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada. [email protected]. USGS. 7920 NW 71st Street. Gainesville Florida 32653 US.A [email protected]. NOAA CCFHR. 101 Pivers Island Road Beaufort, North Carolina 28516 USA. [email protected]. ABSTRACT Invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles) are now common throughout the temperate and tropical western Atlantic, where they are likely to cause severe ecological and economic impacts. To address the invasion, many locations are developing lionfish control programs. Lionfish derbies are becoming popular components of these programs. While derbies in the Bahamas and Florida Keys have removed more than 5,000 fish over the last two years, it is not yet clear whether this level of removal effort provides control of local lionfish populations. However, these derbies have provided opportunities and incentives for a broad group of stakeholders to participate in local marine conservation actions, and a forum for increasing their knowledge about the invasion and its potential effects on local natural resources. Using examples and results from recent derbies in the Bahamas and Florida, we examine the components necessary to create effective derbies. We discuss successful strategies for developing funding, outreach and education, training, and research components. We also identify some drawbacks and limitations to the current use of derbies as a means of lionfish control and directions for future work. KEY WORDS: Lionfish, Fishing derbies, invasive species control, stakeholder involvement Page ABSTRACT Jamaica has lagged behind other Caribbean nations in the introduction of fish sanctuaries. This is no longer true, as in 2010 the government introduced nine small fish sanctuaries distributed around the island. The areas selected satisfied ecological and fisheries criteria and importantly, have an associated fishers group who have been chosen to enforce these special protected areas. This is the result of some two years of work by the Fisheries Division and the fishers in conjunction with the Fisheries Advisory Board of Jamaica. The fish sanctuaries include sheltered coastal habitats with mangroves, sea grass beds, sand patches and coral while having modest fisheries resources, primarily juvenile in size. Close collaboration with and participation of fishers is a key feature of these new sanctuaries. In mid- 2011 these fish sanctuaries were partly funded and most were active. A programme of publicity is planned which will continue indefinitely. We recognize in this paper, the interest and encouragement of the former Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries, Dr. C. Tufton, who for the first time in many years showed interest in fisheries matters at the ministerial and policy level and pushed for the introduction of these fish sanctuaries. 2 1 BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Behavioural Ecologyof the Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) in the Marine Park Xel-Ha, Quintana Roo, Mexico Ecoetología del Caracol Rosa (Strombus gigas) en la Caleta de Xel-Há, Quintana Roo, México Eco Ethologie du lambi (Strombus gigas) au Park Marin de Xel-Hà, Quintana Roo, Mexique DALILA ALDANA ARANDA1*, FRANCISCO CHAVEZ VILLEGAS1, MARTHA ENRIQUEZ DIAZ1, FRANCISCO GAMEROS ESCOTO THOMAS STIEGLITZ2, and LAURENT CHAUVAUD2 1 CINVESTAV-IPN Merida, Km 6 Antigua carretera a Progreso Mérida, Yucatán 97310 Mexico [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. 2IUEM-UBO Technopole, Brest-Iroise PlouzanéBretagne 29280 France [email protected]. ABSTRACT Diving observations on the activity of Queen conch Strombus gigas were conducted from May to September at the Cueva de los Milagros in the Marine Park of Xel-Ha (sandy-bottom medium and underground supply of fresh water). The behavior of queen conch and its variations were followed in a daily cycle, and varied between seasons. The observations were carried out at 8:00, 10:00, 12:00 and 17:00 hours (400 individuals per observation). Five types of activity of conch were quantified: resting, feeding, moving, mating and burying. Changes in temperature, salinity and oxygen were recorded at the same time. Regardless of the time of year, the animals’ behavior is well defined during the day. Resting was the dominant activity from 8:00 to 10:00 hours with 69.87% and 54.59% respectively. Feeding increased during the course of the day from 19.49% (8:00 am) to 41.94% (12:00 pm). Burying and mating was insignificant between April and August (average 4.85% and 0.44%, respectively). The activity of movement has increased from 5.31% (8:00 am) to 12.47% (5:00 pm). In this work, the relationship between environmental changes and the eco-ethology of the queen conch on daily and seasonal time scales are discussed. KEY WORDS: Monitoring, behaviour, Queen conch, Strombus gigas, park marin Lionfish in Bonaire... Lessons Learnt for Trinidad and Tobago Pez León en Bonaire... Lesiones aprendidas para Trinidad and Tobago Rascasses volantes à Bonaire ... Les leçons apprises pour Trinidad et Tobago FADILAH ALI1 and RITA PEACHEY2 National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, European Way Southampton, SO14 3ZH United Kingdom. *[email protected]. 2CIEE Research Station, Bonaire Kaya Gobernador Debrot #26, Kralendijk, Bonaire, Netherland Antilles. [email protected]. Page 3 1 ABSTRACT Lionfish are venomous, predatory reef-fish native to the Indo-Pacific region, but have become widely distributed in the western Atlantic. The introduction is most likely due to aquaria releases as it is among the top species imported to the US. Due to high fecundity, adaptability to non-native habitats and tolerance to large temperature and depth ranges, the lionfish invasion in the Atlantic has potential to become the most detrimental marine invasion in history. Lionfish were first confirmed in Bonaire on the 26th of October, 2009. Since then, despite active eradication attempts, they have increased in abundance, occupying reef and reef-associated habitats at a range of depths. Trinidad and Tobago have yet to be invaded by lionfish but the invasion is likely imminent. The surface currents moving westward along the northern coast of South America may be delaying the arrival of lionfish in Trinidad and Tobago. Predictions indicate that the range of lionfish will expand throughout the entire Caribbean, including Trinidad and Tobago, and south along the eastern coast of South America to Brazil. Questionnaires were conducted with target groups (lionfish-hunters, divers, dive-shops, fishermen and pet-shop owners) in Bonaire and Trinidad and Tobago. These revealed that there was a significant difference in the level of opinions and awareness between the invaded territory (Bonaire) and the un-invaded territory (Trinidad and Tobago). The current lionfish management strategies in Bonaire and the Caribbean were also appraised to suggest the best approach for Trinidad and Tobago in dealing with the future threat of lionfish. KEY WORDS: Lionfish, invasive species, prevention, management, control , The Feeding Ecology of the Invasive Lionfish Pterois volitans in Bonaire, Netherland Antilles: A Comparative Study La Ecología de la Alimentación de la Invasión del Pez León Pterois volitans en Bonaire, Antillas Holandesas: Un Estudio Comparativo L’Écologie de l’Alimentation de Lionfish Invasives Pterois volitans à Bonaire, Antilles Néderlandaises, Une Étude Comparative FADILAH ALI1 and RITA PEACHEY2 National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, European Way Southampton, SO14 3ZH United Kingdom. *[email protected]. 2CIEE Research Station, Bonaire Kaya Gobernador Debrot #26, Kralendijk, Bonaire, Netherland Antilles. [email protected]. 1 ABSTRACT The Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans) is a venomous, voracious predator now established along the South East U.S. coast and parts of the Caribbean region. Lionfish are predominantly piscivorous, thereby influencing native reef fish community assemblages and commercial fish restocking attempts. Lionfish were first confirmed in Bonaire on 26th October, 2009; yet their actual method of introduction to Bonaire remains unknown. Since then, they have increased in abundance, in spite of an active eradication program, occupying habitats at a range of depths. The feeding ecology of the invasive lionfish was examined by analyzing the stomach contents 2214 lionfish in Bonaire, and then compared to a Bahamian study conducted by Morris and Akins (2009)*. Three relative metrics of prey quantity (percent number; percent frequency and percent volume) were used to compare three indices of dietary importance. Lionfish predominantly preyed upon teleost fish (90%) and crustaceans (10%). Eleven families and 34 species of teleosts were represented in the diet of BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO lionfish with the top ten families of dietary importance consisting of: Pomacentridae; Grammatidae; Apogonidae; Serranidae; Labridae; Lutjanidae; Gobiidae; Blennidae; Scaridae and Haemulidae. In the course of one year, the composition of the top ten families of dietary importance has shifted. *Morris Jr., J.A. and J.L. Akins. 2009. Feeding ecology of invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans) in the Bahamian archipelago. Environmental Biology of Fishes 86:389-398. KEY WORDS: Lionfish, invasive species, dietary preference, diet composition, stomach contents Manejo de la Pesquería de los Pavones, Cichla orinocensis y C. temensis (Perciformes, Cichlidae), Especies Introducidas en la Cuenca del Lago de Maracaibo, Venezuela Management of the Peacocks Fishery, Cichla orinocensis and C. temensis (Perciformes, Cichlidae), Introduced Species in the Basin of Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela Gestion de la pêche pour les paons, Cichla orinocensis et C. temensis (Perciformes, Cichlidae), les espèces introduites dans le bassin du lac Maracaibo, au Venezuela GLENYS ANDRADE DE PASQUIER1* and OSCAR LASSO-ALCALA2 Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrícolas Final, Av. Los Haticos, detrás del C.C. Las Banderas, edif. INAPESCA, planta alta, Maracaibo, Zulia Venezuela. *[email protected]. 2Museo de Historia Natural La Salle, Fundacion La Salle de Ciencias Naturales, Caracas, Vargas, Venezuela [email protected]. PALABRAS CLAVE: Especies introducidas, especies transferidas, genero Cichla, Lago de Maracaibo, Venezuela Estado del Conocimiento sobre la Pesqueria de Tiburones y Rayas en el Sistema de Maracaibo, Venezuela State of Knowledge on the Fisheries of Sharks and Rays in the System of Maracaibo, Venezuela État des Connaissances dans les Pêches de Requins et Raies dans Le Systeme des Maracaibo, Venezuela GLENYS ANDRADE DE PASQUIER1* , LEONARDO SANCHEZ2, and RAFAEL TAVARES VISCAYA3 Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrícolas Final, Av. Los Haticos, detrás del C.C. Las Banderas, edif. INAPESCA, planta alta Maracaibo, Zulia Venezuela.*[email protected]. 2Centro para la Investigacion de Tiburones Caracas, Vargas Venezuela. [email protected]. 3 Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agricolas, Estacion Local Nueva Esparta Porlamar Nueva Esparta, Venezuela. [email protected]. 1 RESUMEN Los tiburones y rayas son un importante recurso pesquero aprovechado principalmente por las pesquerías artesanales venezolanas. Para 2008, la producción de tiburones y rayas en el Sistema de Maracaibo aportaron 2% y 42%, respectivamente, a la producción nacional artesanal marítima. En esta región durante 2005-2009, los desembarques variaron entre 2,4-84 ton (tiburones) y 141-1199 ton (rayas). Existe incertidumbre en las estadísticas pesqueras, desconocimiento del esfuerzo pesquero y poca información biológica para la evaluación y conservación de estos recursos. Se requiere divulgar la información existente sobre las especies de tiburones y rayas presentes y algunos aspectos biológicos-pesqueros, basados en la identificación de elasmobranquios desembarcados en el Sistema de Maracaibo, revisión taxonómica de material preservado y estadísticas pesqueras confiables. Estos recursos son capturados artesanalmente con redes de ahorque y chinchorros camaroneros en la Bahía El Tablazo y Lago de Maracaibo y con palangres de fondo por una flota semi-industrial en el Golfo de Venezuela. Los tiburones y rayas presentes en el Golfo fueronCarcharhinus limbatus, C. leucas, Ginglymostoma cirratum, Sphyrna zygaena, S. tudes, Rhizoprionodon porosus, C. plumbeus, S. media y C. falsiformis, y Aetobatus narinari, Dasyatis guttata y Myliobatis sp. En la Bahía ocurren C. limbatus, C. leucas, Himantura schmardae y D. guttata.En el Lago solo el tiburón C. leucas y las rayas D. guttata, Potamotrygon yepesi e H. schmardae. En el Golfo y Bahía ocurremayormente C. leucas (37%) y C. limbatus (34%), en el Lago P. yepesi (85%). Existe una elevada captura de tiburones inmaduros ≥80%) ( y una fuerte disminución de las capturas de rayas, ameritando recabar mayor y mejor información biológica-pesquera sobre estos recursos y aplicar medidas de manejo para su conservación. PALABRAS CLAVE: Tiburones, rayas, biodiversidad, pesqueria, Sistema de Maracaibo Page RESUMEN Los peces conocidos en Venezuela como pavones (género Cichla), comprenden cinco especies de gran importancia para la pesca comercial, deportiva y de subsistencia. Debido a la excelente calidad de su carne, se compara con las especies marinas de las familias Serranidae, Epinephelidae o Lutjanidae, estas especies han sido sobre explotadas desde hace más de 40 años. Es por ello que desde 1972 se han elaborado seis resoluciones legales donde se prohíbe la pesca comercial de estas especies en todo el país y se regula la pesca deportiva. Aunque en Venezuela estas especies se distribuyen naturalmente en las cuencas del Orinoco, Cuyuní (Esequibo), Golfo de Paria y Río Negro (Amazonas), desde 1947 se han introducido o transferido dos especies (Cichla orinocensisy C. temensis) en otras cuencas como Lago de Valencia, Caribe y Lago de Maracaibo. En esta última, desde 1968 se introdujeron con fines de pesca deportiva en cuerpos de agua artificiales (embalses de Pueblo Viejo y Machango). No obstante, desde 2008 existe una población de pavones en aguas abiertas al sur del Lago de Maracaibo explotada comercialmente de forma artesanal, generando problemas legales, debido a la prohibición de la pesca por la legislación vigente, y conflictos socioeconómicos, por su alta demanda y valor en el mercado; y ecológicos, por sus hábitos carnívoros y comportamiento territorial. Se propone elaborar una nueva legislación para manejar estas poblaciones introducidas en la cuenca del Lago de Maracaibo, la cuales incluyen, entre otras, permitir y reglamentar la pesca de esta población en el sur del Lago de Maracaibo y su comercialización regional, así como reglamentar la pesca deportiva en cuerpos de agua artificiales de esta cuenca. 4 1 BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Ecología Trófica de Peces Marinos Juveniles en un Humedal Costero del Sureste del Golfo de México Trophic Ecology of Marine Fish Juveniles in a Coastal Wetland of the Southeastern Gulf of Mexico L’Écologie Trophique des Juveniles de Poisons Marins dans une Zone Côtière Humide du Sud-est du Golfe du Mexique DANIEL ARCEO-CARRANZA*, MARIBEL BADILLO-ALEMAN, y XAVIER CHIAPPA-CARRARA UMDI-Sisal, UNAM Pto. de abrigo s/n Sisal, Yucatán Sisal, Hunucmá, Yucatán 97356 México. *[email protected]. RESUMEN Las lagunas costeras son sitios de alimentación y refugio para muchas especies de peces marinos en etapas tempranas, debido a los diferentes hábitats y que son sitios de constante estrés ambiental y alta turbidez que los protege de los predadores. El objetivo principal es determinar la dieta de 6 carnívoros marinos que utilizan la “laguna de la carbonera” en etapas juveniles y establecer relaciones de competencia mediante índices de traslape trófico. Para tal efecto se realizaron colectas mensuales de abril de 2008 aseptiembre de 2010, en 12 sitios de colecta mediante arrastres con un chinchorro playero de 40 m de longitud con una caída de 1 m y una abertura de malla de ½ pulgada. Se analizaron en total 223 juveniles de Caranx latus (42), Trachinotus falcatus (35), Oligoplites saurus (36), Lutjanus griseus (39), Strongylura notata (37) y Synodus foetens (34). De éstas especies, C. latus, O. saurus, S. notata y S. foetens son especies ictiófagas (>75% IIR), la dieta de L. griseus consta de crustáceos (> 55% IIR) y peces (43% IIR), Mientras que T. falcatus, se alimenta de bivalvos (57% IIR) y gasterópodos (33% IIR). De acuerdo al índice de Schoener, las especies que presentan traslape trófico son C. latus-O. saurus (T = 0.8078), C. latus-L. griseus (T = 0.6413), C. latus-S. notata (T= 0.8733), O.saurus-S. foetens (T= 0.8325), O. saurus-S. notata (T = 0.9343) y S. foetens-S. notata (T = 0.8982). En cuanto al índice de Levins estandarizado (BA), las especies se comportan como especialistas (BA < 0.32) debido a que explotan pocos recursos. Podemos hablar de un grupo de ictiófagos, L. griseus consumidor de crustáceos y T. falcatus que se alimenta de moluscos. PALABRAS CLAVE: Traslape trofico, carnivoros, juveniles, Peninsula de Yucatan, especialistas Expanding the Basis of Fishery Management in the U.S. Caribbean Expandiendo el Uso de Herramientas para el Manejo de Pesquerias en el Caribe Americano Le Développement du Fondement de la Direction de la Pêcherie aux États-Unis Caraibes Page 5 WILLIAM ARNOLD*, BRITNI TOKOTCH, MIGUEL LUGO, and MARIA DEL MAR LOPEZ NOAA NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South Street, Petersburg, Florida 33701 USA. * [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. ABSTRACT The U.S. Caribbean includes Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. These islands support artisanal fisheries targeting spiny lobster, queen conch, and dozens of reef fish species. Effective management of these fisheries, in both state and federal waters, has been challenging due primarily to a dearth of information regarding harvest activities. Population assessments have been attempted (e.g., spiny lobster, queen conch, yellowtail snapper, yellowfin grouper), but none have yielded quantitative management advice. Given the distributed nature of these fisheries, effective management via the assessment process may not soon be achieved. However, other sampling and analytical approaches are available that can be effectively applied to evaluate fisheries sustainability and the relationship of fishing activities to the environment. For example, data-poor approaches (e.g., Spawning Potential Ratio Decision Tree) provide guidance for maintaining sustainable levels of harvest, and genetic approaches can provide complementary estimates of effective population size. When coupled with 3-dimensional physical oceanographic models and biogeographic information, appropriate analyses of genetic data also illuminate source/sink dynamics, the meta-structure of populations and communities, the design and effectiveness of refuges, and sources of resilience. If management actions are taken, environmental indicators need to be in place to provide data necessary to populate before-after-control-impact (BACI) analyses suitable for quantitative calibration of management decisions. Caribbean fisheries are inextricably linked to the ecology of the communities within which they occur. They must be managed within that context, and both economic and ecological considerations dictate maximum efficiency in the utilization of all pertinent data. KEY WORDS: Indicator, U.S. Caribbean, data-poor methods, fishery management, genetics Ecology and Biology of French Guiana Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara) Ecologia y Biologia del Mero Gigante (Epinephelus itajara) en Guyana Francesa Ecologie et biologie du mérou géant (Epinephelus itajaraen) Guyane Française CÉLINE ARTERO1*, LUIS LAMPERT2, CLAUDE BOUCHON2, and CHRISTOPHER KOENIG4 ONCFS, Domaine de Suzini, BP 477 Cayenne, 97300 French Guiana. *[email protected]. 2 IFREMER, Domaine de Suzini, BP 477 Cayenne, 97300 French Guiana. [email protected]. 3 Université des Antilles et de la Guyane, Laboratoire de biologie marine, BP 592 Point à Pitre 97159 Guadeloupe. [email protected]. 4 Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory 3618 Coastal Highway 98 St. Teresa Beach,Florida 32358 USA. [email protected]. 1 ABSTRACT In French Guiana (South America), despite a worldwide critically endangered species status, goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) is still a commercial species. Fishermen claim that fishing length decreased in the last 20 years. There is a lack of knowledge on the species and its health state is unknown. A DIDSON acoustic camera will be used to evaluate the number of individuals living around rocky sites and information on the history of fisheries (number of capturesand length) will be collected to assess the French Guiana population trends. A genetic comparison of goliath grouper populations along the western Atlantic Ocean will reveal the relationship between these different populations and determine if the French Guiana population has to be considered as an isolated population. BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Until now, no study on E. itajara reproduction has been undertaken in French Guiana. As goliath grouper are making sounds during the reproduction period, an acoustic survey around rocky sites will be organized during one year to locate eventual spawning sites and to determine the spawning season. In case of French Guiana grouper migrate for reproduction, two individuals assumed to be mature (> 160 cm) will be equipped with pop-up tags that will record different seawater parameters (temperature, light level), which will allow to know the location of the fish. Results of that study will be very important tools to set up management policies for the conservation of E. itajara in French Guiana. KEY WORDS: Goliath grouper, French Guiana, genetic, reproduction, conservation Situación Actual del Conocimiento de los Octópodos en Chile Current Situation of Knowledge of the Octopods in Chile Situation Actuelle de la connaissance de Poulpes au Chile ERICK R. BAQUEIRO CARDENAS1* y MARGARITA C. PEREZ VALDES2 Jubilado Amador Barrientos, 2547 Población Anef Osornos, Los Lagos Chile. [email protected]. 2 Laboratorio de Fisiologia, Universidad de los Lagos, Ave. Alcalde Fouschlocher s/n Osorno, Los Lagos Chile. [email protected]. PALABRAS CLAVE: Octopus, pulpo, pesqueria, cultivo, biologío Transboundary Marine Protected Area Programmes in the Grenadine Islands: Sustainable Grenadines, Inc. Programas Transfronterizos de los Área Marinas Protegidas en las Islas de las Granadinas: Sustainable Grenadines, Inc. Transfrontières de Protection Marine Progrommes Zone dans les Iles Grenadine Sustainable Grenadines Inc. MARTIN BARRITEAU Sustainable Grenadines, Clifton Union Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. [email protected]. ABSTRACT The Grenadine Islands comprise an archipelago with over 30 islands and cays located on the Grenada Bank between St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada. It is an area of ecological significance supporting the most extensive coral reefs and related habitats in the south-eastern Caribbean. Having high potential for tourism and associated development the marine and terrestrial ecosystems are highly vulnerable to environmental degradation. Unplanned development and unregulated use of resources have already led to significant degradation of many areas. The Sustainable Grenadines Inc (SusGren) evolved from an eight year initiative (2002 - 2010) of the University of the West Indies with core funding from the Lighthouse Foundation. SusGren is committed to the conservation of the coastal and marine environment and sustainable livelihoods for the people of the Grenadines.This is being approached through capacity building and increased awareness of the environment for non-governmental organisations and community groups and in part, by assisting the governments to achieve their goals associated with CBD POWPA and the Caribbean Challenge initiative. This presentation describes recent and ongoing MPA programmes in the Grenadines and lesson learned from them so far, including from: (1) strengthening Reef Management on the Grenada Bank which established the Grenadines Network of MPAs; (2) developing a Framework for a Multiuse Zoning Plan for the Grenadines; (3) reducing Marine Litter in the Grenadines; (4) strengthening fisher folk collaboration which established the ALL Grenadines Fisher folk association; (5) pursuing the possibility of establishing a Grenadine Islands World Heritage Site (WHS). KEY WORDS: Marine Protected Areas, zoning, marine litter, fisher folk association Page RESUMEN La pesquería de pulpo en Chile es un recurso secundario, capturado por pescadores artesanales. A pesar de eso, sus capturas han alcanzado las 4800 toneladas en 1986. La captura la componen dos especies Octopus mimus en el norte y centro del país y Enteroctopus megalocyathus en el Sur del país. Aunque solo se registran campturas en las I a III región para el pulpo del Norte y el la X y XI regiones para el pulpo de Sur, existen más de 21 800 permisos de captura de pulpo a lo largo de todo el litoral del país, con 1149 para las regiones I a III y 8930 para las regiones X y XI, siendo las regiones II u X las principales productoras muy por encima de las otras. La caída en producción en los años recientes ha despertado un gran interés por regular la pesquería y desarrollar cultivos, lo que ha llevado a estudios biológicos poblacionales, reproductivos y de cultivo en cautiverio. En relación al cultivo han habido algunas experiencias exitosas con ambas especies O. mimus y E. megalocyathus, a los que se les ha sumado estudios con Robsonella fontanianus, especie de talla pequeña con distribución del Sur de Argentina hasta Perú, que en argentina se explota para producto gourmet, pero no se explota en Chile y cuyo cultivo se ha visto como una oportunidad para ese mercado. La información biológica de las tres especies es escasa y dispersa, con énfasis en los trabajos descriptivos, en particular, los desarrollos embrionarios y larvarios, así como estudios histológicos reproductivos. Del ámbito pesquero hay estudios de crecimiento y estimación de edad, a partir de estudios de frecuencia de tallas, y lectura de líneas de crecimiento en pico y estiletes. Entre los que se encuentra el trabajo de Baqueiro et al. (2011) sobre la lectura del cristalino y de Chong (1999) con datos de crecimiento, reproducción y lectura de estiletes y pico; y Marquez y Re (2009) con lectura del estilete de E. megalocyathus. En lo referente al cultivo Pérez et al. (2006) tasas metabólicas y crecimiento bajo dietas diferentes. 6 1 BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Evaluación y Manejo del Caracol Rosado Strombus gigas en el Caribe Mexicano Assessment and Management of Queen Conch Strombus gigas in the Mexican Caribbean Évaluation et Gestion le Lambi Strombus gigas dans les Caraïbes Mexicaine MARTHA BASURTO*, KENETH CERVERA, y JUAN CARLOS ESPINOSA Instituto Nacional de Pesca, Bojorquez No. 23, Supermanzana 30 Cancun, Q. Roo, MX|DF 77509 México. *[email protected]. RESUMEN El caracol rosado Strombus gigas fue una de las principales pesquerías en el litoral de Quintana Roo, México. Anterior al desarrollo turístico, fue sustento económico y alimento para los primeros pobladores de las costas e islas del caribe mexicano. Desde el máximo histórico de su captura con 450 t de pulpa en 1979, se reseña el manejo de la pesquería desde que mostró los primeros signos de deterioro en los ochentas. Los métodos utilizados en la evaluación del recurso, los errores de estimación y lecciones aprendidas que han conducido a una estrategia de manejo y un programa de monitoreo para medir in situ la abundancia del recurso y recomendar la cuota anual de captura con intervalos de incertidumbre, el criterio para estimar la cuota y fijar los puntos de referencia de la pesquería bajo un enfoque precautorio. El uso de modelos pesqueros como herramienta para hacer comprensible el sistema y plantear hipótesis para el manejo adaptativo vs instrumento estimador de biomasa. Se exponen y comparan diversas medidas de regulación emitidas en la Península de Yucatán, su eficacia operativa e impacto en la recuperación del recurso, así como las condiciones cambiantes del entorno que posiblemente han afectado su abundancia. Se analiza la renta de la pesca en términos económicos, sociales e institucionales, ante la progresiva reducción de la cuota de captura a 9 t anuales en 2010. Se presenta el estado actual del recurso en dos zonas de pesca: Banco Chinchorro y el Banco de Cozumel, su situación frente a CITES y sus perspectivas regionales de manejo y administración, recomendando un esquema de asignación de cuotas individuales. PALABRAS CLAVE: Pesquería, evaluación, manejo, Strombus, México Vessel Use Patterns and Coral Reef Damage Near Highly Urbanized Southeast Florida USA Patrones de Buques de Uso y Daños a los Arrecifes de Coral Cerca de Altamente Urbanizada Sureste de la Florida (EE.UU.) Page 7 Patterns des navires et dégradation des récifs coralliens Proche fortement urbanisés du Sud-Est Floride (Etats-Unis) DONALD BEHRINGER*, ROBERT SWETT, and THOMAS FRAZER University of Florida Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 7922 NW 71st Street Gainesville, Florida 32653 USA. *[email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. ABSTRACT Globally, coral reefs are under intense pressure from human activities and environmental stressors. The coral reefs in Florida represent the only barrier reef system in the continental United States and this exceptional natural resource draws high numbers of boaters. The pressure is particularly acute in southeast Florida owing to the exceptionally large human population and the close proximity of the reefs to shore. To ensure effective, place-based management a management plan must be based on an understanding of vessel use patterns and associated activities. To fulfill this need we conducted comprehensive helicopter surveys of vessels offshore of southeast Florida during 2008 – 2009. The surveys determined vessel location and activity, including anchoring. These patterns were then used to establish high- and low-use research sites on the reefs. The corals and sponges were mapped and surveyed for cumulative damage. Although differences between use levels were not detected, between county differences were. Miami-Dade County had nearly 3x the hard coral and sponge damage and a third more gorgonian damage than neighboring Broward County. Moreover, the previous aerial surveys revealed 2x the anchoring on reefs in Miami-Dade compared to Broward. This may be explained by the extensive mooring buoy program (122 buoys) in Broward compared to Miami-Dade, which had none at the time. This study demonstrates the insight to be gained from understanding use patterns prior to establishing a management plan, and although only correlative, shows the possible effect of mooring buoys on anchor management. KEY WORDS: Coral reef, anchoring, damage, management, survey PaV1 Disease Detection by the Caribbean Spiny Lobster and its Population Structuring Dynamics PaV1 de Detección de Enfermedades de la Langosta Común del Caribe y su Dinámica de Estructuración de la Población PaV1 Détection des maladies par la langouste des Caraïbes et de sa dynamique de structuration de la population DONALD BEHRINGER* and JOSHUA ANDERSON University of Florida, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 7922 NW 71st Street Gainesville, Florida 32653 USA. *[email protected]. [email protected]. ABSTRACT Disease can alter population structure in terrestrial ecosystems but only anecdotal evidence exists for these effects in the marine environment. PaV1 (Panulirus argus virus 1) is a pathogenic virus transmitted between Caribbean spiny lobsters, Panulirus argus (Latrielle 1804). However, P. argus can reduce infection risk by avoiding PaV1-infected lobsters. Avoiding shelters inhabited by PaV1-infected conspecifics has the potential to significantly alter population structure and local spatial distribution, resulting in shelter exclusion and increased predation. However, based on the type of avoidance cue, local hydrodynamic conditions could affect detection. We used a series of laboratory y-maze experiments to determine the mechanism of detection and artificial shelter arrays placed in low and high flow conditions in the wild to determine the effect of diseased lobster aversion on healthy lobster population dynamics. Results showed that avoidance was driven by olfactory cues based in the urine. The olfactory cue alone was equally effective having a diseased lobster present and visible. In the field, PaV1 can alter the spatial structure of wild populations especially under low flow regimes via emigration and the redistribution of uninfected individuals relative to diseased animals. In the shelter-limited environments common throughout much of the Caribbean, BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO disease avoidance has the potential to increase juvenile mortality and negatively impact future adult stocks as uninfected animals are displaced from dens and exposed to a higher risk of predation. KEY WORDS: Disease, olfaction, behavior, hydrodynamics, transmission Indicadores Económicos de Pesca Artesanal Economic Indicators of Marine Artisanal Fisheries in Colombia en el Caribe de Colombia Indicateurs Économiques de la Pêche Artisanale Maritime en Colombie JUAN PABLO BELTRAN1 , DIANA MILENA BUSTOS MONTES2 , LYDA MARCELA GRIJALBA BENDECK2 , y RAMÓN FRANQUESA1 1 Universidad de Barcelona, Espai de Recerca - 310 Fac. Econòmiques Av. Diagonal 690, Barcelona 08034 Barcelona, Magdalena España *[email protected]. [email protected]. 2Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano, Cra 2 No. 11 68 El Rodadero Santa Marta, Magdalena Colombia [email protected]. [email protected]. RESUMEN Se evaluaron indicadores económicos para 14 sitios de desembarco, las unidades económicas y zonas de pesca artesanal a lo largo de la costa del departamento del Magdalena. El desempeño de los indicadores de captura fue más alto para aquellos sitios de desembarco cercanos a zonas de reserva marina, demostrando alta productividad. Para los artes de pesca que capturan peces de tallas pequeñas o de bajo valor comercial, los indicadores de producción física fueron altos mientras que los de ganancias monetarias fueron los más bajos. A pesar de hacer una mayor inversión en las faenas, las unidades motorizadas obtienen más ganancias a lo largo del año comparadas con las que no lo tienen. La dinámica de la pesca a lo largo del litoral del departamento del Magdalena es demasiado variable y el predominio de embarcaciones de poca autonomía hace que los fenómenos ambientales condicionen la actividad y la renta. Abondance de Grands Mérous de la Réserve de Biosphère Seaflower HEINS BENT1* , ADRIANA SANTOS2 , and ELIZABETH TAYLOR1 CORALINA, SarieBay 4 street #1741 Km 26 Via San Luís SanAndrés Island, Colombia. *[email protected]. [email protected]. National University, San Luis Free Town, San Andres island, Colombia. [email protected]. ABSTRACT Large groupers are important in tropical fisheries for the good quality of their meat and are vulnerable because of their slow growth, long life, late sexual maturity and spawning aggregations. In the Caribbean, some species are threatened by overfishing, including in Colombia, species such as Epinephelus itajara and E. striatus populations are considered under a high risk of extinction or decline. This study assessed the abundance of large groupers using visual censuses conducted in 2009 and 2010 in the Seaflower BR, they represent the 3% of the total reef fish. There were nine species of large groupers, being Serrana (29%) the area with highest abundance followed by Old Providence (13%), San Andrés (12%) and Roncador (11%), where C. fulva (39.8%), C. cruentata (21.7%) and E. guttatus (13.7%) were the most representative species. The highest diversity was observed in Serrana and richness in Old Providence, the greatest similarities were observed in the groups formed by the areas of Albuquerque and Roncador (86.3%), and Old Providence with Serrana (81.3%). According to the results, in Serrana, San Andres, Serranilla, Bajo Alicia, Bajo Nuevo and Roncador, were observed small and mediumsized groupers in reef lagoon habitats and platform reef lagoon with reef patches; other habitats such as terraces and prearrecifales slope in Roncador, Albuquerque and Providence, were observed many individuals in all sizes. Due to the low abundances observed, it is important to take measures to regulate fishing and to implement new techniques to strengthen the monitoring of these species. KEY WORDS: Large groupers, abundance, Seaflower Biosphere Reserve Reproductive Characteristics of Queen Conch, Strombus gigas, in Barbados Características Reproductivas del Caracol Rosa Strombus gigas Caractéristiques de la Reproduction du Lambi, Strombus gigas CAROLINE E BISSADA–GOODING1*, DALILA ALDANA ARANDA , and HAZEL A. OXENFORD1 Centre for Resource Management and Environmental, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus St Michae, Barbados. *[email protected]. [email protected]. 2 CINVESTAV-IPN Unidad Merida, Laboratorio de Biologia y Cultivo de Moluscos, km 6 antigua carretera a Progreso, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. [email protected]. 1 ABSTRACT Barbados has a small, unmanaged, artisanal conch fishery with a high proportion of immature animals in the catch, and a very low overall abundance of adult conch. As such, protection of the remaining spawning stock is critical to ensure the maintenance of the populations’ reproductive capacity. However, nothing is known of the reproductive characteristics of queen conch in Barbados. To address this knowledge gap, we investigate reproductive seasonality Page Abundance of Large Groupers in the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve Abundancias de Grandes Serranidos en la Reserva de Biosfera Seaflower 8 PALABRAS CLAVE: Indicadores económicos, pesca artesanal , Caribe, Colombia BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO and size at sexual maturity of the local conch population. Conch were sampled every month for a full year (September 2009 – August 2010) and the gonads processed histologically to determine their reproductive status. Conch were observed in the gametogenesis phase in April and became reproductively active (gonads in ripe and spent phases) in April through December, coinciding with water temperatures in excess of 28 oC. All sampled adults were undifferentiated from January through March, indicating that there was no reproductive activity during these three months. Some conch were found to be reproductively active at a shell lip thickness of 3 mm; although the population L50 was found to be at a lip thickness of 19.5 mm. KEY WORDS: Spawning seasonality, queen conch, size at sexual maturity, Barbados Analysis of the Red Octopus (Octopus maya) Fishery Off the Coast of Sisal, Yucatan Análisis de la Pesquería del Pulpo Rojo (Octopus maya) Rente a la Costa de Sisal, Yucatán Analyse de la pêcherie de poulpe rouge (Octopus maya) large de la côte de Sisal, Yucatán JOSÉ RAMÓN BLANCAS GARCÍA1 , JORGE ALBERTO LÓPEZ ROCHA1 , and MANUEL ALEJANDRO CASTILLA-VENTURA 1 Unidad Multidisciplinaria de Docencia e Investig, Puerto de Abrigo s/n Sisal, Yucatán 97356 Mexico. *[email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. ABSTRACT The octopus fishery is the most important of the Yucatan Peninsula. This resource is mainly fished for a small-coastal fleet distributed in 13 ports of Campeche and Yucatan. In recent years octopus catches have had large fluctuations. In some cases, extremely low catches have been explained by the occurrence of red tide events. In the port of Sisal, which gets 5% of the catches of O. maya, there was a dramatic fall in catches in 2008, when was recorded the presence of red tide. The objective of this study was to examine the trends in octopus catches in the port of Sisal for the last 10 years through a catch index to analyze the development of the octopus fishery in the area and assess the impact of red tides in the catch rates. Additionally, information on the fishing effort distribution and catch characteristics of the 2011 beginning fishing season are provided within a broader investigation scheme of this important resource. In 2008 emphasizes a 99.4% fall of the catches and the change in the catch monthly distribution with respect to the average observed in the past 10 years. We discuss the implication of the results in the fishery management. The authors acknowledge the UNAM-IACOD 201111-1 project for support this study and for the scholarships to the first and third authors. Page 9 KEY WORDS: Octopus fishery, large fluctuations, trends in octopus catches, red tide, fishing effort Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper IFQ Program Survey Assessment: Change in Fishermen’s Attitude Encuesta de Evaluación del Programa de Cuotas Individuales de Pesca (CIP) del Pargo Colorado: Cambio de Actitud de los Pescadores Questionnaire d’Évaluation du Programme de Quotas Individuels de Pêche (QIP) au Vivaneau Rouge: Changement d’Attitude des Pêcheurs CAROLINE BOEN1, WALTER KEITHLY1, and JUAN AGAR2 Louisiana State University, 101 Martin D. Woodin Hall, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803 USA. *[email protected]. [email protected]. 2 Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, Florida 33149 USA. 1 ABSTRACT According to National Marine Fisheries Service report in 2010, NOAA implemented the Gulf of Mexico red snapper IFQ program in January 1, 2007. The primary objectives of the IFQ program are to reduce overcapacity and eliminate derby-fishing conditions. Other anticipated benefits from the program such as increased market stability, elimination of fishing seasons, increased flexibility for fishing operations, cost-effective and enforceable management of the fishery, improved safety at sea, and optimization of net social, economic, and biological benefits from fishery are also expected. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the change in attitude of the fishermen concerning the implemented red snapper IFQ program in the Gulf of Mexico as part of the 5-year review conducted by the NOAA. In order to achieve this purpose, we conducted a mail survey that was mailed out to the program’s participants. We will assess several factors from the survey responses such as the overall satisfaction rate concerning the IFQ program, the positive and negative impacts of the IFQ program to fishing operations, the success of the IFQ program in achieving the intended initial objectives listed above, and finally the comparison between the fishermen’s support on the IFQ program during the introduction of the program and the present time. REFERENCES: US Department of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service “2009 Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Individual Fishing Quota Annual Report.” SERO-LAPP-2010-06 publication. St. Petersburg, FL. November 3, 2010. KEY WORDS: Red snapper, IFQ, Gulf of Mexico, survey assessment, fishermen's attitude Long-term Monitoring of Reef Fish Communities in Saint-Barthelemy Island (Lesser Antilles) Monitoreo a Largo Plazo de los Peces Coralinos en la Isla de Saint-Barthélemy (Antillas Menores) Suivi à Long Terme des Communautés de Poissons Récifaux de Saint-Barthélemy (Petites Antilles) 1 YOLANDE BOUCHON-NAVARO1*, FRANCIANE LE QUELLEC2 , MAX LOUIS3, PEDRO PORTILLO3, and CLAUDE BOUCHON3 Université Antilles-Guyane ,Campus de Fouillole Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe. *[email protected]. 2Réserve marine de Saint-Barthélemy, BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Gustavia, Saint-Barthélemy. [email protected]. 3DYNECAR, Université Antilles-Guyane, Campus de Fouillole Pointe-à-Pitre 97159 Guadeloupe. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. ABSTRACT Reef fish communities of Saint-Barthelemy Island were monitored during ten years inside the Marine Reserve of Saint-Barthelemy and inside a reference zone without protection. Quantitative visual surveys of fish assemblages were conducted along 5 belt-transects (30 m x 2 m) in each study zone, between 10 to 15 m deep. A total of 111 species in both sites were observed since 2002. Fish biodiversity showed a significant increasing tendency in the marine reserve for the studied period, as well as for abundances in number and biomass of fishes. No tendency was noticed in the reference zone. The trophic structure of the fish communities appeared similar in the two studied sites. This long-term study highlights the reserve effect and the efficiency of marine reserves, even of small size, for the protection of coral reef fish communities. KEY WORDS: Reef fish, reserve effect, temporal variation, long-term monitoring, Caribbean Resultados Preliminares del Contenido de Metales Pesados en el Ostión Crassostrea virginica de la Laguna Machona, en Tabasco, México Preliminary Results of the Heavy Metal Content of the Oyster Crassostrea virginica in the Machona Lagoon in Tabasco, Mexico Les Résultats Préliminaires de Teneur en Métaux Lourds dans les Huîtres Crassostrea Virginica de la Lagune dans Machona Tabasco, au Mexique PALABRAS CLAVE: Metales pesados, ostión, Crassostrea , virginica, Tabasco Un Recorrido por el Cultivo del Caracol Rosado Strombus gigas: Su Futuro A Journey Through the Cultivation of Pink Conch Strombus gigas: Their Future Un Voyage à Travers la Culture de la Lambi Strombus gigas: l'Avenir 1 NANCY BRITO-MANZANO1* y DALILA ALDANA-ARANDA2 Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Km 25 carr. Vhsa-Teapa R/A La Huasteca Villahermosa, Tabasco 86280 México.* [email protected]. 2 CINVESTAV IPN Unidad Mérida, Km 6 antigua carretera a Progreso, Mérida, Yucatán 97310 México. [email protected]. RESUMEN Las investigaciones sobre el caracol rosa, Strombus gigas, han seguido la evolución de los volúmenes de captura de esta pesquería. Los primeros trabajos se relacionaron con la biología general de la especie (Randall 1964; D’Asaro 1965), posteriormente se dirigieron a la evaluación pesquera (Brownell 1977; Brownell et al. 1977; Barnett 1980; Ballantine & Appeldoorn 1983). Posteriormente, ante los efectos de la sobre pesca, iniciaron los estudios para su cultivo a partir de masas de huevos colectadas en el medio natural y acciones dirigidas a la recuperación de poblaciones sobre-explotadas Sin embargo el desarrollo de las técnicas para su cultivo, ha sido solamente exitoso para algunas fases de su ciclo de vida. Otras alternativas citadas en la literatura para recuperar las poblaciones sobre explotadas de S. gigas han sido los trabajos de rehabilitación de la especie en áreas marinas protegidas. A partir del 2000, se incursiona en el desarrollo de técnicas orientadas a la producción de juveniles en laboratorio con dietas formuladas o su engorde en encierros. En este trabajo se analiza en paralelo la situación pesquera y la contribución científica de esa época, analizando la sincronía o no entre producción pesquera, acuícola e investigación. Se resume además el conocimiento biológico y ecológico que se tiene de la especie para sus diferentes etapas de vida como la clave para domesticar una especie. Se analizan las fases críticas de la especie. Se detectan los cuellos de botella a resolver para su cultivo, se plantean los logros, se discute y analiza las razones de cambios en la investigación de esta especie y el panorama para el cultivo a futuro de esta especie PALABRAS CLAVE: Cultivo, Strombus gigas, historia, futuro Page RESUMEN Los estudios sobre toxicidad cobran mayor relevancia cuando son llevados a cabo sobre especies de importancia en la pesca. La acumulación de metales pesados en el ostión C. virginica de las lagunas del Golfo de México, se debe principalmente a las descargas de actividades antropogénicas y procesos fisicoquímicos y ecofisiológicos que ocurren en estos sistemas. Para evaluar la contaminación en un ecosistema acuático, es necesario recurrir a ciertos organismos que por su hábitat y ubicación en la cadena alimenticia, sirvan como indicadores, éstos además deben reunir ciertas características: presentar una amplia distribución geográfica, ser sedentarios, preferentemente sésiles y tener importancia económica, por ello los moluscos, son considerados monitores del cambio causado por la contaminación ambiental, dentro de este grupo, los bivalvos son estimados como los mejores bioindicadores, no sólo por su forma de vida y hábitos tróficos, sino también porque son una fuente importante de alimento, tal es la situación de los ostiones (Crassostrea virginica, C. gigas y C. corteziensis), los mejillones (Mytilus edulis y M. californianus) y la almeja (Mya arenana) (Lauenstein et al. 1990, Guerrero, 1993). (Nishikawa y Larsen, 1975; Osuna et al. 1990). En estudios preliminares se registraron concentraciones de estos metales con valores medios relativamente altos, y algunos de ellos por arriba de los límites permisibles de consumo que establecen las normas sanitarias para moluscos bivalvos, lo cual representa un riesgo para la salud humana debido a su biacumulación. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar las concentraciones de Cd, Pb, Co, Cr, Cu y Zn de éste ostión en la laguna de Machona en Tabasco, México. 10 NANCY BRITO-MANZANO1*, MÓNICA DE LA CRUZ-ÁBALOS1 , EDITH MIRANDA-CRUZ1 , DALILA ALDANA-ARANDA2, MARTHA ENRÍQUEZ-DÍAZ2 , JOSÉ MA. PASCUAL-PATRICIO3, y ULISES LÓPEZ-NOVEROLA3 1 Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco División Académica de Ciencias Agropecuarias Km 25 carr. Vhsa-Teapa R/A La Huasteca km 25 carretera Vhsa-Teapa R/a La Huasteca 2a. sección Villahermosa, Tabasco 86280 México.* [email protected]. 2 CINVESTAV-IPN Unidad Mérida km 6 antigua carretera a Progreso, Mérida, Yucatán 97310 Mexico. 3 División Académica de Ciencias Agropecuarias km 25 carretera Vhsa-Teapa R/a La Huasteca 2a. sección Villahermosa, Tabasco 96280 México BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Patch Reefs as Important Habitat for Nassau Grouper and Caribbean Spiny Lobster near Eleuthera, The Bahamas: Implications for MPA development Arrecifes de Parche como Hábitat Importante para la Cherna Criolla y Langosta Común del Caribe cerca de Eleuthera, Bahamas: Implicaciones para el Desarrollo de AMPs Récifs Patch comme Habitat Important pour Nassau Mérou et la Langouste Blanche près de Eleuthera, Bahamas: Implications Pour Le Développement D'AMP ANNABELLE BROOKS Cape Eleuthera Institute, South Eleuthera , Eleuthera Bahamas. [email protected] ABSTRACT Small patch reefs can provide essential transitional habitat for fish and invertebrates, such as the Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) and Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus). Given the economic importance of these species throughout the wider Caribbean, near shore patch reefs are often the focus of small-scale artisanal and moderate commercial fisheries. In recent years, evidence suggests that these fish stocks are in decline and in 2000 the Bahamian government proposed a network of marine reserves in an attempt to protect critical habitats for all life stages of commercially and ecologically important marine species. A long-term monitoring program was established to assess the abundance of fish and invertebrates inhabiting small patch reefs in South Eleuthera, Bahamas. Timed visual surveys were conducted on 85 patch reefs from 2004-2011. Long-term trends indicate that the abundance of Nassau grouper has been increasing, especially in 0-25cm size class. Spiny lobster abundance is relatively stable, but greater in the fall months. These results provide the only quantitative data on the abundance of Nassau grouper and Spiny lobster in South Eleuthera. Collectively, our results suggest that marine reserves in the Bahamian Archipelago should include shallow water patch reefs as a way to provide protection for economically important fish and invertebrates in transitional habitats. Further research should focus on identifying the optimum physical characteristics of patch reef habitats that correlate to supporting the greatest biomass of economically important species, so that conservation priorities can be established. Page 11 KEY WORDS: Patch reef, Nassau grouper, Bahamas, Spiny lobster, MPA Selectividad de los Anzuelos Circulares Utilizados para la Captura de Mero Americano por la Flota Pesquera Artesanal de la Península de Yucatán, México Selectivity of Circle Hooks Used to Catch Red Grouper in the Artisanal Fishing Fleet of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico Sélectivité des Hameçons Circulaires Utilisés pour la Capture de Mérou Rouge par la Flotte de Pêche Artisanale de la Péninsule du Yucatán, Mexique THIERRY BRULÉ*, JORGE MONTERO-MUÑOZ , NATALIA MORALES-LÓPEZ , y ANDY MENA-LORIA CINVESTAV, Ant. Carr. a Progreso Km. 6 Mérida, Yucatán 97310 México. *[email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. RESUMEN En el sureste del Golfo de México, el stock de mero americano del Banco de Campeche es considerado sobreexplotado. Para proteger la fracción juvenil de la población, se implementó en 2009 una ley sobre la talla mínima de captura, autorizando el uso de anzuelos “garra de águila” número 7 o equivalente para equipar los palangres de fondo utilizados por la flota artesanal. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue analizar la selectividad de los anzuelos circulares “Mustard” del # 11/0, # 12/0 (= “garra de águila” # 7) y # 13/0 en la captura de mero americano. La curva Gaussiana fue utilizada para estimar tres parámetros: c = el número máximo de individuos; U = la talla óptima, t = tolerancia, una medida de amplitud de la curva, o el rango de ocurrencias de tallas. Para el peso se utilizó un modelo exponencial, la estimación de la pendiente y el intercepto. Ambos modelos fueron ajustados por medio del método de mínimos cuadrados, y se utilizó como criterio de ajuste, una pendiente diferente de cero y un valor del coeficiente de determinación mayor a 90%. Además, los valores medios de tallas y pesos fueron comparados entre tamaño de anzuelo por medio de un análisis de varianza de un factor. Las tallas y los pesos de los individuos capturados por el anzuelo de mayor tamaño (# 13/0) fueron significativamente más elevados que el de los especimenes capturados por el de menor tamaño (# 11/0). Sin embargo los incrementos observados fueron mínimos y ninguno de los anzuelos presentó la eficiencia requerida para hacer respetar la ley sobre la talla mínima de captura del mero americano. PALABRAS CLAVE: Banco de Campeche, pesquería artesanal, selectividad del arte de pesca, Serranidae, talla de primera captura BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Hurricanes and the Caribbean Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) Fisheries Los Huracanes y las Pesquerías de la Langosta Espinosa (Panulirus argus) Les Ouragans et les Pêcheries de la Langouste Panulirus argus RENE J. BUESA GMFMC - Special Spiny Lobster Scientific and Sta. 19380 SW 24 Street, Miramar, Florida 33029-5926 USA. [email protected]. ABSTRACT Caribbean spiny lobster fisheries grew, peaked, and declined while affected by at least two hurricanes annually. These atmospheric disturbances can cause significant losses of life and property on land, but their effects on underwater ecosystems seem to be limited to sediment disturbances, runoffs, damages to coastal marine nurseries, and uncertain effects on larval connectivity. During the development of the fisheries the harvested fractions of the populations were small and the parental stocks produced enough recruits to compensate for the combined negative effects of fishery and hurricanes, but when fisheries declined after reaching overdevelopment, the dimished populations could not cope. This argument of declining landings resulting from a combined negative hurricanes-fishery mechanism fails in the self-sustained and isolated Brazilian spiny lobster fishery which also grew, peaked, and declined in total absence of hurricanes. This exception of the second largest Caribbean spiny lobster fishery leaves mismanagement as the fundamental common cause for the present regional condition of all Caribbean spiny lobster fisheries. Excessive fishing effort, elimination of more than seven million juvenile lobsters annually, and ongoing violations of closed seasons and size limits are the fundamental causes of decline, but recuperation is possible by reducing fishing effort and developing adequate protection measures agreed to an enforced on a regional basis. KEY WORDS: Mismanagement, overfishing, hurricanes, regulations, recuperation Effect of Food Type on Reproductive Capacity of Wild Octopus Octopus maya Females Under Controlled Conditions Efecto del Tipo de Alimento en la Capacidad Reproductiva de Hembras Silvestres Pulpo Octopus maya bajo Condiciones Controladas ABSTRACT This paper presents the results of the effects of food type on reproductive performance of O. maya. To this end, 60 wild females were fed with four combinations of food (crab, crab - squid, crab - mussels and crab-fish head). The females were kept in the area of maturity for an average of 30 days until spawning. The eggs were placed in an incubation system where they remained 50 days to hatch. The results did not show significant differences (P > 0.05) in the number of eggs produced per spawn. However, we found that diet crab and crab - mussels averaged respectively 130 and 125 offspring did not survive the day after hatching. While the diet crab - squid and crab-fish heads newly hatched octopuses showed increased resistance with an average of 32 and 7 dead octopuses respectively. The weight of the octopus at birth also showed differences with respect to feeding treatments. These results are discussed in relation to the nutritional intake of the different experimental diets and their impact on the quality of their progeny. KEY WORDS: Octopus maya, reproduction, eggs, food Variabilidad Individual y Diversidad en Una Red Trófica Compleja Individual Variability and Diversity in a Complex Food Web La Variabilité Individuelle et la Diversité dans un Réseau Trophique Complexe J. ADAN CABALLERO VAZQUEZ Centro de Investigacion Cientifica de Yucatan, Calle 8, No. 39, Mz. 29, S.M. 64, Cancun, Quintana Roo 77500 Mexico. [email protected]. RESUMEN En los ecosistemas del Caribe mexicano, la biodiversidad favorece la existencia de redes tróficas complejas, determinadas por condiciones ambientales, la alta riqueza de especies y sus relaciones intra-específicas complejas. La presente investigación se sitúa en dos ecosistemas, uno insular; Sistema Lagunar de Isla Contoy y otro lagunar costero; Sistema Lagunar Chacmochuch, localizados en la zona norte del Sistema Arrecifal Mesoamericano. El objetivo fue determinar el funcionamiento trófico y analizar la variación individual y biomasa de la dieta de los peces para determinar su efecto en el funcionamiento en los sistemas. Como parte de la metodología, se utilizó un modelo con set de 1721 y 832 interacciones para Contoy y Chacmochuch. Los resultados para Contoy indican que aún con el esfuerzo de muestreo utilizado, estadísticamente la distribución de los depredadores a nivel individual no difiere significativamente. A nivel de especie, la biomasa media de las presas no se correlaciona con la biomasa media de los depredadores. A nivel individual la biomasa media de los depredadores, si determina la biomasa media de las presas. Resultado contrario se obtuvo para Chacmochuch, donde la correlación es positiva y significativa a nivel individual y de especies. El tamaño de muestra en Contoy es casi dos veces el tamaño de Chacmochuch, esto puede ser un factor que determina el patrón opuesto entre ambos sistemas. La importancia de las interacciones a nivel individual y de especies, la competencia, la facilitación y la perturbación bióticos, deben ser evaluadas en futuras investigación de redes tróficas. Nuestra exploración de la masa corporal y biomasa de los predadores y presas, es un primer paso para abordar la complejidad de las redes tróficas PALABRAS CLAVE: Redes tróficas, ANP, biodiversidad, Caribe Page CLAUDIA CAAMAL*, CARLOS ROSAS, PEDRO GALLARD, and SANTIAGO CAPELLA UNAM, Puerto de abrigo s/n Sisal, Yucatan 97213 Mexico. *[email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. 12 Effet du Type d'Aliment sur la Capacité de Reproduction des Femelles de Poulpe Octopus maya sauvages dans des conditions Contrôlées BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Análisis de la Estructura Poblacional del Pulpo Rojo (Octopus maya) en la Península de Yucatán, México Population Structure Analysis of Red Octopus (Octopus maya) in the Yucatan shelf, Mexico Analise de la Structure de la Population du Pulpe Rouge (Octopus maya) dans la Péninsule de Yucatán, Mexique MIGUEL A. CABRERA1*, JULIA RAMOS-MIRANDA2, SILVIA SALAS , DOMINGO FLORES-HERNÁNDEZ, y ATAHUALPA SOSA-LOPEZ 1 CINVESTAV Unidad Merida, Carretera Antigua a Progreso, Km 6 Merida, Yucatan 97310 Mexico. [email protected]. [email protected]. 2Instituto EPOMEX Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Av. Agustín Melgar s/n, entre Juan de la Barrera y Calle 20. Col. Buenavista, Campeche, 24039 México. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. RESUMEN El pulpo es un recurso de alta demanda a nivel local, nacional e internacional siendo los litorales de la Península de Yucatán sus principales zonas de pesca; el pulpo es capturado por tres flotas (mayor, mediana y menor). A fin de conocer la estructura poblacional por tallas descargadas por cada flota en dos regiones de la península, así como el nivel de explotación de organismos sublegales, se realizó un muestro estratificado en 8 localidades pesqueras de esta península. En cada puerto de obtuvieron muestras mensuales de los organismos desembarcados por cada flota, los que fueron, medidos, pesados y sexados. En total 17112 individuos fueron medidos (7983 en Yucatán y 9129 en Campeche). El 40% de los ejemplares capturados en los 4 puertos de Campeche presentan una talla menor a la mínima permitida (tmc = 11 cm LM) y en Yucatán solo el 19%. Se observaron diferencias en la proporción de organismos sublegales entre flotas. A nivel puerto, se observó que las capturas en Campeche incluyen organismos más pequeños (Champotón) y más grandes en Isla Arena, este patrón es aún más evidente en Yucatán con ejemplares más pequeños en Celestún y más grandes en Rio Lagartos. Esto sugiere desplazamiento de los organismos en dirección Poniente-Oriente. La proporción de sexos (H/M) total fue 0.89:1.0 y 0.93:1.0 para Campeche y Yucatán respectivamente. Se asume que las condiciones bioegeográficas (batimetría, vegetación, corrientes, disponibilidad de refugios) y los artes de pesca (buceo y fisga, jimbas) empleados en las diferentes regiones hacen variar la estructura de las capturas. Se discute las implicaciones de las interacciones entre flotas en las capturas de acuerdo al componente poblacional que tienen como objetivo. PALABRAS CLAVE: O. maya, estructura poblacional, proporción por sexos, Campeche, Yucatán Page 13 Dinámica de la Población y Estado de Explotación del Pulpo (Octopus maya) del Litoral de Yucatán, México Population Dynamics and Exploitation of the State of Octopus (Octopus maya) Off the Coast of Yucatan, Mexico Dynamique des Populations et de l'Éxploitation De Poulpe (Octopus maya) au des Côtes du Yucatán, Mexique MIGUEL A. CABRERA* and SILVIA SALAS CINVESTAV Unidad Merida, Carretera Antigua a Progreso Km 6, Merida, Yucatan 97310 Mexico. *[email protected]. [email protected]. RESUMEN Dada su importancia económica regional, la pesquería de pulpo ha sido ampliamente estudiada y monitoreada con el objeto de generar criterios biológicopesqueros que contribuyan a su manejo. Uno de los aspectos donde se ha puesto más énfasis son los estudios sobre edad, crecimiento y mortalidad de O. maya, sin embargo estas estimaciones datan de los años 1980’s y 1990’s. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar la dinámica poblacional de O. maya y estimar el nivel de explotación a fin de generar estimadores poblacionales con base en la información más reciente. Se usaron datos de captura por tallas provenientes de los desembarcos realizados por las flotas artesanal, mediana y mayor en cuatro puertos de Yucatán (Celestún, Progreso, Dzilam de Bravo y Rio Lagartos) durante la temporada de pesca 2009. Se estimaron algunas relaciones biométricas como la relación peso–longitu d y peso eviscerado–peso entero dado que el recurso se descarga eviscerado. Se analizó la información de manera global y separada para machos y hembras. Los parámetros de crecimiento estimados fueron L∞ = 236 mm de longitud del manto, K = 0.87 año -1. Se obtuvo un estimado de la mortalidad natural M = 1.65, la mortalidad total estimada a través de la curva de captura fue de Z = 3.37; la mortalidad por pesca F = 1.72 y una tasa de explotación F/Z = 0.57. Un análisis comparativo de este último parámetro en relación a los estimados por otros autores confirma la tendencia en el aumento en la intensidad de explotación a que se ha venido sometiendo esta especie, lo cual pone en peligro la sustentabilidad de la pesquería en el mediano plazo. Se presentan algunas recomendaciones para su manejo. PALABRAS CLAVE: O. maya, crecimiento, mortalidad, tasa de explotación, Yucatán Auto-ecology of the Queen Conch (Strombus gigas L. 1758) at Cabo Cruz, Eastern Cuba: Management and Sustainable Use Implications Auto-ecología del Caracol Rosado (Strombus gigas L. 1758) en Cabo Cruz, Este de Cuba: Implicaciones para su Manejo y Uso Sostenible Auto-écologie de Lambi (Strombus gigas l. 1758) à Cabo Cruz, à l’Est de Cuba: Implication pour la Gestion et l’Utilisation Durable YUSELF ROBERTO CALA DE LA HERA1*, ALBERTO DE JESÚS-NAVARRETE1, JOSÉ JUAN OLIVA-RIVERA1, and FRANK ALBERTO OCAÑA-BORREGO2 1 El Colegio de la Frontera Sur Trinidad y Tobago, # 231 Fracc. Caribe Ave. Centenario Km. 5.5 Col., Antorchistas Chetumal, Quintana Roo 77086 México. *[email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. 2Centro de Investigaciones y Servicios Ambientales Arias, 176 F-3 e/ Cervantes y Narciso López, Holguín, 80100 Cuba. [email protected]. ABSTRACT BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO In order to know the density and the population structure data at the Cabo Cruz were obtained that included three climatic periods (rainy, dry and cold front periods) at three zones: Farito, Guafe and Laguna, during 2010. Population density varied from 0.0247 ind.m-2 at Guafe in the rainy period, to 0.1767 ind.m-2 at Farito in the dry one. The highest density was detected at dry season (0.1395 ind.m-2) and the lowest in the rainy one (0.0647 ind.m-2). The siphonal length (SL) and the lip thickness (LT) of 1836 conchs were measured; the SL varied from 87 to 286 mm. An analysis of LT showed that 72.93 % of conchs had a completely formed lip, but they measured less than 200 mm SL, the minimal allowed fishing size in Cuba. Apparently, the conch population at Cabo Cruz is constituted by small conchs, with a gradual increase in weight and lip thickness, turning them into "dwarf" conchs. This fact was possibly density-dependent. Results are compared with data obtained at Banco Chinchorro, Mexico. We propose some alternative with precautory focus to be included at the new revision of the Desembarco del Granma management plan, focused to conch and its sustainable use. KEY WORDS: Gastropod, density-dependent, distance sampling, sustainable use, management plan Current Trends of the Invasive Lionfish and Finfish Populations of South Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands Las Tendencias Actuales del Pez León Invasoras y las Poblaciones de Peces de South Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands Les Tendances Actuelles de Rascasses Volantes Invasives et les Populations de Poissons du South Caicos, Îles Turks et Caicos KEY WORDS: Lionfish, South Caicos, density, maturity, size Variability in Prevalence of the PaV1 Disease in Caribbean Spiny Lobsters Occupying Commercial “Casitas” over a Large Bay in Mexico Variabilidad en la Prevalencia de la Enfermedad PaV1 en Langostas Espinosas del Caribe que Ocupan “Casitas” Comerciales en una Bahía extensa en México Variabilité dans Prévalence de la Maladie PAV1 chez les Langoustes des Caraïbes qui Occupent des “Casitas” Commerciales dans une Grande Baie du Mexique REBECA I. CANDIA-ZULBARÁN*, PATRICIA BRIONES-FOURZÁN , FERNANDO NEGRETE-SOTO , CECILIA BARRADAS-ORTIZ, and ENRIQUE LOZANO-ÁLVAREZ Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto Posgrado en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Univiversidad Prol. Av. Niños Héroes s/n Ciudad Universitaria 3000, Col. Copilco-Universidad, México, D.F., 04360 México. Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo 77580 Mexico. *[email protected]. ABSTRACT In Bahía de la Ascensión (Mexico), the fishery for spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus) relies on the extensive use of casitas, artificial shelters 1.5–2 m² in surface area and 10–15 cm in height that can harbor the full size range of these highly gregarious lobsters. The emergence in 2000 of the disease caused by Panulirus argus Virus 1 (PaV1), which mostly affects juvenile lobsters and can be transmitted by contact, has raised concern about the potential effect of casitas on local prevalence levels of the PaV1 disease. To address this issue, we sampled thousands of lobsters from the commercial catch from Bahía de la Ascensión during three years, and from 530 casitas distributed over three different zones within the bay during two fishing and two closed seasons. In the commercial catch, disease prevalence (% lobsters patently infected with PaV1) was low (0.74–1.6%) but differed significantly with year. Among lobsters occupying casitas, disease prevalence was generally higher in juveniles than in subadults/adults, but varied with zone and season. In particular, levels of disease prevalence were consistently lower in one zone (0–2.9%) relative to the other two zones (5.3–9.6%). Regardless, the average prevalence (4.7%) was statistically similar to the average prevalence reported in Cuba (4.8%), where casitas are also used, and in Florida Bay (5%), where casitas are not used. These findings suggest that the dynamics of the PaV1 disease in lobster populations is driven more by local intrinsic and extrinsic factors than by the use of casitas. KEY WORDS: Panulirus argus, Virus 1 , artificial shelters, casitas, prevalence, Bahía de la Ascensión Page ABSTRACT The lionfish, Pterois volitans/miles, population has been expanding in South Caicos, Turks and Caicos Island since its introduction in 2007. Specimens are found through shallow and deep habitats, including mangroves, seagrass beds, patch and deep (>15m) reefs. An ontogenetic shift occurs, with smaller size classes in shallow compared to deeper habitats. Eigthy-five percent of the specimens collected have food in their stomachs and appear to eat throughout the day. Their density in shallow habitats has remained stable or decreased since 2010. This may be a result of biannual monitoring and eradication surveys since 2009 or a shift in habitat as the population becomes more established. Despite eradication efforts, their densities and size appear to be increasing in deeper reef habitats where large aggregations of mature lionfish are regularly observed. Collections in 2011 at deep sites along South Caicos revealed 25% of the fish were ripe females, compared to only 0.03% from 2010. Interestingly, only 0.04% of the specimens collected in 2011 from more distant cays were ripe females, suggesting that the deep reef wall near South Caicos may be a primary breeding ground. Concurrently, native species that may be the only predators and competitors of lionfish are showing signs of exploitation. Data from finfish landings since 2008 reveal significant reductions in standard length and size class distributions of grouper and snapper species. The establishment of a lionfish fishery in South Caicos could be an essential management effort needed to control the expanding population and alleviate pressure from the native species. 14 ALLISON CANDELMO*, MICAH STEIGER , ELIZABETH MCNAMEE , JOHN CLAYDON, and SARAH TRAIGER School for Field Studies, Center for Marine Resource Studies 1 West Street, South Caicos, Turks and Caicos, British West Indies *[email protected]. BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO The Influence of Weather Patterns on Fishing Activity Within a Small-scale Fishery, Utila Cays, Honduras La Influencia de los Patrones Climáticos en la Actividad Pesquera Dentro de una Pesquería de Pequeña Escala, Cayos de Utila, Honduras L'influence des Conditions Météorologiques sur l'Activité de Pêche dans une Pêcherie à Petite Échelle, Utila Cays, au Honduras STEVEN CANTY* and STEPHEN BOX Utila Centre for Marine Ecology, Centro de Ecologia Marina de Utila, Oficina 401-403 Edificio Florencia, Bulevard Suyapa Tegucigalpa, M.D.C. – Honduras. *[email protected]. [email protected]. ABSTRACT Climate change scenarios are increasingly incorporated into the management of fisheries, focusing on biological aspects of the fishery. Weather patterns also directly affect the activities of small scale and subsistence fishermen. Wave height, wind and current velocity and horizon visibility are important factors for determining fishing location accessibility. Changes in prevailing weather could therefore disproportionally affect the access to distinct fishing areas. Daily records of fishing location and landed catch of small-scale fishermen in the Utila Cays, Honduras, over a 12 month period, were combined with daily weather data for the area. Weather states were classified into conditions that; prohibited fishing excursions; limited accessibility of fishing grounds; or enabled unrestricted fishing activity. A model was built to predict the availability of different areas based on weather conditions. We compared these results to scenario models produced through interviews with the fishermen and information on the current reliance of the different fishing areas for distinct fish targets. Wind intensity negatively correlates with the distance travelled, as wind speed increased a greater proportion of fishers selected near shore areas. Definable limits for wind speed that prohibited fishing excursions for each season were detected. These findings correlated with the scenario modeling where strength of the easterly trade winds and the north wind storms were the main determinants for fishing activity and voyage direction. In the face of climate change these results can help define likely changes in fishing site selection and should be incorporated into fisheries management strategies, especially in marine protected area placement. KEY WORDS: Fisheries, climate change, wind, Honduras Page 15 Hydrography, Circulation and Fish Larvae in the Mesoamerican Reef System Hidrografía, Circulación y Larvas de Peces en el Sistema Arrecifal Mesoamericano Hydrographie, Circulation et Larves de Poissons dans le Système Mesoamerican de Récif LAURA CARRILLO1 *, LOURDES VASQUEZ-YEOMANS1, and JOHN LAMKIN2 El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Av. Centenraio km 5.5 Chetumal, Quintana Roo 77014 Mexico. *[email protected]. [email protected]. 2 NOAA/Fisheries, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami Florida 33149 USA. [email protected]. 1 ABSTRACT To provide a baseline study of the fisheries oceanography of the western Caribbean, a large-scale larval and hydrographic survey was carried out during the winter grouper spawning season in 2006 and 2007. Conductivity temperature Depth (CTD) casts and vessel mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) data) from two oceanographic campaigns were undertaken to gain insight into the hydrographic structure and currents in the Mesoamerican Reef System. A detailed description of the Yucatan Current and the distribution of the water masses in this region of the Caribbean is presented. A regional characterization based on the hydrography and circulation is suggested. Comparisons with distributions of fish larvae are reported. Implications for larval fish and eggs distribution is presented. KEY WORDS: Fish larvae, circulation, mesoamerican, reef, Yucatan current Coastal Currents Variability in a Reef Site of the Mesoamerican Reef System Variabilidad de las Corrientes Costeras de un Sitio Arrecifal del Sistema Arrecifal Mesoamericano Variabilité Côtière de Courants dans un Emplacement de Récif du Système Mesoamerican de Récif LAURA CARRILLO El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Av. Centenraio km 5.5 Chetumal, Quintana Roo 77014 Mexico. [email protected] ABSTRACT In this study, we investigated the subtidal and tidal variability of the along-shore and the cross-shore velocity component of currents in a marine protected area of the Measoamerican reef system and their implications for larval and pollutants transport. The study was undertaken in the marine protected area National Park Reef of Xcalak (Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak) by using 2 year period of current data collected with an Acoustic Doppler profilers (ADP) deployed offshore the reef site. Results of principal component analysis and power spectral analysis for the along-shore and cross-shore components are presented. The processes for dispersal and transport of larvae and pollutants from the current results in this reef site are suggested. KEY WORDS: Currents, mesoamerican, reef, dispersion, xcalak BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Managed Access in Belize Accesso Manaejado en Belize Accès Géré au Belize ADRIEL CASTAÑEDA1*, JULIO MAAZ2, NICANOR REQUEÑA3, and SELEEM CHAN4 Belize Fisheries Department, Princess Margaret Drive, Belize City, P.O. box 148, Belize. *[email protected]. 2 Wildlife Conservation Society, 1755 Coney Drive, Belize City, Belize. [email protected]. 3 Environmental Defense Fund, Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District, Belize C.A. [email protected]. 4 Toledo Institute for Development and Environment, 1 Mile San Antonio Road, Punta Gorda, Toledo District, Belize C.A. [email protected]. 1 ABSTRACT Belize’s commercial and subsistence fisheries are important to the livelihoods of over 3000 fishermen and their coastal communities. Belize’s National Fishery, currently an open access fishery, faces the threat of resource depletion clearly indicated by fishermen whose catch is constantly declining. In an effort to address this situation and the threat of overexploitation of our fisheries resources, the Belize Fisheries Department in partnership with Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE); Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has embarked on the implementation of a managed access pilot project for fishermen in two of Belize’s Marine Reserves. The project is designed to empower traditional fishers by ensuring greater participation in the decision-making process that impacts their livelihood, and by improving the benefits to be derived from the fish stocks in terms of increased fish landings, reduction in fishing effort, larger size classes and increased prices and revenues. In addition, there will be benefits accrued to the ecosystem, contributing to the maintenance of the overall health and sustainability of the Belize Barrier Reef complex. Key to the success of this project is the reduction in the number of users at the project site coupled with a good monitoring program, a dedicated presence of enforcement personnel but most importantly, a greater participation of fishers themselves in the program. This project is being implemented by a coalition of managers, NGOs and fishermen and is being implemented at Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve and Port Honduras Marine Reserve. KEY WORDS: Limited Access, Belize, rights-based management, open access, fisheries management tool NADIA CAZAUBON Soufriere Marine Management Association, PO Box 305, Soufriere, St. Lucia. [email protected]. ABSTRACT The success of the Soufriere Marine Management Area (SMMA) in protecting Marine Reserves can be attributed in part to the diversification of fishers livelihoods in tourism and introduction of new fishing technology. In 2010, the SMMA collaborated with the Soufriere Fishermen’s Cooperative Society Limited (SFCSL) to build local offshore fishing capacity through the introduction of fishers to longline fishing technology using open pirogues as adapted by Grenada. Understanding that older fishers are comfortable using the fishing gear they are accustomed to, they are less likely to adopt new fishing technology. As such, the SMMA and the SFCSL strategically selected three young fishers and a Fisheries Officer from the Department of Fisheries in St. Lucia to participate in the fisher training. The contingent participated in an intensive one-week learning exchange in Grenada. Fisheries Officers from the Grenada Fisheries Division taught participants how to construct longlines, fish handling on board small vessels and the modifications that are required to outfit an open pirogue to conduct longline fishing. Two day-long fishing expeditions resulted in landings of two yellowfin tuna measuring 138 and 131 pounds. Participants subsequently conducted a training exercise with additional members from the SFCSL upon return to St. Lucia. KEY WORDS: Marine Protected Area , Soufriere Marine Management Area (SMMA), fisher training Effect of Climate Change on the Caribbean Lobster Fisheries Efecto del Cambio Climátco sobre las Pesquerías de Langosta del Caribe Effet du Changement Climatique sur les Pecheries de Langouste du Caraibe ERNESTO A. CHÁVEZ* and ELTON ADAIR GARCÍA-CÓRDOVA Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, I Av. IPN s/n Col. Playa Palo de Sta Rita, El Conchalito La Paz, BCS 23096 México. *[email protected]. [email protected]. ABSTRACT Fluctuations in abundance of exploited stocks and their possible relationship with oceanic climate have been described and analyzed over the past two decades. One way to explore the potential effect of climate change on the fisheries is by comparing the time series of climate indices with respect to fluctuations in catch. These indices summarize the ocean processes based on key attributes of climate. Thus, in this paper we provide evidence of the potential effects of climate change on the spiny lobster fisheries of the Caribbean. To evaluate these relationships, catch data of the 25 Caribbean countries exploiting spiny lobster were used. Polynomial regression equations of second to fifth order were applied, where the independent variable is the annual data series of each climate index, and the catch data of each country as well as from the entire Caribbean, were the dependent variables. Results are similar to those found with other fisheries, where the climate indices often show high correlation with respect to catch data. Therefore, we conclude that the use of these indices is an appropriate mean to evaluate the impacrt of climate on exploited stocks, as a first approach. The impact of climate is sometimes more intense than that caused by exploitation. KEYWORDS: Caribbean lobster, climate indices, fisheries, climate change, Catch Page Introduction de Nouvelles Techniques de Pêche Pour Protéger les Réserves Marines Dans la SMMA 16 Introduction of New Fishing Technology To Protect Marine Reserves in the SMMA Introducción DeNuevas Tecnologías Pesqueras Para Proteger Las Reservas Marinas En La SMMA BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Abundancia Larval de Gasterópodos y de Strombus gigas en Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México Larval Abundance of Gastropods and Strombus gigas in Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico L'Abondance des Larves de Gastéropodes et Strombus gigas à Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexique JOSE FRANCISCO CHAVEZ1*, ROSA MARIA LORETO VIRUEL2 , LUIS ALBERTO RAMOS2 , JACOBO ALEJANDRO CAAMAL MADRIGAL2, MERCEDES ISABEL SANCHEZ SANDOVAL2, y DALILA ALDANA ARANDA1 1 CINVESTAV-IPN Unidad Merida, Km. 6 Antigua Carretera a Progreso, Merida, Yucatan 97310 Mexico. [email protected]. [email protected]. 2CONANP, Parque Nacional Arrecife de Puerto Morelos, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo 77580 Mexico. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. RESUMEN De junio a septiembre de 2011 se realizaron monitoreos de plancton en cinco estaciones de Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo (1. Cid-Jardín; 2. Ceiba-UNAM; 3. Caracol; 4. Peligro-Bonanza; 5. Limones), con la finalidad de conocer la abundancia larval de gasterópodos para este sitio. Durante la pleamar, empleándose una red cónica de 300µm de abertura de malla se realizaron arrastres con una duración de 15 minutos desde una embarcación con motor fuera de borda a una velocidad constante de 5 m/s. Las muestras fueron fijadas en formol salino al 4%. La densidad media fue de 52.45±42.81 larvas·10 m-3, la estación con mayores registros fue Limones seguida por caracol (73.58±68.86 y 60.61±54.78 larvas·10 m-3, respectivamente). Junio presentó los valores más bajos con 6.6±8.98 larvas·10 m-3y en julio se registró la mayor densidad 94.04±34.50 larvas·10 m-3. Se observaron larvas de Strombus gigas en junio en la estación Cid-Jardín (0.36 larvas·10 m-3), y en julio para las estaciones 1, 2 y 5 (0.55, 0.91 y 0.36 larvas·10 m-3, respectivamente). El análisis de varianza de una vía mostró diferencias significativas entre meses (p: 0.0002) pero no entre estaciones (p: 0.8572). El test de Tukey mostró que la abundancia media larval de gasterópodos en junio es estadísticamente distinta (p ≤ 0.05). PALABRAS CLAVE: Puerto Morelos, gasterópodos, larvas, Strombus gigas Page 17 Abundancia Espacio-temporal de Larvas de Strombus gigas (Linnaeus, 1758) en el Sistema Arrecifal Mesoamericano Spatio-temporal Abundance of Strombus gigas Larvae (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System L’Abondance Spatio-Temporelle des Larves de Strombus gigas (Linnaeus, 1758) dans le Recife Mesoamerican JOSE FRANCISCO CHAVEZ VILLEGAS*, MARTHA ENRIQUEZ DIAZ, y DALILA ALDANA ARANDA CINVESTAV-IPN, Unidad Merida, Km. 6 Antigua Carretera a Progreso, Merida, Yucatan 97310 Mexico. *[email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. RESUMEN Cinco sitios del Sistema Arrecifal Mesoamericano (México: Puerto Morelos, Xel-Há, Sian Ka’an, Mahahual y para Belice: San Pedro), fueron muestreados mensualmente de enero a diciembre de 2008, con la finalidad de conocer la variación espacio-temporal de la abundancia larval de Strombus gigas (Linnaeus, 1758). Se efectuaron arrastres de plancton por triplicado, empleándose una red cónica de 300μm de abertura de malla. Las m uestras fueron fijadas en formol salino al 4%. En cada sitio de muestreo se registró temperatura (°C), salinidad (0/00) y oxígeno disuelto (mg.L-1). La abundancia larval de S. gigas fue diferente entre localidades, siendo Puerto Morelos la que presentó el mayor valor (0.47±1.21 larvas·10 m-3). Se observaron dos picos de abundancia: abril (2.17±1.63 larvas·10 m-3) y agosto-septiembre (1.81±3.14 larvas·10 m-3). La correlación entre densidad y parámetros fisicoquímicos no mostró asociación significativa, con excepción de la salinidad (r: 0.6307). Las tallas no presentaron variación temporal significativa (p: 0.3176), pero si espacial (p: 0.0098). El 98.82% de las larvas tuvieron una talla entre 150-450 µm. PALABRAS CLAVE: Abundancia, Strombus gigas, larvas, Sistema Arrecifal Mesoamericano, Abundancia Larval de Moluscos, Peces y Crustáceos en Xel-Há, Quintana Roo, México Larval Abundance of Mollusks, Fish and Crustaceans in Xel-Há, Quintana Roo, Mexico L’Abondance des Larves des Mollusques, Poissons, et Crustacés en Xel-há, Quintana Roo, Mexique JOSE FRANCISCO CHAVEZ VILLEGAS *, NURIA ESTRADA SALDIVAR , FRANCISCO GAMEROS ESCOTO , y DALILA ALDANA ARANDA CINVESTAV-IPN, Unidad Merida, Km. 6 Antigua Carretera a Progreso, Merida, Yucatan 97310 Mexico. * [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. RESUMEN Con la finalidad de conocer la abundancia de larvas de moluscos (M), peces (P) y crustáceos (C) en la caleta de Xel-Há, Quintana Roo, México, de abril a julio de 2011 fueron realizados arrastres de plancton por triplicadoen cuatro estaciones (Bocana, Centro, Brazo Norte y Cueva de los Milagros), empleándose una red cónica de 300μm de abertura de malla. Las muestras fueron fijadas en formol salino al 4%. La mayor abund ancia larval fue registrada para crustáceos (42.70±53.20 larvas·10 m-3), seguido por moluscos (1.76±2.55 larvas·10 m-3) y peces (1.55±2.63 larvas·10 m-3). Bocana presentó la mayor abundancia (C:72.28±77.01 larvas·10 m-3;M: 3.68±4.47 larvas·10 m-3; P: 3.50±3.90 larvas·10 m-3). Julio tuvo los mayores registros (C:98.84±68.27 larvas·10 m-3; P: 2.94±3.66 larvas·10 m-3; M: 2.81±4.01 larvas·10 m-3). El análisis de varianza de una vía mostró diferencias significativas en la abundancia larval entre sitios para peces y moluscos (p: 0.0483 y p: 0.0364, respectivamente), siendo estadísticamente diferente la Bocana (Tukey: p≤0.05). En el análisis realizado entre meses, sólo se presentó variación significativa para la abundancia de crustáceos (p≤ 0.0001), siendo distinto julio (Tukey: p≤0.05). Se observó que la Bocana es el punto con mayor diversidad de organismos en la caleta de Xel-Há. PALABRAS CLAVE: Abundancia larval, moluscos, peces, crustáceos, Xel-Há BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Caracterización Espacio-temporal de la Pesquería Artesanal del Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak, Quintana Roo, México Space-time Characterization of Artisanal Fisheries in Xcalak Reefs National Park, Quintana Roo, Mexico Espace-temps Caractérisation des la Pêche Artisanale dans le Parc Nationale Récifs des Xcalak, Quintana Roo, Mexique WENDY CHI PRIETO1*, FELIPE FONSECA PERALTA2, JOSÉ MANUEL CASTRO PÉREZ , MARÍA DEL CARMEN GARCÍA1, RIVAS WADY1, y HADAD LÓPEZ1 1 Instituto Tecnológico de Chetumal, Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak-CONANP, Ave. Insurgentes 330 Col. David Gustavo Gutiérrez, Chetumal, Q.Roo 77013 México. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. 2Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak, Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas, Ave. Insurgentes No. 445 Edif. SEMARNAT Chetumal, Quintana Roo 77039 México. [email protected]. [email protected]. RESUMEN En el Gran Caribe existen pocos trabajos relacionados con las actividades de pesca en comunidades de peces arrecífales. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo describir la variabilidad espacio-temporal de la extracción y aprovechamiento de peces de escama en el Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak, con la finalidad de contar con información actualizada sobre la actividad y pueda ser considerada en la toma de decisiones. Las principales pesquerías dentro del Parque Xcalak, son la captura de la langosta espinosa (Panulirus argus) como la principal y algunas especies de peces de escama de alto valor comercial. Los datos de escama se registraron directamente de los sitios de pesca, llevando a cabo muestreos aleatorios simples de las capturas de peces por embarcación. Se registraron 41 especies en las capturas, siendo las más importantes Lutjanus analis, Lutjanus griseus, Haemulon sciurus, Lutjanus apodus, Haemulon flavolineatum, Ocyurus chrysurus y Lutjanus synagris. Considerando las capturas por arte de pesca se determino que las familias Serranidae (Meros) y Lutjanidae (Pargos) estuvieron más representadas en la captura con arpón, mientras que Lutjanidae fue la más capturada utilizando red y línea de mano. Las familias Mugilidae y Carangidae se capturaron con mayor frecuencia con atarraya y palangre, respectivamente. La Captura por Unidad de Esfuerzo (CPUE) fue estandarizada a través de modelos lineales generalizados para la comparación espacio-temporal, siendo el canal de Zaragoza y Muelle fiscal los sitios con los mayores valores de la CPUE y riqueza de especies, debido principalmente a su complejidad estructural que presentan. Temporalmente los valores más altos de CPUE y riqueza de especie se presentaron en la época de nortes en los meses de Octubre y Noviembre. Environnements Physiques de la Mer des Caraïbes ILIANA CHOLLETT1*, PETER J MUMBY2, FRANK E MÜLLER-KARGER3, and CHUANMIN HU3 University of Exeter, University of Queensland, Hatherly labs, Prince of Wales road Exeter, EX44PS United Kingdom.* [email protected]. 2University of Queensland, University of Exeter Goddard Building, St. Lucia Brisbane, 4072 Australia, [email protected]. 3 University of South Florida, Knight Oceanographic Research Center, (KORC) building, St. Petersburg, Florida USA. [email protected]. [email protected]. 1 ABSTRACT The Caribbean Sea encompasses a vast range of physical environmental conditions that have a profound influence on the organisms that live there. Here we utilise satellite and in situ products to undertake a region-wide categorization of the Physical Environments of the Caribbean Sea (PECS). The classification approach is hierarchical and focuses on physical constraints that drive many aspects of coastal ecology including species distributions, ecosystem function and disturbance. The first level represents physicochemical properties including metrics of sea surface temperature (average, minimum and maximum monthly mean), turbidity (relative frequency of anomalies), and salinity (average). The second level considers mechanical disturbance and includes both chronic disturbance from wave exposure and acute disturbance from hurricanes. The maps have a spatial resolution of 1 km2. An unsupervised neural network classification produced 16 physicochemical provinces for the Caribbean Sea. Spatial patterns in province geography reflect well-known ocean processes. The provinces can be categorized into six broad groups: (1) areas of high turbidity and low salinity, such as the Orinoco River plume; (2) areas of high turbidity, broadly distributed in the basin; (3) areas low salinity such as the high runoff region along Panama and Costa Rica; (4) upwelling areas in Yucatan and the southern Caribbean; (5) high-latitude areas including the waters of the Gulf of Mexico; (6) offshore waters of the inner Caribbean. Because physical environments underpin so much of coastal ecosystem structure and function, we anticipate that the PECS classification will facilitate comparative analyses and inform the stratification of studies across environmental provinces. KEY WORDS: Marine biogeography, mapping, disturbance regime, oceanography, self-organizing maps Page Physical Environments of the Caribbean Sea Ambientes Físicos del Mar Caribe 18 PALABRAS CLAVE: caribe mexicano, xcalak, escama, pesquerías, patrón espacio temporal BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Cambio de Fase Coral-algas en el Arrecife de Coral de Mahahual, en el Caribe Mexicano Coral-algae Phase Shift at the Coral Reef of Mahahual, at the Mexican Caribbean Déphasage Coral-algues à la Barrière de Corail de Mahahual, dans la CaraÏbe Mexicaine ANDREA CHUC CONTRERAS*, ILEANA ORTEGON-AZNAR, ANTONIO TUYUB MOTA, JOSUÉ SUÁREZ SALAZAR, ANGEL CHAN TE , y YONY GOMEZ VARGUEZ. Licenciatura en Biología Marina, CCBA. UADY, Km 15.5 Carr. Mérida, Xmatkuil A.P. 4-116. Mérida , Yucatán 97100. Mexico. * [email protected]. RESUMEN En las pasadas dos décadas, los arrecifes coralinos en el Caribe han experimentado cambios en la dominancia de sus componentes bióticos, las Macroalgas son componentes importantes de estos sistemas, sin embargo, la reducción de herbívoros causada por la sobrepesca promueve el incremento de cambios de fase coral-alga, este cambio permite que las algas desplacen la cobertura coralina. Se muestrearon tres zonas (norte, sur y centro) de la laguna arrecifal cercana de la cresta en la zona de Mahahual, Se hicieron dos transectos de 20 m paralelos a la costa en cada zona, y cuadrantes de .0625 m2. La cobertura de algas epibiontes sobre los corales pétreos se determinó mediante el método de Braun-Blanquet por censo visual y se determinó la diversidad y dominancia coralina de las zonas con el índice de Simpson. Se encontró un total de siete géneros de Corales pétreos siendo Montastrea spp y Diploria spp las especies dominantes, 10 especies de algas y una forma de crecimiento algal (Turf), siendo las cianofitas (23 %) y el Turf (24-50%) las que presentaron mayor incidencia. La Zona Sur presentó 3 géneros de corales y 7 de algas predominando la combinación Montrastrea-Turf. En la zona centro hubo mayor diversidad de coral siendo la combinación predominante Diploria-Cianofita. La zona norte presentó menor abundancia de corales y mayor abundancia en Cianofitas siendo la combinación predominante Montastrea-Cianofitas. Se encontró que en la zona norte hubo mayor cobertura de cianofitas sobre la superficie coralina, siendo esta zona la que presenta mayor influencia antropogénica. Este fenómeno generalmente se relaciona con la alta concentración de nutrientes, la sobrepesca de herbívoros, altas tasas de sedimentación y actividades humanas en las costas. PALABRAS CLAVE: Coral-alga, cambio de fase, Caribe mexicano, Mahahual Coral and Algae Cover with Respect to Abundances of the Sea Urchin Diadema antillarum in Puerto Rico Page 19 Corales y Algas Cubren con Respecto a la Abundancia del Erizo de Mar Diadema antillarum en Puerto Rico Couverture de Corail et d'Algues en ce qui Concerne des Abundances de Diadema antillarum d'Oursin au Porto Rico ROBERTO COLON SAM UPR-RP, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931 Puerto Rico. [email protected]. ABSTRACT Diadema antillarum has been recognized as a key species in coral reefs due in part to its eating habits of macroalgae. This selective behavior played an important role in controlling abundance, distribution of algae and promoting coral recruitment by keeping substrate free of algae and available for colonization. The objective of this study was to relate the abundance of the D. antillarum to that of the coral and algae cover at nine sites around Puerto Rico. Sea urchin densities were assessed by placing randomly five 20m2 belts transects at similar depth (0 to 3 m) at each site. Within each transect five 1m2 quadrat were placed (25 total) to assess coral and algae cover. Results indicate that coral cover was inversely related to alga cover in only two of the 9 sites. There was not a significant relationship between sea urchins abundances and coral cover. Similarly abundances were not related to alga cover. Results of this study indicate that the relation between coral cover and algae cover is not as simple as an inversely proportional relation as suggested by other studies. In addition, results suggest that sea urchins did not play a significant role in increasing coral cover and the reducing algae cover. This result challenges previous knowledge regarding such relationship. Spatial-temporal influence should be taken in consideration when drawing conclusions. KEY WORDS: Abundance, Diadema antillarum, relationship, coral, algae Características de Operación de Tres Flotas que Inciden sobre el Mero Rojo y Especies Asociadas en Yucatán, México: Potenciales Externalidades Analysis of the Operating Characteristics of Three Fleets that Affects the Red Grouper and Associated Species in Yucatan, Mexico: Potential Externalities Les Caractéristiques de Fonctionnement des Trois Flottes qui Affectent le Mérou Rouge et des Espèces Associées dans le Yucatán, au Mexique: Les Externalités Potentielles EVA CORONADO CASTRO* y SILVIA SALAS CINVESTAV-Merida, km 6. Antigua Carretera Progreso, Merida, Yucatan 97310 Mexico. *[email protected]. [email protected]. RESUMEN Este trabajo se centró en determinar diferencias entre las formas de operación de las flotas que inciden en el recurso mero rojo y especies asociadas, identificación de especies objetivo y el análisis de la proporción de individuos capturados debajo de la talla de primera madurez (TPM). Se colecto información en los puertos de Celestún, Progreso, Dzilam de Bravo y Río Lagartos. Para la caracterización de las flotas se determinaron variables referentes a la zona y tiempo de pesca y características de la embarcación. Estas variables fueron contrastadas con el análisis de Kruskal-Wallis. Se estimó la captura por unidad de esfuerzo (CPUE) empleando dos unidades de esfuerzo: número de viajes de pesca y horas efectivas de viaje. Se identificaron 34 especies. Para los meros Epinephelus morio y Mycteroperca bonaci, y los pargos Ocyurus chrysurus y Lutjanus synagris se analizo la composición por tallas. Se observaron diferencias en las tallas de mero capturadas por cada flota y se observo una proporción mayor al 70% de organismos capturados BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO debajo de la TPM y solo el 1% en el caso de los pargos. Se evidenció el efecto de externalidad secuencial en el caso del mero y la incidencia en juveniles. En el análisis de CPUE, las horas de pesca parecieron la mejor unidad de esfuerzo relacionada con las capturas para la flota mediana (14.64 kg/h). Utilizando los viajes de pesca como alternativa, la CPUE de la flota mayor fue más alta (1239 kg/viaje). Los análisis y las diferencias en las variables analizadas confirman la división de tres flotas, en lugar de dos como oficialmente se ha venido haciendo. Se discuten los resultados obtenidos en el marco de manejo pesquero. PALABRAS CLAVE: Mero rojo, pargos, externalidades, flotas pesqueras, talla primera madurez Socioeconomics of Billfish Sportfishing in Isla Mujeres, Mexico - An Evaluation of the Relationship Between Willingness to Pay and Catch Per Unit Effort Socioeconomía de la Pesca Deportiva en Marlines Isla Mujeres, México - Una Evaluación de la Relación entre la Disposición a Pagar y por Unidad de Esfuerzo Socio-Économie des Marlins Sportfishing Isla Mujeres, Mexique - Une Évaluation de la Relation Entre la Volonté de Payer et la Capture par Unit Effort KEY WORDS: Sportfishing, billfish, recreational fishing, socioeconomics, willingness to pay The Role Livelihood Strategies and Outcomes Play in Adaptive Co-management of the Sea Urchin Fisheries in Barbados and St. Lucia El Papel de las Estrategias de Subsistencia y los Resultados del Juego en la Cogestión Adaptativa de la Pesca del Erizo de Mar en Barbados y Santa Lucía Les Stratégies de Subsistance Rôle et les Résultats Jouer dans la Co-Gestion Adaptativede la Pêche de l'Oursin à La Barbade et à Sainte-Lucie SHELLY-ANN COX* and PATRICK MCCONNEY Centre for Resource Management and Environmental (CERMES), UWI, Cave Hill, St Michael , BB11000 Barbados. *[email protected]. [email protected]. ABSTRACT The sea urchin fisheries of Barbados and St Lucia have provided supplemental income for families living in coastal communities for many years. These fisheries have also shaped the history and influenced the cultural undertones of communities that traditionally take part in harvesting activities. In recent times, the low populations of sea urchins have resulted in multi-year closures. In Barbados the last open season occurred in 2004 while St. Lucia had a three-day open season in 2009 after being closed for four years prior to that time. These closures suggest that current management measures are not producing results that sustain livelihoods in the fishery. The adoption of an adaptive co-management (ACM) approach which empowers resource users and other stakeholders to manage their resources and protect their livelihood may provide a solution. Implementing such an arrangement requires commitment to a long term institution building process likely to encounter many challenges. Assessing the feasibility of implementing this innovative approach to management is part of doctoral research in five sea urchin harvesting communities in Barbados and St. Lucia. Livelihoods analyses were conducted in Silver Sands and Consett Bay in Barbados and Anse Ger, Laborie and Vieux Fort in St. Lucia. In each community a short questionnaire was administered at the household level to investigate assets, vulnerabilities, institutions, livelihood strategies and outcomes. This paper presents preliminary findings and suggests how livelihood strategies and outcomes can develop and sustain conditions that favour successful ACM. KEY WORDS: Adaptive co-management, sea urchin, livelihoods, Barbados, St. Lucia Page ABSTRACT In recent studies, The Billfish Foundation highlighted that billfish sportfishing generates large economic benefits for coastal communities. Within developing tourism sites like Los Cabos, Mexico and Costa Rica, the billfishing industry was estimated to generate $1.1 billion and $599 million in annual total economic impacts during 2007 and 2008, respectively. A 1994 study in Puerto Rico (PR) estimated that billfishing generates $43.9 million ($91.1 million in 2011 dollars) annually and also found that the willingness to pay (WTP), a means to measure non-market value, was more than twice that of anglers billfishing in the U.S. Atlantic. This increase in WTP by anglers in PR was attributed to the higher catch per unit effort (CPUE) and reflects that more intrinsic value is placed upon the fishery by anglers. Data from TBF’s Tag & Release Program can be extrapolated and used to forecast the effort and economic benefits in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean regions. Preliminary data for Isla Mujeres found that 2,182 different anglers took 6,385 trips in which 8,489 fish were caught and released. Only 4.3% of these reported anglers are from Mexico, while 92.8% of the anglers are from the U.S.— exemplifying an increased WTP by anglers who travel to fish in Isla Mujeres. Evaluating the relationship between CPUE and WTP of billfishing anglers in Isla Mujeres establishes a model that can be used for both fisheries and tourism officials to understand the intercorrelation between billfish stock health and potential economic benefits for their communities. 20 ANDREW COX University of Miami RSMAS, The Billfish Foundation, 2201 Brickell Avenue, 63 Miami, Florida 33129. [email protected]. BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Evidence for a Significant Decline in Queen Conch in the Bahamas, Including the Population in a Marine Protected Area Evidencia de una Déclinación Significativa en Concha de Reina en las Bahamas, Incluyendo la Población en un Área Protegida Marina Evidence pour un Déclin Significatif dans la Lambi en Bahamas, y Compris la Population dans une Zone Protégée Marine MARTHA DAVIS1*, ALLAN STONER2, AND CATHERINE BOOKER1 Community Conch, 5050 S. Albion Street, Littleton, Colorado 80121 USA, * [email protected]. [email protected]. 2 NOAA Fisheries. Alaska Fisheries Science Cente.r 2030 S. Marine Science Drive, Newport, Oregon 97365 USA. al.stoner@noaa. 1 ABSTRACT Twenty years ago, surveys conducted in the Exuma Cays, Bahamas, showed that the density of adult queen conch in the shallow bank habitat at the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park (ECLSP) (>50 adults/ha) was 17 times higher than in a fished area near Lee Stocking Island (LSI). Differences in the deeper shelf environment (10-30 m) were about four times higher. When identical surveys were repeated in 2011, it was discovered that the density of conch in the bank habitat of LSI had increased slightly, but numbers in the shelf habitat had declined almost 91%, to densities below capacity to support reproduction. At ECLSP, bank densities declined by 69% to just 16 adults/ha. While the shelf population decreased only 6.4%, the overall adult population in ECLSP is becoming older, indicating recruitment limitation. These surveys represent just two specific areas in the Exuma Cays, but it is clear that queen conch populations have declined precipitously since the 1990s, and that conch inside even a large protected area like ECLSP are vulnerable to fishing that occurs outside the reserve. We propose that a single marine reserve cannot work in isolation for species with pelagic larvae. We recommend that a network of reserves and substantially reduced fishing mortality will be required for sustainable harvest of queen conch (and other species with pelagic larvae) in The Bahamas and other nations of the Caribbean. KEY WORDS: Queen conch, MPA, population dynamics, Bahamas, reproduction The Caribbean Fish Sanctuaries Partnership Initiative (C-Fish Initiative): A New Approach to Promote Private Sector Participation in Support of Caribbean MPAs Page 21 La Iniciativa de Sociedad de Santuarios de Pescado Caribe (C-Fish Initiative): Un Nuevo Acercamiento Para Promover Participación de Sector Privado en Apoyo de MPAs Caribe Caribe l'Initiative du Partenariat de Reserves de Poisson des Caraïbes (C-Fish Initiative): Une Nouvelle Approche de Promouvoir la Participation de Secteur Privé a l’Appui des AMPs Caraïbes OWEN DAY* and MURRAY SIMPSON CARIBSAVE, Hastings House, Balmoral Gap Christ Church, Barbados. *[email protected]. [email protected]. ABSTRACT The Caribbean Fish Sanctuaries Partnership Initiative (C-Fish Initiative) is a strategy for building resilience to climate change and improving the sustainability of livelihoods in coastal communities across the Caribbean. The C-Fish Initiative will establish a sustainable financing mechanism to support community-based fish sanctuaries in close partnership with local and international private sector companies in the tourism sector. The initiative will capture and leverage the increasing willingness of tourists, tour operators and resort owners to actively participate in supporting the livelihoods of vulnerable communities and the management of coastal resources. The C-Fish Initiative will develop a craft programme as a fund-raising mechanism that will also support local artisans and artists through training, promotion and access to markets, thus spreading the economic benefits of the project to another vulnerable sector of Caribbean society. The C-Fish Initiative will use an innovative communication strategy and Web 2.0 technologies (e.g. social media, interactive multimedia) to engage a wider range of regional and international stakeholders. The project website will include streaming video from underwater cameras placed inside fish sanctuaries which will be used to promote awareness and facilitate ecological monitoring. These video streams will also be part of a new research and technology transfer collaboration with an international consortium (Fish4Knowledge - see http://homepages.inf.ed.ac.uk/rbf/Fish4Knowledge/) that is developing image analysis software tools that can automatically recognise, identify, and measure tropical fish species. KEY WORDS: MPA, financing, monitoring, resilience, livelihoods Resultados Preliminares del Contenido de Metales Pesados en el Ostión Crassostrea virginica de la Laguna El Carmen, Tabasco, México Preliminary Results of the Heavy Metals Content in the Oyster Crassostrea virginica from El Carmen lagoon, Tabasco, México Les Résultats Préliminaires de Teneur en Métaux Lourds dans les Huîtres Crassostrea virginica de la Lagune de El Carmen, Tabasco, México MÓNICA DE LA CRUZ ABALOS1*, NANCY BRITO-MANZANO1, EDITH MIRANDA-CRUZ1 , ULISES LOPEZ-NOVEROLA1, DALILA ALDANA-ARANDA2, MARTHA ENRRIQUEZ-DÍAZ1, y JOSÉ M. PASCUAL-PATRICIO2 1 División Académica de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Km 25 carretera Villahermosa-teapa, Villahermosa, Tabasco 86280 México. *[email protected]. [email protected]. 2 CINVESTAV-IPN, Unidad Mérid,a KM 6 Antigua carretera a Progreso MéridaYucatán 97310 México. RESUMEN Los Estuarios y las Lagunas Costeras son ecosistemas complejos que por sus características únicas albergan a un gran número de organismos de importancia ecológica y comercial (Alvarez y Celis 1982) y por su ubicación, sirven como asentamientos urbanos, portuarios e industriales, que utilizan a BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO estos sistemas acuáticos como áreas de vertimiento de desechos, principalmente en el Golfo de México, la industria petrolera (Toledo 1982). Para evaluar la contaminación en un ecosistema acuático, es necesario recurrir a ciertos organismos que por su hábitat y ubicación en la cadena alimenticia, sirvan como indicadores, éstos además deben reunir ciertas características: presentar una amplia distribución geográfica, ser sedentarios, preferentemente sésiles y tener importancia económica, por ello los moluscos, son considerados monitores del cambio causado por la contaminación ambiental, dentro de este grupo, los bivalvos son estimados como los mejores bioindicadores, no sólo por su forma de vida y hábitos tróficos, sino también porque son una fuente importante de alimento, tal es la situación de los ostiones (, y ), los mejillones ( y ) y la almeja () (Lauenstein 1990, Guerrero 1993). (Nishikawa y Larsen 1975, Osuna 1990). Los estudios sobre toxicidad cobran mayor relevancia cuando son llevados a cabo sobre especies de importancia en la pesca. La acumulación de metales pesados en ostión de las lagunas del Golfo de México, se debe principalmente a las descargas de actividades antropogénicas y procesos fisicoquímicos y ecofisiológicos que ocurren en estos sistemas. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar las concentraciones de Cd, Pb, Co, Cr, Cu y Zn de éste ostión en la laguna El Carmen, Tabasco. PALABRAS CLAVE: Metales pesados, ostión , Tabasco Overfishing Works La Sobrepesca Funciona Le Surpêche Travaille RAMON DE LEON1*, MARK VERMEIJ2, and FERNANDO SIMAL1 STINAPA Bonaire. Bonaire National Marine Park, P.O. Box 368, Bonaire Kralendijk, Dutch Caribbean. *[email protected]. [email protected]. 2CARMABI Caribbean Research & Management of Biodiversity, P.O. Box 2090, Willemstad, Curacao. [email protected] KEY WORDS: Lionfish , biomass, divers , control Why Communication Matters: The Case of the Marine Resource Governance in the Eastern Caribbean (MarGov) Project Por qué es Importante la Comunicación: El Caso de la Gobernanza de los Recursos Marinos en el Caribe Oriental (MarGov) del Proyecto Pourquoi la Communication est Importante: Le Cas de la Gouvernance des Ressources Marines dans les Caraïbes Orientales (MarGov) de Projet LYN-MARIE DEANE* and PATRICK MCCONNEY Centre for Resource Management and Environmental, The University of the West Indie,s Cave Hill Campus, Cave Hill, St. Michael , BB 11000 Barbados. *[email protected]. [email protected]. ABSTRACT The MarGov Project is a five-year applied research project on marine resource governance in the eastern Caribbean. Through the use of complex adaptive system and social-ecological system concepts, the project has focused on understanding governance related to small-scale fisheries and coastal management. The project examined how present and planned marine and coastal resource governance initiatives could become more adaptive and resilient to benefit diverse stakeholders on various levels in the eastern Caribbean. Communication, a key component of the project, is one of the most dynamic processes known to man. Communication is considered efficient and effective only when the message relayed from sender to receiver is fully understood. Scientists once believed that science “spoke for itself”, so they had research results but were sadly unable to communicate them to others. It is on this premise that effective and efficient communication became a key feature of the MarGov Project. Communicating science with clarity, coupled with selecting the correct target audience, the proper communication channels and messages helps scientists make their work better understood. The MarGov project structured its communication plan and strategy around the question “How efficiently can the project communicate with partners, target institutions and other stakeholders?” We report on the role communication plays in the MarGov Project and could play in others. KEY WORDS: Communication, governance, science, target audience, channels Page ABSTRACT In October 2009 lionfish (Pterois spp.) were first observed on Curacao and Bonaire, two sister islands in the Southern Caribbean, and within months the fish spread around these islands. Active elimination efforts were immediately started on Bonaire in October 2009, whereas Curacao started a similar eradication program in July 2011. While spear fishing is illegal on both islands, local authorities contracted local divers that were equipped with small modified spear guns designed to kill lionfish. In July 2011, we tested for the effectiveness of the control efforts by comparing the abundance of lionfish between fished and unfished sites on Bonaire and between the two islands as eradication efforts had not yet started on Curacao. On unfished Curacao, average lionfish biomass for various depth zones ranged between 5.2 g/m2 (15m) and 11.8 g/m2 (35m). On Bonaire, these values were on average 1.8 and 7.6 times lower, respectively. The island-wide average lionfish biomass on Bonaire was 2.0 g/m2 contrasted to 8.4 g/m2 on Curacao. While lionfish abundance depends on habitat type, depth and the number of divers frequenting each zone, our results indicate that control efforts can be effective even after one year of implementation. These results indicate that effective control of invading lionfish on islands that have an active diving community is possible through involvement of this community in local control efforts. 22 1 BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Co-Management for FAD Fishery to Resolve User Conflict: Dominica Experience Una Resolciòn de Conflictos Usuarios de FAD: Experiencia Dominicana Co-Gestion de la Pêche par DCP pour Résoudre les Conflits entre Utilisateurs: Expérience de la Dominique JULLAN DEFOE1*, NORMAN NORRIS2, and MITSUHIRO ISHIDA3 Fisheries Division Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Roseau, Dominica. *[email protected]. 2Fisheries Division Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Physical Planning, Roseau, Dominica. [email protected]. 3Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Fisheries Division, Point Wharf Fisheries Complex, St. John's Antigua and Barbuda W.I. 1 ABSTRACT In the past decade Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) fishing grew to such significance that in 2010 it contributed to 74% of the total fish production on Dominica (2000 5%, 2005 20%). Over time the governance of FAD fishing took on an ad hoc uncoordinated and unregulated approach which warranted immediate attention to address the growing incidence of user conflict. These conflicts surrounding the use of FADs lead to interventions by fisher’s organizations and government to find solutions to such problems. Twelve national consultations were held between 2009 and 2010 island wide, to solicit feedback from fishers on the problem and receive recommendations for possible resolution prior to these consultations. Two national workshops on FADs, “Impact, Evaluation, Solution and Policy” were conducted by the Dominica Fisheries Division in 2003 and 2007. The workshops and consultations also sought solutions and general agreement which lead to a Comanagement strategy with the National Association of Fisher Folk Cooperatives (NAFCOOP). As a result FAD management regulations were drafted by a legal consultant who attended all the national consultations held with fishers. Some of these management instruments are currently being tested under the Dominica FAD Pilot Project which is a component of a Regional Fisheries Master plan Project for CARICOM funded by JICA. Page 23 KEYWORDS: Co-Management, NAFCOOP, fish aggregating device Ecosystem-based Zoning in the Bay of Samaná, Dominican Republic Zonificación Basada en Ecosistemas en la Bahía de Samaná, República Dominicana Zonage Marine avec l’Approche par Écosystème pur la Bahie du Samaná, Republic Dominicaine ELIANNY DOMINGUEZ1*, STEVE SCHILL2, and PATRICIA LAMELAS3 The Nature Conservancy, Cll. Mayen Guerra #235, Arroyo Hondo, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.* [email protected]. 2The Nature Conservancy, 151 South 1100, East Orem , Utah 84097 USA. *[email protected]. 3CEBSE, Av. La Marina, Tiro al Blanco Santa Barbara de Samana Samana, Republica Dominicana. [email protected]. 1 ABSTRACT The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in partnership with Centro para la Conservación y Ecodesarrollo de la Bahía de Samaná y su Entorno (CEBSE) completed a 2 year effort to complete Dominican Republic’s first ecosystem-based multi-sector marine zoning analysis integrating fishing, tourism, and conservation uses and needs for Samaná Bay. With generous support from USAID, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and technical staff of the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA) and the national fishing authority (CODOPESCA), the planning team conducted interviews and research with fishers and tourism businesses in communities surrounding the bay and hosted 3 public meetings to ensure stakeholder participation. Based on the outcomes, 4 marine use zones were created for Samaná Bay ranging from complete conservation to approved resources uses in compliance with legal regulations. Additional project highlights include training events on marine zoning tools, public access to the project database and environmental awareness efforts. After the technical report and zoning proposal are presented to MARENA, the partnership will continue to work with the government to lay the legal groundwork and support its implementation. The adoption and implementation of a comprehensive, participatory ecosystem-based zoning scheme is critical for sustainability of Samaná Bay’s marine resources and economy. Contrary to in-land cases, there are no examples of marine areas in the Dominican Republic being managed under a “Marine Zoning Plan”. A successful implementation would set the first example of the benefits of balancing socio-economic and conservation goals when conducting marine spatial planning. KEY WORDS: Marine zoning, ecosystem-based, MPA, Samana, Dominican Republic Spatial Distribution of the Triggerfish Balistoides viridescens (Balistidae) on a Spawning Aggregation Site at Guam, Mariana Islands De distribución Espacial de la Triggerfish Balistoides viridescens (Balistidae) en un Sitio de Desove en Guam, Islas Marianas Distribution Spatiale des Triggerfish Balistoides viridescens (Balistidae) sur un Emplacement Engendrant d'Agrégation Chez la Guam, Îles Mariannes TERRY DONALDSON* and ARIELLE G DIMANLANTA University of Guam Marine Laboratory, UOG Station, Mangilao, Guam 96923 USA. *[email protected]. ABSTRACT Transient spawning aggregations are formed by species that migrate periodically from relatively distant home ranges to specific sites where they persist for days or weeks during a spawning cycle before returning home. Many of these spawning aggregations form on a seasonal basis, with formation occurring just prior to the new moon, full moon, or both. Most species spawn in pairs or groups and have pelagic gametes. The Indo-West Pacific triggerfish species Balistoides viridescens (Balistidae), however, forms spawning aggregations just prior to both new and full moons, and spawns demersally with males BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO arriving at the spawning aggregation site first to defend nesting sites and then attracting females to spawn in them. GPS-transect surveys of a principle site at Guam revealed patterns of spatial distribution of both male, female, and older juvenile triggerfishes on this site during daylight hours. Most individuals were concentrated on a shallow bench (4-8m) adjacent to a cut in the fore reef with regular fidelity. Triggerfishes moved out from nocturnal shelter sites in the lower spur and groove zone to this area and were often observed patrolling this portion of the site while swimming in loose aggregations in the water column. During patrols, males and females displayed to one another, often rising to within 1m of the surface over the edge of the reef slope. These interactions appear to reinforce familiarization among individuals prior to courtship and spawning on the site. KEY WORDS: Spawning aggregation, triggerfish, spatial pattern, habitat, behavior Distribución Espacial de Indicadores Biológicos Simples en la Pesquería Artesanal del Mar Caribe de Colombia Spatial Distribution of Simple Biological Indicators in the Artisanal Fishery of the Colombian Caribbean Sea Distribution Spatiale des Indicateurs Biologiques Simples dans la Pêche Artisanale de la Mer des Caraïbes, la Colombie PALABRAS CLAVE: Indicadores biologicos, pesqueria artesanal, analisis espacial, Mar Caribe, Colombia Socioeconomic Characterization of the Fishing Cooperatives of Tampamachoco, Alvarado, Tamiahua and Pueblo Viejo in the State of Veracruz (Mexico): Reconstructing (A Test of) its Social Reality Caracterización Socioeconómica de las Cooperativas Pesqueras de Tampamachoco, Alvarado, Tamiahua y Pueblo Viejo del Estado de Veracruz (México): Un Ensayo sobre su Realidad Social La Caractérisation Socio-Économique des Coopératives de Pêche à Tampamachoco, Alvarado, Tamiahua et Pueblo Viejo dans l'Etat de Veracruz (Mexique): Un Test de sa Réalité Sociale VIDAL ELIAS Consejo Veracruzano de Ciencia y Tecnologia (COVECyT), Rio Tecolutla # 20. 2º Piso Col. Cuauhtemoc Xalapa, Veracruz 91069 Mexico. [email protected]. ABSTRACT For decades and generations, the fishing communities of Veracruz (Mexico) have been working without a high rate of social return, product of their economic activity, which could be reflected in present and future improved living conditions. Why does this situation prevail? My hypothesis lies in the following arguments: First, the economic problem is structural and besides, these communities have been subject to (and dependent on) the "government favor " at election times, and second, mainly for the above reasons, these communities have lost their innate entrepreneurial ability, which was essential to solve their problems without relying on a fragile relationship, mainly with the public sector and third, a low perception of its own social reality, so they accept their socioeconomic conditions as an unalterable and irremediable status quo. The segment of the problem that we want to solve by working with the fishing communities is precisely to increase the level of perception of their social reality, with the aim of building a new socio-economic benchmark of its activity, inducing a self-critical capacity through the reflection and discussion of everyday problems, principally the ones that affect the sustainability of fisheries and in consequence its social and economic development. The methodology was based on two phases; firstly, a survey with four areas of general, technical, social and economic information and secondly, a workshop based on the TKJ technique (Team Kawakita Jiro) to stimulate the definition and analysis of common problems reconciling the individual interests toward the collective resolution of their social reality. KEY WORDS: Social reality, fishing cooperatives, development, socioeconomic Page RESUMEN Las poblaciones de peces y el esfuerzo pesquero están estructurados espacialmente, por lo cual las estrategias de análisis y de manejo de los recursos requieren incorporar la dimensión espacial para abordar las aproximaciones ecosistémicas actuales. Para evaluar el estado de explotación de los recursos pesqueros se han propuesto indicadores biológicos simples basados en los tamaños individuales y en las tasas de capturas. El presente estudio explora los patrones espaciales de las capturas de Opisthonema oglinum, Caranx crysos, Lutjanus synagris y Lutjanus analisa la luz de dichos indicadores en la pesquería artesanal de los departamentos del Magdalena y La Guajira. Los datos empleados provienen del registro de capturas y esfuerzo realizado durante el periodo comprendido entre 1993 y 2008. Los indicadores empleados fueron longitud a la madurez, longitud óptima de captura, longitud de megareproductores y CPUE. Para el análisis del estado de explotación, se propuso un modelo que considera puntos de referencia múltiples basados en tamaños individuales, empleando la aproximación del semáforo. Los resultados fueron representados mediante un sistema de información geográfica. La mayor fracción de los individuos capturados tuvo longitudes inferiores a los indicadores evaluados en todas las zonas en que operó la pesquería, pero la CPUE fue variable espacialmente. Las mayores señales de sobreexplotación fueron evidenciadas en las capturas de O. oglinum y de C. crysos con red de tiro, de L. synagris con línea de mano y de L. analis con red de enmalle. El régimen de pesca artesanal observado precisa ser modificado en la región para establecer esquemas de uso responsable de los recursos. Estudio financiado por Colciencias (Proyectos 1117-341-19398, 1117-489-25529) y Universidad del Magdalena. 24 LUIS ORLANDO DUARTE*, FELIX CUELLO, y ARISTIDES LOPEZ Universidad del Magdalena, Laboratorio de Investigaciones Pesqueras Tropicales, Cra 32 # 22-08 Santa Marta, Magdalena N/A Colombia. *[email protected]. BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Resultados Preliminares del Estudio de Caracterización y Diagnóstico del Área de Manglares y Humedales de Puerto Morelos Preliminary Results of the Characterization and Diagnosis of Puerto Morelos Mangroves and Wetlands Les Résultats Préliminaires de Caractérisation et de Diagnostic de la Zone de Mangroves et de Marécages à Puerto Morelos CECILIA ELIZONDO1*, EVERARDO BARBA MACÍAS2, HÉCTOR HERNÁNDEZ ARANA3, DALIA HOIL VILLALOBOS4, HAYDÉE LÓPEZADAME4, DAVID LÓPEZ-MERLÍN, y HUMBERTO MEDINA QUIJANO 1 Jardín Botánico de ECOSUR ,El Colegio de La Frontera Sur, (ECOSUR) Carr. Chetumal Cancún km. 320, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo 77580 Mexico. [email protected]. 2ECOSUR, Unidad Villahermosa Carr. Villahermosa Reforma Km. 15.5, Ranchería El Guineo Villahermosa, Tabasco 86280 México. [email protected]. 3ECOSUR, Unidad Chetuma,l Av. Centenario Km. 5,5 Chetumal Quintana Roo 77014 México. [email protected]. 4 Jardín Botánico de ECOSUR [email protected]. 5ECOSUR Unidad Chetumal. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. RESUMEN Los Manglares de Puerto Morelos hasta Punta Maroma, han sido definidos por CONABIO, como uno de los 25 sitios prioritarios de manglar en la Península de Yucatán (PY69) con relevancia biológica y con necesidades de rehabilitación ecológica. El área de Puerto Morelos– Punta Maroma (aprox. 21 Km. de largo por 1,8 km. de ancho)tiene valores biológicos la alta importancia y cumple su función como corredor biológico entre áreas. Sin embargo hay falta de información sobre la presencia de endemismos y riqueza específica, y además la zona tiene perdida de la superficie original y un grado importante de fragmentación del área, presión sobre especies clave, concentración de especies en riesgo y prácticas de manejo inadecuado. Como principales agentes de perturbación en la zona está la expansión urbana, el turismo, la construcción de caminos, la alteración del flujo hídrico y la desecación o relleno de zonas inundables. En este estudio el objetivo es generar una caracterización y un diagnóstico del estado actual del Complejo de Humedales de Puerto Morelos, con las tendencias y focos rojos que serán necesarios atender para su conservación, o restauración. Además se prevé establecer parcelas permanentes en las cuales se puedan obtener datos específicos de la evolución de este ecosistema y de las respuestas que el mismo tiene ante los eventos naturales y su adaptación ante el cambio climático. KEY WORDS: Mangroves, wetlands, Puerto Morelos, Yucatan Peninsula, protected area Page 25 Variabilidad del Ciclo Gonádico de Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin, 1971) en la Laguna de Mecoacán, Tabasco, México: Disminución en la Producción de Gametos en Relación al Cambio Climático Gonadal Cycle of Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin, 1971), Mecoacan Lagoon, Tabasco, Mexico: Decreased Gametes Production in Relation to Climate Change Variabilité du Cycle Gonadique de Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin, 1971) Mecoacan Lagune, Tabasco, Mexique: Baisse de la Production de Gamètes par Rapport au Changement Climatique MARTHA R ENRÍQUEZ DÍAZ1*, IMELDA MARTINEZ MORALES2, y DALILA ALDANA ARANDA1 1 CINVESTAV-IPN, Merida Km 6 Antigua, carretera a Progreso Mérida, Yucatán 97310 Mexico. * [email protected]. [email protected]. 2 INECOL, Carretera antigua a Coatepec, 351 Congregación El Haya Xalapa, Veracruz 1070 Mexico. [email protected] RESUMEN El ostión Americano, Crassostrea virginica, es la principal especie que se comercializa en México, esta pesquería se encuentra concentrada en el Golfo de MéxicoVariaciones del ciclo reproductivo del ostión, fueron observadas en 2006, 2008 y 2010 en la laguna de Mecoacán en Tabasco. Un total de 1920 organismos fueron analizados, se realizaron biometrías, se tomaron muestras del complejo gonáda-glándula digestiva para obtener cortes histológicos, se determinó la proporción de sexos y cuatro estadios gonádicos: a) Gametogénesis, b) Madurez sexual, c) Emisión de gametos y d) Reposo. Así mismo, se realizaron análisis de imagen para obtener el porcentaje del área ocupada por tejido reproductivo. Las variaciones observadas en los ciclos gonádicos fueron relacionadas con los factores de salinidad y temperatura. Los periodos de madurez sexual fueron influenciados por la temperatura, iniciando en mayo y julio, mientras que los periodos de desove, fueron influenciados por la salinidad (regulada por la temporada de lluvias), el principal evento de desove se observo en los meses de julio y agosto. La proporción de sexos presento una tendencia para las hembras (1M:2H). El ciclo reproductivo del ostión, vario en cada temporada y se relacionó con la estacionalidad de la región, específicamente con los parámetros de temperatura y salinidad que se presentaron en el complejo lagunar. El porcentaje de ocupación de gametos fue menor en 2010, esta disminución se relaciono con los aportes masivos de agua dulce. PALABRAS CLAVE: Reproduction, oyster, Crassostrea virginica, image analyse, climate change Incidencia Ecológica de la Pesca de Arrastre en Peces Asociados a Arrecifes en el Mar Caribe de Colombia Ecological Incidence of Trawling on Fish Associated with Reefs in Colombian Caribbean Sea l'Incidence Écologique du Chalutage sur les Poissons Associés aux Récifs dans la Mer des Caraïbes Colombiennes FABIÁN ESCOBAR1* and MANUEL ZETINA-REJÓN2 Universidad del Magdalena, Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas - Carrera 32 no. 22 - 08 Santa Marta, Magdalena 57 Colombia. [email protected]. 2Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas - CICIMAR av. IPN s/n col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, La Paz, Baja California su 23096 México 1 RESUMEN La pesca de arrastre es considerada una de las más lesivas para el ecosistema pues produce los mayores niveles de fauna acompañante, generando efectos perjudiciales en la estructura y funcionamiento de los ecosistemas. Sin embargo, los estudios sobre la evaluación de la incidencia ecológica de la pesca BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO sobre la comunidad de peces han sido poco documentados, por lo cual se evaluó la incidencia ecológica de la pesca de arrastre sobre los peces asociados a arrecifes que son capturados como fauna acompañante en la pesquería de arrastre de camarón. Para conocerla, se analizaron lances de pesca comercial durante el periodo agosto de 2004 a julio de 2005 para estimar la densidad de biomasas y abundancia en cada mes así como la caracterización de la estructura de la comunidad de peces, utilizando descriptores ecológicos. Aunque la diversidad ecológica mostró variación a lo largo de la escala anual, el análisis multivariado de escalamiento no métrico multidimensional no evidenció un patrón claro de variación temporal. Asimismo, el análisis de similaridad y los índices de distinción taxonómica ( Δ+) y variación de la distinción taxonómica ( Λ+) no mostraron diferencias significativas en la estructura de peces que se han documentado como asociados al arrecife. PALABRAS CLAVE: Pesca de arrastre, Fauna acompañante, Diversidad Funcional, Estructura comunitaria, Comunidad Coralina de Isla Lobos: Bases para la Conservación del Arrecife: Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Sistema Arrecifal Lobos-Tuxpan (SALT) Isla Lobos Coral Community:Background Data for Reef Conservation: Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Sistema Arrecifal Lobos-Tuxpan (SALT) Isla Lobos Coraux Communauté: Les Données de Fond pour la Conservation des Récifs Área de Protección de Flora y Faunasistema Arrecifal Lobos-Tuxpan (SALT) PALABRAS CLAVE: Estructura, diversidad, CPCe, arrecifes, Golfo de México Sistemas de Monitoreo Satelital de Embarcaciones para Determinar la Dinámica de la Flota Artesanal en el Sureste de México Monitoring Vessel System to Determine Fleet Dynamics of Artisanal Fleet in the Southeast Coast of Mexico Systèmes de Surveillance par Satellite pour Déterminer les Dynamiques Spatiales de la Flotte Artisanale dans le Sud du Mexique JORGE EUAN1*, SILVIA SALAS1, ALBERTO MUÑOZ2, LEOPOLDO PALOMO-CORTEZ1, y EVA CORONADO1 1 CINVESTAV -IPN U. Merida, Antigua Carretera Progreso km 6, Merida, Yucatan 97310 Mexico. *[email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. 2 Universidad Riviera, AVv 58 norte - 168 L4, Playa del Carmen, Mexico. [email protected]. RESUMEN El incremento de barcos y mejoras tecnológicas han aumentado el esfuerzo pesquero en México, este aumento es difícil de discernir, especialmente en el caso de la flota artesanal dada su amplia distribución y sus formas de operación. Una iniciativa internacional para la generación de sistemas de monitoreo satelital de embarcaciones mayores se ha implementado en México, a fin de conocer la ubicación a tiempo real de éstas, reducir la pesca ilegal y ayudar en casos de riesgos. Una iniciativa similar se propone para la flota menor en un proyecto regional en el sureste de México (cuatro estados) aplicando el sistema a 400 embarcaciones de manera piloto. En este proyecto se desarrolla infraestructura para la recepción, manejo y distribución de información geoespacial para la pesca artesanal con el objeto de: a) producir información espacio-temporal de la ubicación de las embarcaciones a tiempo real, b) ubicar embarcaciones en condiciones de riesgo, c) integrar mecanismos de registro y almacenamiento de variables físico-químicas del ecosistema de las zonas de operación de la flota, y d) desarrollar sistemas de información que permitan resumir y analizar información espacial y temporal de la flota. La interacción de especialistas de varias disciplinas ha favorecido el desarrollo de este proyecto. Las visitas a 16 comunidades pesqueras aplicando entrevistas y los resultados de un taller con personal de agencias de gobierno ponen de manifiesto el interés en estos sistemas por parte de los usuarios. Se discute en torno a los beneficios que estos sistemas pueden generar para la evaluación y manejo de las pesquerías artesanales y se presentan también los retos que se perciben en su implementación, potencial expansión y mantenimiento. PALABRAS CLAVE: Flota, artesanal, monitoreo, geoespacial, Mexico Page RESUMEN El Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Sistema Arrecifal Lobos-Tuxpan (SALT)cuenta con 30,571 ha y está integrado por seis arrecifes tipo plataforma. En sus inmediaciones se desarrollan actividades como la pesca comercial y deportiva, el buceo deportivo y turístico, la extracción de hidrocarburos, etc., las cuales si no se orientan adecuadamente, pueden agravar aún más la condición de estos arrecifes. Con el fin de contribuir al manejo efectivo de este recurso y generar un conocimiento base sobre el estado del arrecife de Isla de Lobos, se realizó un muestreo por medio de métodos no invasivos (transectos fotográficos de 50m) en dos niveles de profundidad: somero (1-5m) y profundo (10-15m) tanto en la zona expuesta (barlovento) como en la zona protegida (sotavento) del arrecife. Se obtuvieron datos de abundancia, cobertura y atributos ecológicos a partir de 30 transectos analizados de 15 fotografías cada uno (n = 450 fotos) por medio del programa Coral Point Count w/Excel V3.6. Hasta el momento, se ha encontrado que de manera general, la cobertura del arrecife es principalmente de basamento rocoso con macroalgas (81%) y que hay diferencias entre la abundancia y la cobertura de las especies encontradas entre las distintas zonas examinadas. En sotavento se encuentra la mayor riqueza, diversidad y cobertura coralina. Se espera que esta información del arrecife de isla Lobos permita establecer una línea de base para el monitoreo de la condición del arrecife en el tiempo y para el manejo adecuado del área protegida. 26 CAROLINA ESCOBAR – VÁSQUEZ* y ERNESTO A. CHÁVEZ ORTIZ Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, S/N Colonia playa Palo de Sta Rita, La Paz, Baja California 23070 México. *[email protected]. [email protected]. BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Biological Assessment of Channeled Whelk (Busycotypus canaliculatus) Populations In The Mid-Atlantic: Regional Management Concerns. Evaluación Biológica de Canalizan Bocina (Busycotypus canaliculatus) las Poblaciones de la Dorsal Mesoatlántica: Gestión Regional Preocupaciones Evaluation Biologique des Canalisée Buccin (Busycotypus canaliculatus) Populations dans la Dorsale Médio-Atlantique: Préoccupations de Gestion Régionale ROBERT FISHER Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, PO Box 1346, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062 USA. [email protected]. ABSTRACT Though a commercial fishery for the Channeled Whelk (Busycotypus canaliculatus) has occurred since the 1980’s along the US Mid-Atlantic, relatively few studies have been carried out on the reproduction and life history of this species despite their growing importance as a fishery product. Biological parameters used to construct management policy for the whelk (conch) fishery were those of the Knobbed Whelk, Busycon carica, a similar native species which largely inhabits tidal estuarine waters but not targeted within the conch off-shore trap fishery. An understanding of the sizes at which a fishery becomes reproductively mature is essential for management considerations. This research investigates the reproductive biology of the channel whelk population in the Mid-Atlantic region and in particular calculates the size and age at which the population becomes sexually mature. Spatial variations within the channeled whelk Mid-Atlantic resource area may have consequences in the implementation of minimum landing sizes for the fishery. Current results on whelk aging techniques, population size frequencies, and reproductive assessment will be presented with discussion on regional management implications. KEY WORDS: Busycotypus canaliculatus , channeled Whelk , reproduction, management , whelk fishery Distribución Abundancia y Estructura del Pepino de Mar (Holothuria floridana) en las Costas de Campeche, México Distribution, Abundance and Structure of the Florida Sea Cucumber (Holothuria floridana) in the Campeche Coast, Mexico Distribution, Abondance et Structure de la Bêche de Mer (Holothuria Floridana) dans les Côtes de Campeche, Mexique Page 27 EDSON FRANCESCO FLORES RAMOS1*, JULIA RAMOS MIRAND1 , GERARDO MELO RODRÍGUEZ1, DOMINGO FLORES HERNÁNDEZ1, DANIEL PECH1, LUIS AYALA-PÉREZ3, y FRANCISCO A. SOLÍS-MARÍN4 1 Instituto EPOMEX – UAC, Av. Agustín Melgar s/n, Col. Buenavista San Francisco de Campeche, Campeche 24039 México. *[email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. 3Departamento del Hombre y su Ambiente, UAM-Xochimilco Calz. Del Hueso 1100 Col. Villaquietud, Coyoacan. México Distrito Federal 04960 México. [email protected]. 4Laboratorio de Sistemática y Ecología de Equinodermos, LCMyL UNAM, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo. Post. 70-305, México, Distrito Federal 04510 México. [email protected]. RESUMEN El pepino de mar es un recurso que habita en la costa somera de Campeche y que no ha sido objeto de evaluación pesquera. Ya existen indicios de una pesca clandestina, por lo que es necesaria y urgente la determinación del potencial para su aprovechamiento, de manera que su uso este regulado para garantizar su conservación. Los conocimientos sobre la abundancia y distribución de estos organismos en la región son aún incipientes y más aún sobre la época de reproducción. Los organismos fueron recolectados usando transectos por buceo SCUBA utilizando un muestreo probabilístico sin remplazo (n=30 cuadrantes/bimestre). Las recolectas de organismos fueron realizadas de octubre 2010 a octubre 2011. El rango de peso de los organismos fue de 8,2 a 977.0g (peso lleno, PT) y 5 a 302.6 g (eviscerado). El PT al cual se observó el 50% de los organismos fue de 160g con un rango de captura de 120 al 25% y 220g al 75%. La mayor concentración se observó frente a la localidad de Isla Arena. Se presentaron diferencias significativas (p < 0.05) en la proporción de sexos ♀/♂ (1.43:1.0). Se definió en diciembre un posible pico reproductivo con hembras plenamente maduras, y otro durante febrero-marzo con hembras en fase de maduración y desovadas. Estos resultados pueden ser utilizados preliminarmente para proponer una medida de manejo urgente a este recurso que está siendo explotado indiscriminadamente. PALABRAS CLAVE: Pepino de Mar, Campeche, abundancia, reproducción, distribición Evaluación de la Población de Caracol Pala, Strombus gigas (Linnaeus, 1758) en el Sector Sur del Área Marina Protegida Seaflower, Caribe Insular Colombiano Evaluation of the Population of Queen Conch, Strombus gigas (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Southern Sector of the Seaflower Marine Protected Area, Colombian Caribbean Evaluation de la Population de Lambi, Strombus gigas (linnaeus, 1758) dans le Secteur Sud de la Zone de Protection Marine Seaflower, Îles des Caraïbes Colombien TRISHA FORBES PACHECO1*, JAIRO MEDINA CALDERÓN1, y ERICK CASTRO GONZALEZ2 Universidad Nacional de Colombia-Sede Caribe Free town No 42-54, San Andrés Isla, Colombia.* [email protected]. [email protected]. 2 Secretaría de Agricultura y Pesc,a Avenida Francisco Newball, Edificio Coral Palace, San Andrés Isla, Colombia. [email protected]. 1 RESUMEN En el 2010, se estudiaron las poblaciones de caracol pala, Strombus gigas en tres atolones (San Andrés, South South West Cays y East South East Cays) que componen el sector sur del Área Marina Protegida Seaflower, Caribe Insular colombiano, después de un cierre de pesquería desde el año 2006. Para BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO analizar los efectos de esta medida de regulación en la recuperación de la población se estimó la distribución, densidad y abundancia de la población mediante evaluaciones visuales con buceo autónomo (scuba) a lo largo de transectos de banda. En San Andrés, se observó una densidad de 14,53 ind ha-1 (D.E = 41,98) y una abundancia de 108.221 individuos.El 90% de los individuos fueron juveniles.En South South West Cays se observó una densidad de 8,20 ind ha-1 (D.E = 16,91) y una abundancia de 15.283 individuos, el 62 % correspondían a individuos juveniles.En East South East Cays se observó una densidad de 9,28 ind ha-1 (D. E = 17,46), una abundancia de 60.232 individuo y más del 50% pertenecían a juveniles. Para propósitos de manejo pesquero, se encontró que partir de los criterios establecidos en función de la densidad de adultos y la probabilidad de ocurrencia del efecto Allee, los tres atolones evaluados no estarían en capacidad de soportar pesca comercial. Lo anterior muestra que el cierre de la pesquería aún no ha tenido un efecto positivo en la recuperación de la población y requiere que la medida se mantenga por más tiempo y seguir evaluando el estado de las poblaciones. PALABRAS CLAVE: Strombus gigas, densidad poblacional, AMP sur Seaflower, Colombia Abundancia Larval de Moluscos y de Strombus gigas en los Cayos de Albuquerque, Colombia Larval Abundance of Mollusks and the Strombus gigas in Albuquerque Cays, Colombia L'Abondance des Larves de Mollusques et de Strombus gigas à Albuquerque Cays, La Colombie PALABRAS CLAVE: Abundancia, larvas, bivalvos, gasterópodos, Strombus gigas Marine Biodiversity in the Caribbean UK Overseas Territories: Perceived Threats and Constraints to Environmental Management Biodiversidad Marina en los Territorios del Reino Unido en el Caribe: Percepciones de las Amenazas y Limitaciones a la Gestión Ambiental Biodiversité Marine dans les Territoires Britanniques d'Outre-mer des Caraïbes: Perceptions des Menaces et Contraintes à la Gestion Environnementale JOHANNA FORSTER1*, IAIN LAKE2, ANDREW WATKINSON2, and JENNIFER GILL2 Newcastle University School of Marine Science and Technology, 4.71 Ridley Building Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU United Kingdom. [email protected]. 2University of East Anglia School of Environmental Sciences, Norwich, Norfolk NR4 7TJ United Kingdom. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. 1 ABSTRACT Islands are often considered to be a priority for conservation, because of their relatively high levels of biodiversity and their vulnerability to a range of natural and anthropogenic threats. However, the capacity of islands to conserve and manage biodiversity may depend upon their governance structures. Many island states are affiliated to other countries through an ‘overseas territory’ status, which may provide them with access to resources and support mechanisms, but which may also influence the capacity for local-scale management of environmental issues. The United Kingdom has 12 island Overseas Territories (UKOTs), most of which support biodiversity of high conservation concern. This study investigates perceptions of current and future threats to marine ecosystems and constraints to environmental protection on the six Caribbean UKOTs, through semi-structured interviews with officials from UK and UKOT government departments and non-governmental organizations. Coastal development, pollution and over-fishing were perceived as threats of most concern for the next decade, but climate change was perceived as by far the greatest future threat to the islands’ marine ecosystems. A series of common institutional limitations that currently constrain mitigation and conservation efforts were also identified, including insufficient personnel and financial support, a lack of long-term, sustainable projects for persistent environmental problems and inadequate environmental legislation. These findings highlight the need for regional cooperation and capacity-building throughout the Caribbean and a more concerted approach to UKOT environmental management by the UK and UKOTs’ governments. KEY WORDS: Marine management, management constraints, UK Overseas Territories, marine biodiversity threats, climate change Page RESUMEN De marzo a octubre de 2010, se realizaron arrastres de plancton en tres estaciones (AL14: 12°10’21.2” N – 81°50’51.9” E; AL18: 12°09’27.0” N – 81°52’10.3” E; AL35: 12°08’51.2” N - 81°49’46.8” E) de los Cayos de Albuquerque (San Andrés y Providencia), Colombia con la finalidad de conocer la abundancia larval de moluscos gasterópodos, bivalvos y en particular de Strombus gigas en esta región. La mayor abundancia larval se presentó en la estación AL35 (137.88±183.30 para gasterópodos 13.00±8.67 larvas de bivalvos), reportándose una densidad de 0.88±1.64 larvas de S. pugilis y S. costatus. Larvas de S. gigas se observaron solo en la estación AL18 (0.50±1.07 larvas). Se presentaron mayores registros de abundancia para gasterópodos en julio y septiembre (160.00±136.01 y 329.33±200.77, respectivamente), lo mismo que para bivalvos (18.67±4.04 y 23.67±10.69 larvas, respectivamente). El pico de abundancia larval se observó de junio a septiembre. La abundancia larval correspondiente a septiembre fue significativamente distinta del resto (Tukey: p≤0.05). No se presentó variación significativa en la abundancia larval entre localidades (p ≥ 0.05), pero si entre meses tanto para gasterópodos (p: 0.0253), como para bivalvos (p: 0.0022). La abundancia de larvas de S. gigas, S. costatus yS. pugilis no presentó variación ni en el tiempo y ni entre estaciones (p: ≥0.05. 28 TRISHA FORBES PACHECO1*, JAIRO LASSO ZAPATA1 , JAIRO HUMBERTO MEDINA CALDERON1 , ERICK RICHARD CASTRO GONZALEZ2, MARTHA ENRIQUEZ DIAZ4, JOSE FRANCISCO CHAVEZ VILLEGAS4, y DALILA ALDANA ARANDA4 1 Universidad Nacional De Colombia - Sede Caribe Free town No 42-54 San Andres Isla, San Andres y Providencia, Colombia.* [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. 2 Secretaria de Agricultura y Pesca, San Andrés Isla, Colombia Avenida Francisco Newball, Edificio Coral Palace, San Andres Isla, San Andres y Providencia, Colombia. [email protected]. CINVESTAV-IPN, Unidad Merida, Km. 6 antigua carretera a progresso, Merida,Yucatan 97310 México. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Unprecedented Influx of Pelagic Sargassum along Caribbean Island Coastlines during Summer 2011: Perspectives on Origin, Transport Pathways, and Impacts on Fisheries Afluencia sin Precedentes sel Sargassum Pelágio a lo Largo de la Costa en Islas Caribeñas Durante el Verano Del 2001: Perspectivas sobre el Origen, Medios de Transporte e Impactos en las Pesquerías Afflux Record de Sargasses Pélagiques le Long du Littoral des Îles Caribéennes durant l`Été 2011: Perspectives sur l`Origine, les Voies de Transport et les Conséquences sur les Pêcheries JAMES FRANKS*, J. READ HENDON, and DONALD R. JOHNSON The University of Southern Mississippi, Center for Fisheries Research and Development, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, 703 East Beach Dr Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39564 USA. [email protected]. ABSTRACT In the Western Atlantic Ocean pelagic brown algae Sargassum natans and S. fluitans (Phaeophyta) form a dynamic structural habitat that harbors large and diverse assemblages of vertebrate and invertebrate species. Relationships among ocean currents, winds and drift patterns of Sargassum within the region are not well understood. The influx of massive quantities of pelagic Sargassum onto eastern coastlines of several Caribbean islands during Summer 2011 was an event previously undocumented for the region. The underlying cause(s) of this phenomenon and the potential impacts on coastal fisheries and habitats were issues of immediate interest and concern. We provide an overview of this wide-spread incident and examine ocean currents and advective pathways associated with the transport of Sargassum into the region and onto island shores. A summary of discussions with local fishers, researchers, and resource managers regarding observations and scientific assessments conducted during and following the Sargassum incursion is presented. KEY WORDS: Sargasssum, Caribbean islands, summer 2011 Page 29 Application of Fish Waste Silage in Feed for Aquatic Organisms: Chemical Characterization and Nutritional Efficiency Aplicación de Ensilados de Desechos de Pescado en Alimentos para Organismos Acuáticos: Caracterización Química y Eficiencia Nutritiva Application de l'Ensilage de Déchets de Poisson dans les Aliments pour les Organismes Aquatiques: Caractérisation Chimique et l'Efficacité Nutritionnelle PEDRO GALLARDO1*, GABRIELA GAXIOLA1, CARLOS ROSAS1, CRISTINA PASCUAL GUADALUPE VILLEGA2, and ROSARIO MARTINEZ GABRIELA ESPINOSA3 1 UNAM Puerto de abrigo s/n Sisal, Yucatan 97213 Mexico. *[email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. 2Universidad de Guanajuato Guanajuato, Gto. Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico. [email protected]. 3CIIDIR-IPN Culiacan Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico. [email protected]. ABSTRACT Analysis of fish waste silage with formic acid and dietary applications on aquatic organisms are presented. We analyze the chemical composition and physicochemical transformation during ensiling as well as the nourishing effect on juveniles of 2 species of shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei and Farfantepenaeus durorarum) and octopus Octopus maya. Values between 52-59% and 14-32% proteins and lipids, respectively, are observed in fish waste silage. There was a loss of tryptophan by 24% during ensiling. A pH between 3.6 and 4.0 after 48 h there is a high degree of protein hydrolysis. The addition of BHT reduces oxidation. The combination of silage and vegetable protein (soy) in a 1:1 and 1:3 in diets for L. vannamei and F. duorarum resulted in higher growth and proteolytic activity compared to responses in organisms without soy protein. For juveniles of octopus O. maya, the inclusion of silage in the diet, allow growth similar to those obtained with fresh food in the first 30 days. The combination of solubilized protein from ensiled with vegetable protein from soy is beneficial when incorporated in diets for shrimp and only for the early development of the octopus O. maya KEY WORDS: Silage fish wastes, Litopenaeus vannamei, Farfantepenaeus durorarum, Octopus maya, nutrition Manejo y Aprovechamiento del Caracol Rosado Strombus gigas en la Reserva de la Biosfera Banco Chinchorro, México: Un Esfuerzo Comunitario e Interinstitucional Use and Management of Conch Strombus gigas in the Biosphere Reserve Banco Chinchorro, Mexico: A Community and Interagency effort Gestion et l'Utilisation du Strombus gigas dans la Réserve de la Biosphère de Banco Chinchorro, au Mexique, une Communauté et une Initiative Interinstitutions MARÍA DEL CARMEN GARCÍA RIVAS1*, JAIME MEDINA2, JÓSE JUAN DOMINGUEZ1, y MANUEL CÁRDENAS1 1 CONANP Reserva de la Biosfera Banco Chinchorro Insurgentes, 445 Chetumal, Quintana Roo 77039 México. *[email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. 2 Federación Nacional de Cooperativas Pesqueras, SCPP Langosteros del Caribe, Florencia 294 Esq. Camelias Chetumal , Quintana Roo 77037 México. [email protected] RESUMEN La captura de caracol rosado en Quintana Roo, México se regula desde 1983 por la Secretaria de Pesca fecha en la que implementa tallas, períodos y localidades de pesca. Actualmente sólo se permite la pesca en la Reserva de la Biosfera Banco Chinchorro y por tres cooperativas pesquera con un BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO aproximado de 120 pescadores quienes cumplen al pié de la letra la normativa establecida. Desgraciadamente debido a la alta incidencia de la pesca furtiva, la población de caracol rosado ha disminuido de manera crítica en la Reserva, la merma del caracol se refleja en las cuotas permitidas que van de 30 toneladas en el 2006 hasta 4.5 para el 2010, por lo que pescadores y manejadores tratando de detener la disminución, logran para el 2009 el aumento de la veda dos meses y mayor presencia de oficiales para prevenir la captura. En el 2010 los pescadores solicitan a la legislatura estatal que la captura de caracol se considere delito todo el año además de elevar a pena grave su captura. Para reforzar y concluir dicha acción en junio del 2011 los pescadores y manejadores promueven la veda de caracol por 5 años y refrendan el aumento en la pena. La solicitud se ha visto con muy buenos ojos por lo que se espera se pueda aprobar ésta veda la cual es un ejemplo en manejo sustentable. PALABRAS CLAVE: Caracol, manejo, sostenible, pescador del delito, ilegal Prevención y Manejo de Encallamientos de Embarcaciones en el Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak, México: Una Respuesta Temprana para Lograr el Éxito Prevention and Management of Stranded Vessels in the National Park “Arrecifes de Xcalak”, Mexico: An Early Response to the Success Prévention et Gestion des échouages de Navires dans les Parc National Arrecifes de Xcalak, au Mexique, une Intervention Précoce au Succès MARÍA DEL CARMEN GARCÍA RIVAS*, WADY HADAD LÓPEZ, JORGE GÓMEZ POOT , RAFAEL ROLDÁN SERRALDE, y ALEJANDRO VEGA ZEPEDA CONANP Banco Chinchorro Insurgentes 445 Othón, P. Blanco 83 Chetumal, Quintana Roo 77039 México. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected] [email protected]. PALABRAS CLAVE: Reef, stranded, vessels, restoration, MPA Small Invertebrate Motile Fauna Associated to the Seagrass Thalassia testudinum in the Bay of the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin in Guadeloupe Island (Lesser Antilles) La Pequeña Fauna Movible de Invertebrados Asociada à la Fanerógama Marina Thalassia testudinum) en la bahía del Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin en la Isla de Guadeloupe (Antillas Menores) L'Épifaune Vagile Associée aux Herbiers de Thalassia testudinum dans la Baie du Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin en Guadeloupe (Petites Antilles) FRANÇOISE GAUTIER*, YOLANDE BOUCHON-NAVARO, SÉBASTIEN CORDONNIER, MAX LOUIS and CLAUDE BOUCHON DYNECAR, Université Antilles-Guyane, Campus de Fouillole Pointe-à-Pitre, 97159 Guadeloupe. *[email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. ABSTRACT Small motile Invertebrate fauna associated to the Phanerogam leaves constitutes the principal source of food for first level carnivorous fishes which represent the main part of fish biomass, in the Thalassia testudinum seagrass beds in the Caribbean. This small motile fauna was studied, by day and by night, in two types of seagrass beds, respectively located near the coastal mangroves and seawards, near a coral barrier reef in the Bay of the Grand Cul-deSac Marin in Guadeloupe Island (Lesser Antilles). An epibenthic trawl with 2 mm mesh was especially designed to catch that fauna. On the whole, 58 families of invertebrates were collected. Factorial correspondence analyses showed that the structure of Invertebrate community differed in the two types of seagrass beds. Near the coast, the Invertebrate biodiversity was higher, in terms of numbers of families, in particular for the Crustacean Phylum. Seawards, the Gastropoda Cerithidae constituted the dominant group in the Invertebrate community. Analyses also revealed that abundances, in numbers and biomass, were 3 to 4 times higher at night than during the day. These differences in abundance were attributed to night migration of Invertebrates from the dead leaves litter toward the erected leaves of T. testudinum . KEY WORDS: Seagrass beds, Thalassia testudinum, invertebrates, caribbean, Page RESUMEN Se conoce que uno de los principales riesgos a las Áreas Marinas Protegidas son los impactos por encallamientos, en el Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak (PNAX) se han registrado ocho impactos en los últimos siete años causando más de 2539 m2 de arrecife afectado. Para prevenir y mitigar los efectos, el PNAX ha establecido un protocolo basado en el manual de encallamientos editado por la Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas y a través del Consejo de Delitos Ambientales de la Procuraduría General de la República (PGR). A la fecha se han atendido en colaboración con Secretaria de Marina Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente, Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transporte, PGR, prestadores de servicio turístico y pescadores todos los encallamientos previniendo daños mayores, igualmente se interpusieron las denuncias correspondientes con valoración económica. En el 2007 se restauraron 607 fragmentos de coral cuerno de alce Acropora palmata de los cuales 90% sobrevivieron; en agosto del 2011 se trasplantaron 37 colonias de diversas especies de coral para prevenir su impacto durante el rescate de la embarcación encallada. Se realizaron dos convenios con los responsables para restaurar el daño. Se concluye que cinco de seis accidentes han sido por particulares los cuales no conocían el área por lo que se requiere un mejor señalamiento, cartas náuticas actualizadas y conocimiento de los particulares sobre la navegación en arrecifes y uso de aparatos. En los procesos legales se requiere una mayor coordinación y conocimiento de los jueces sobre el daño de los arrecifes. 30 1 BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Colonization of a Swamp Area by the Crown Conch “Caracol chivita” and Emerging of an Artisanal Fishery in Northwest Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico Colonización de un Area de Humedales por el “Caracol chivita” y Surgimiento de una Pesquería Artesanal en el Noroeste de la Península de Yucatán, Mexico Colonisation de a Marais par Marin Escargot (Conch) “Caracol Chivita” et Émergence de a Pêcherie rtisanal dans Nords-Ouest de Yucatán Péninsule, le Mexique ARTURO GEORGE-ZAMORA1* and VICTORIA PATIÑO2 Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Puerto de abrigo s/n. Sisal, Yucatan Sisal, Yucatan 97355 Mexico. *[email protected]. Centro de Investigacion y Estudios Avanzados Unidad Merida, Antigua carretera a Progreso km 6., Merida, Yucatan 97310 Mexico. [email protected]. 1 ABSTRACT Crown conch Melongena corona bispinosa is a marine gastropod native from Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, distributed along coastal lagoons and intertidal areas. It is captured by fishermen’s wife and children mainly as a complementary fishery activity. As a part of a repopulation program, 3,000 “chivitas” were released in Chabihau swamp on August 2000. There were no records of previous presence of “chivitas” in this area. This wetland, with a coverage surface of 3,000 Ha, is divided in East and West by a rural road. In order to obtain population data, the swamp was randomly sampled each 3 months during August 2000-September 2002. The area was poorly colonized during this period, indicated by only two areas with organisms collected in the East part (N range=125-251 organisms, size range = 34.3–43.6 mm), and total absence of organisms in the West part. In September 2002, the Hurricane “Isidoro” passed troughtout the Yucatan Peninsula, developing a level of 4 in the Saffir-Simpson scale, only 50 km away from Chabihau swamp. Seven months after, it was sampled “chivitas” in the West part, with N range=73-308 organism and size range=29.1-51.1 mm, indicating both a population recruitment, and populational growth in size. It is showed the von Bertalanffy parameters obtained before and after the hurricane along 4.5 years of sampling, and an estimate of biomass (27 tons total weight). Today, the inhabitants around the swamp capture “chivitas” for domestic consumption at a unknown explotation level. Ambiental and biological factors that could had produced such colonization are discussed. KEY WORDS: Melongena corona bispinosa, colonization, hurricane, artisanal fishery, Yucatan Peninsula Page 31 Factors Influencing Recreational Diver Satisfaction in Barbados and Honduras Factores que Influyen sobre la Satisfacción de los Buceadores Recreativos en Barbados y Honduras Facteurs qui Influencent la Satisfaction des Plongeurs Recreationnels à la Barbade et au Honduras DAVID GILL1*, PETER SCHUHMANN2, and HAZEL OXENFORD1 Centre for Resource Management and Environmental, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus , Barbados. *[email protected]. [email protected]. 2University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina USA. [email protected]. 1 ABSTRACT Recreational SCUBA diving is an important source of economic activity and foreign exchange in the Caribbean. However this industry is threatened by the degradation of coral reefs across the region. Visiting divers have specific preferences for site attributes and quality that determine their choice of destination. Perceptions of reef quality are likely to play an important role in determining the satisfaction received during a dive and ultimately a diver's willingness to pay to access specific reef sites. Diver preferences therefore determine the demand for specific reefs and a decline in diver satisfaction could have severe economic implications for tourism-dependent communities. In this study, undertaken between 2007 to 2011, over 200 recreational divers were interviewed in two Caribbean nations that differ in their tourism market, geography and gross domestic product, to obtain a better understanding of the reef attributes that are important to diver satisfaction in the Caribbean. The relationship between diver attributes (demographics and dive experience), their perceptions of reef quality (coral cover, number of fish encountered, diversity, water clarity and level of crowding) and their willingness to pay is explored. The data presented here represent some of the preliminary results from the economic valuation research within the Future of Reefs in a Changing Environment (FORCE) project. Results will assist policy makers to achieve more economic and environmentally sustainable outcomes by highlighting the reef characteristics that have a greater impact on diver satisfaction and therefore, on future tourism revenues. KEY WORDS: SCUBA diving, ecotourism, willingness-to-pay, Utilization of Molecular Markers to Assess Population Structure of Mustelus canis and to Differentiate among Members of the Shark Family Triakidae in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea La Utilización de Marcadores Moleculares para Evaluar la Estructura de la Población de Mustelus canis y para Diferenciar ntre los Miembros de los Tiburones de la Familia Triakidae en el Golfo de México y en el Mar Caribe L'utilisation de Marqueurs Moléculaires pour Évaluer La Structure de la Population de Mustelus Canis et Différencier les Membres de la Famille des Requins Triakidae dans le Golfe Du Mexique et dans la Mer des Caraïbes MELISSA GIRESI Texas A&M University, 800 Marion Pugh Drive, Apt 2814, College Station, Texas 77840 USA. [email protected], ABSTRACT The Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea are home to a variety of elasmobranch species, including five nominal species and one nominal sub-species of the triakid shark genus Mustelus (smoothhound sharks). Each of these species is listed on the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species; one (M. canis) is listed as Near-Threatened, three (M. norrisi, M. minicanis and M. sinusmexicanus) are listed as Data Deficient, and one (M. higmani) is listed as Least Concern. Elucidating the spatial distribution, and population structure of these species is crucial for effective management planning and conservation of BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO smoothound species in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Thirty-two nuclear-encoded microsatellites were developed from an enriched genomic library of M. canis to test the hypothesis that there are genetically divergent stocks of M. canis throughout their range and in U.S. waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. All 32 microsatellites were tested for cross-amplification on tissue samples from individuals of M. higmani, M. norrisi, M c. insularis, and M. sinusmexicanus, and assessed for differences in allele size ranges and heterogeneity of allelic richness and gene diversity. A subset of microsatellites were identified and used to develop a microsatellite panel that can be employed to distinguish among the species. The study provides information on stock structure for M. canis and a reliable genetic assay for delineation of smoothhound shark species. Results of the study can be used in management planning and conservation of smoothhound shark resources in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. KEY WORDS: Microsatellites, Triakidae, forensics, Mustelus canis, population genetics Developing Strategies for Marine Climate Change Adaptation Planning: The Case for Alternative Future Scenarios Desarrollando Estrategias para la Planificación del Cambio de Clima Marina: El Caso para Futuro Panoramas Développer des Stratégies pour la Planification de l'Adaptation au Climat Marin Changement: le Cas de Scénarios Alternatifs de l'Avenir ROBERT GLAZER1*, MICHAEL FLAXMAN2, JUAN CARLOS VARGAS-MORENO2, ROGER B. GRIFFIS3. and CHRIS BERGH4 Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, 2796 Overseas Hwy, Ste. 119 Suite 119, Marathon, Florida 33050 USA. *[email protected]. 2Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 USA. [email protected]. [email protected]. 3National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA Fisheries Service, Office of Science and Technology, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 USA. [email protected]. 4The Nature Conservancy, Florida Keys Office, PO Box 420237, Summerland Key Florida 33042 USA. [email protected]. KEY WORDS: Climate change, adaptation A Management Capacity Assessment of Selected Coral Reef Marine Protected Areas in the Caribbean Una Evaluación de la Capacidad de Manejo de Determinadas Areas Marinas Protegidas de Arrecifes de Coral en el Caribe Une Evaluation des Capacités de Gestion des Aires Marines Protégées Sélectionnées Récifs Coralliens dans les Caraïbes MEGHAN GOMBOS1*, ALEX ARRIVILLAGE1, DANA WUSINICH-MENDEZ2, EMMA DOYLE, SCOT FREW4, BOB GLAZER5, GEORGINA BUSTAMENTE3, ALEJANDRO ACOSTA5, BILLY CAUSEY6, CYNTHIA ROLLI7, and JEANNE BROWN7 1 Sea Change Consulting. * [email protected]. [email protected]. 2NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program. [email protected]. 3GCFI CaMPAM. [email protected]. [email protected]. 4 NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program. [email protected]. 5GCFI. [email protected] alejandro.acosta@gcfi,org 6NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program [email protected] 7The Nature Conservancy 3052 Estate Little Princess Christiansted, Virgin Islands 00820 USA. [email protected]. ABSTRACT This report presents the findings of an assessment of capacity building needs for the management of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Caribbean region. A total of 27 MPA sites in 10 countries and territories were included in the assessment, which is an initiative of NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) in partnership with the Caribbean Marine Protected Area Management Network and Forum (CaMPAM). For this assessment a new survey tool was developed based on a modified version of an existing NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program MPA Management Assessment checklist (http://coralreef.noaa.gov/resources/publicationsdata/). This tool, intended to be a guided self-assessment, was used by the consultants in an interview process with site managers. Each question was followed by a more thorough discussion about why that answer was selected. The regional results demonstrate that the current perceived capacity of sites is greatest in relation to zoning/boundaries, governance, management planning, stakeholder engagement, conflict resolution mechanisms, and outreach and education. Current perceived capacity of sites is lowest in relation to alternative livelihoods, Page ABSTRACT Climate change adaptation planning is a rapidly emerging and evolving science in which the three basics of vulnerability – exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity – are assessed and plans are developed to mitigate their effects on species and ecosystems. By far the most effort has been focused on terrestrial systems with only a few efforts addressing the marine environment (e.g. . the Great Barrier Reef Climate Change Action Plan. One method of adaptation planning for use within Florida’s terrestrial environment is the alternative future scenarios approach pioneered by the urban planning department at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This method builds on a process that was developed during the cold war that constructs plausible future scenarios and develops responses to each of them. The MIT approach incorporates social, economic, political, and climate change variables into a model that develops future landscape configurations and outputs the results in geospatial maps. Habitat and species distributions can be overlaid on these maps to identify critical landscape features for conservation. Expert consultations form the basis of the anticipated changes to the landscape. This approach helps land managers prioritize conservation strategies (e.g. identifying lands for conservation) based on features in a future landscape shaped by varying social, biological and economic factors coupled to a range of plausible climate change impacts. We are now developing a similar process to adapt the alternative future scenarios approach to the marine environment in the Florida Keys under the threats of increasing sea surface temperatures, sea level rise, and ocean acidification. Within the marine model, we will also incorporate management options including spatially-explicit reserves, artificial reefs, etc. However, the marine environment is particularly complex because of the regional and global-scale impacts (e.g., ocean acidification), and because strategies that are available for use in terrestrial systems (e.g. land purchases) are not as easily adaptable to a complex seascape. We feel that this approach will be valuable for marine managers to visualize the effects of climate change on the resources they manage, and to begin the process of developing pro-active management strategies to cope with the pernicious effects of a changing climate on marine species, marine ecosystems, and the human systems they support. 32 1 BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO socioeconomic monitoring, and fisheries management. Priority MPA management capacity needs as identified by managers are: 1) enforcement 2) financing 3) management planning, bio-physical monitoring, socio-economic monitoring and 4) MPA effectiveness evaluation, and outreach and education. Preferred approaches to capacity building at a regional scale are: 1) technical support, 2) training, 3) more staff, 4) learning exchanges, and 5) higher education courses. KEY WORDS: MPA, capacity, assessment, NOAA, CaMPAM Aprovechamiento Pesquero de Langosta Espinosa (Panulirus argus), Temporada 2011-2012, en el Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak, Quintana Roo, México Exploitation of Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus), 2011-2012 Season, in Xcalak Reefs National Park, Quintana Roo, México Utilisation du Langouste Épineux (Panulirus argus), Saison 2011-2012, dans le Parc Nationale Récifs des Xcalak, Quintana Roo, Mexique JORGE MANUEL GÓMEZ POOT Comisión de Áreas Naturales Protegidas Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak, Ave. Insurgentes 445, Edif. SEMARNAT, Chetumal, Quintana Roo 77039 México. [email protected]. 33 RESUMEN La pesca en el sur de Quintana Roo es de tipo artesanal y multiespecífica, se enfoca principalmente en la langosta espinosa (Panulirus argus) y algunos peces de importancia comercial y de consumo domestico. Durante Julio y Agosto del 2011 que se abrió la temporada de pesca legal de langosta, se han obtenido un total de 2947 registros de individuos, con longitudes y pesos que oscilaron entre los 100 a 273 mm y 90 a 532 gramos. Se capturaron 1519 hembras y 1428 machos, cuya proporción de sexos fue H1:M1 (χ2p=2.8; p>0,05). Se determin ó por medio de una relación potencialel tipo de crecimiento que presentaban, mediante la relación longitud-peso para cada sexo. Resultando que los machos tienen una b= 2,403 y r²= 0,7386 y las hembras con una b=2,291 y r²= 0,7204. La talla media fue de 152 Mm, la captura de talla sublegal fue del 7%, lo que indica que ha disminuido en comparación con los años anteriores. En estos 2 meses se tiene una biomasa total capturada de 1,415.318 kg dentro del polígono del parque; obteniéndose una captura media por embarcación de 4kg, con un esfuerzo de 4 horas de buceo. Se pudo observar que para el mes de julio que es inicio de la temporada se concentraron 935.850 kg de cola de langosta. Se referenciaron las zonas con mayor captura dentro del Parque. Este es un paso importante en el estudio de la pesquería langosta, pues es el tercer año que se lleva registro de la captura, ayudándonos a entender la misma y a tomar decisiones de manejo. Page PALABRAS CLAVE: Xcalak, langosta espinosa, caribe mexicano, pesca artesanal, talla abdominal Analysis of the Spatial-temporal Abundance of the Sea Urchin Diadema antillarum in 5 Sites of Puerto Rico Análisis de Tiempo y Espacio de la Abundancia del Erizo de Mar Diadema antillarum en 5 Sitios de Puerto Rico L’Analyse de l'Abondance Spatio-temporelle de la Oursin Diadema antillarum sur 5 Sites à Porto Rico CARMEN GONZÁLEZ Capítulo Estudiantil Sociedad Ambiente Marino, Calle Concordia# 12, Adjuntas, Puerto Rico 0060.1 [email protected]. ABSTRACT The massive die-off of the key grazer Diadema antillarum is thought to be one of the main causes of the “phase-shift” from coral reefs to algal reefs in the Caribbean. More than 25 year after the die-off little is known about the current population condition in Puerto Rico. The main objectives of this study were to quantify and compare the abundances of D. antillarum during 2009-2010 at 5 sites in Puerto Rico: Escambron(ESC), Luquillo (LUQ), Vega Baja(VB), Tamarindo(TAM), and Punta Soldado(PS). At each site all sea urchins found within five 20m2 (10mx2m) belts transects, randomly established at 3-5 m in depth, were counted and measured. In 2009 densities varied between 12.2ind/20m2 in PS, and 45.6ind/20m2 in LUQ meanwhile in 2010, densities varied between 10.6ind/20m2 in LUQ, and 24.2ind/20m2 in VB. However, two-way ANOVA indicates that densities were not significantly influenced by site. In contrast, densities differed significantly between sampling periods probably to a significant reduction in sea urchin abundance at observed at LUQ. This event may be the causal factor behind the interaction between sites and time; at others sites densities did not differed significantly among 2009-2010. Furthermore, number of juveniles (<4cm) were relatively low varying between 2ind/20m2 and 14ind/20m2 at VB and TAM respectively in 2009, meanwhile in 2010 were even lower varying between 0ind/20m2 at VBand 5ind/20m2 at TAM. These results indicate that abundances of D. antillarum still low compared to pre-mass mortality. Numbers of juveniles suggest that population recovery may not occur in the near future. KEY WORDS : Diadema antillarum, juveniles, key grazer, sea urchins, mass mortalities El Sistema Mesocosmos y su Adaptación para el Cultivo Larvario de Strombus gigas The Mesocosm System and its Adaptation for Larval Culture of Strombus gigas Le Système Mésocosmos et son Adaptation à la Culture de Larves de Strombus gigas WENDY ANGELA GONZALEZ LÓPEZ*, RAFAEL VALDES CRUZ , RODOLFO RAIGOZA , AND DALILA ALDANA ARANDA CINVESTAV, km 6 antigua carretera a Progreso, Merida, Yucatan 97310 Mexico. [email protected]. [email protected]. RESUMEN BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Los sistemas mesocosmos son recintos físicos de confinamiento dentro de ecosistemas, usados en variados experimentos que permiten llevar a cabo múltiples repeticiones, proporcionando resultados cercanos a las condiciones reales de los ecosistemas naturales. Por lo que su adaptación para el cultivo de organismos acuáticos, ofrece una alternativa de biotecnología, en este caso para la larvicultura de <em>Strombus gigas,</em> a fin de evaluar tasa de crecimiento, supervivencia, calidad y tiempo de desarrollo de las larvas planctónicas. En el presente trabajo se utilizó un sistema mesocosmos compuesto de tres cilindros de 1 mt de altura con fondo cónico de 15 cm de altura y una válvula de paso para la colecta de los organismos al final del cultivo, fabricados con fibra de vidrio que permite la entrada de luz hacia el interior y 4 ventanas de malla planctónica de 50µm que permite el flujo constante de agua, evitando la entrada de predadores y la salida de las larvas (300µm al eclosionar). El cultivo se llevó a cabo en un área del parque Xcaret con los parámetros físico-químicos adecuados para el cultivo, en un periodo de 21 días, alimentado con la productividad primaria natural del ecosistema. En el presente trabajo se discute y compara los resultados obtenidos en el mesocosmos y en el laboratorio para la fase larvaria de Strombus gigas. PALABRAS CLAVE: Systema mesocosmos, adaptación, caracol, larvario, Strombus gigas Predicting the Vulnerability of Atlantic Fishes to Invasive Indo-Pacific Lionfish Predation Predecir la Vulnerabilidad de los Peces del Atlántico a la Depredación del Pez León de Pacifico Indico Prévision de la Vulnérabilité de Poissons de l’Atlantique à la Prédation de la Rascasse Volante Indo-Pacifique Envahissante KEY WORDS: Lionfish, predation Los Recursos Icticos Marinos Explotados por la Flota Pesquera Artesanal del Departamento del Magdalena (Caribe, Colombia): Elementos de Manejo y Conservación Marine Fish Resources Exploited by the Artisanal Fishing Fleet from Departamento del Magdalena (Caribbean, Colombia): Management and Conservation Elements Elements Ressources Halieutiques Marines Exploitées par la Flotte de Pêche Artisanale du Departamento del Magdalena (Caraïbes, Colombie): Gestion et Conservation des Éléments LYDA MARCELA GRIJALBA BENDECK*, DIANA MILENA BUSTOS MONTES, CAMILA POSADA PELAÉZ, ANGIE SANTAFÉ MUÑOZ ANA, MARÍA NOVOA Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano, Carrera 2 No. 11-68, Rodadero Carrera 2 No. 5-12 Santa Marta, Magdalena 0 Colombia. *[email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. 1 RESUMEN Al integrar la información pesquera, bioeconómica y biológica colectada entre agosto 2008 y junio 2010 de la pesca artesanal marítima que se efectúa en el margen costero del Departamento del Magdalena, se evidencia la crítica situación que atraviesan los recursos pesqueros y se hace prioritaria la formulación de medidas para su manejo y conservación. Desde este punto de vista el presente trabajo propone algunas especies prioritarias de conservación que merecen ser evaluadas y protegidas, se identifican artes/métodos inapropiados empleados en esta área o zona y se analizan las medidas de manejo vigentes y futuras, necesarias para la conservación de los recursos pesqueros. Entre los criterios evaluados, se presenta la evaluación comparativa entre la talla media de madurez y la talla media de captura, por especie, arte y sitio de desembarco, procedentes de la revisión bibliográfica y calculads a partir del presente estudio. La extracción de peces por debajo de su talla media de madurez fue interpretada como evidente presión pesquera y se reconoció como una de las más graves problemáticas que enfrentan actualmente las pesquerías artesanales marítimas de la región, donde además de la creación de nuevas áreas marinas protegidas, se requiere mayor control y vigilancia de las ya existentes. PALABRAS CLAVE: Manejo, conservación, pesca artesanal, Caribe, Colombia Page ABSTRACT Invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish have rapidly spread across the western Atlantic and Caribbean, creating a marine predator invasion of unparalleled speed and magnitude. To date over 60 Atlantic fishes have been documented within the stomachs of lionfish, and concerns are mounting about impacts to native fish communities. In this study I evaluate morphological and behavioural indicators of fish vulnerability to predation by invasive lionfish. For gape-limited, visual predators such as lionfish, important prey characteristics may include prey body size and shape, and the presence of cryptic colouration and habitat associations. To establish a link between lionfish diet selection and prey fish availability on invaded coral reef habitats, I collected data on lionfish diet composition and prey availability from 14 invaded reef sites off of New Providence, Bahamas. These data were used to create a predictive model which identifies species characteristics that convey high vulnerability to predation by lionfish. The model can be used to better predict the effects of lionfish predation on native fish community structure and target removal efforts in areas where fish assemblages are particularly at risk. 34 STEPAHANIE GREEN Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada. [email protected]. BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Evaluación del Estado de Madurez Gonadal en Peces Marinos del Caribe de Colombia: Importancia de Implementar el Uso de Técnicas Histológicas Marine Fish Gonadal Maturity Evaluation from Colombia's Caribbean: Importance of Implementing the Use of Histological Techniques Evaluation de la Maturité des Gonades chez les Poissons Marins des Caraïbes de la Colombie: l'Importance de la Mise en Ouvre de l'Utilisation de Techniques Histologiques LYDA MARCELA GRIJALBA BENDECK*, ESPERANZA GONZÁLEZ SARMIENTO , AND ANGIE SANTAFÉ MUÑOZ Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano, Carrera 2 No. 11-68, Rodadero Carrera 2 No. 5-12, Santa Marta, Magdalena 0 Colombia. *[email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. RESUMEN En este estudio se realizó un análisis comparativo del uso de escalas de madurez macroscópica y microscópica, empleadas para la determinación de estados de desarrollo gonadal para las 44 especies más importantes de la pesca artesanal en el margen costero del Departamento del Magdalena (Caribe Colombia), identificando que el 63,6% de muestras se catalogaron como erradas por no mostrar correspondencia entre la clasificación macroscópica y la histológica, analizando las causas para ello, como aporte al inicio de este tipo de estudios en peces marinos de Colombia. PALABRAS CLAVE: Histología, escalas madurez gonadal, peces marinos, Caribe, Colombia Page 35 Las Pesquerías del Sur de Sian Ka'an y su Correlación Ambientales, Biológicos, Socioeconómicos y Culturales son los Aspectos para el Establecimiento de Zonas de Restauración de las Pesquerías The Fisheries of the South of Sian Ka´an and its Correlation Environmental, Biological, Socioeconomic and Cultural are Aspects for the Implementation of Fisheries Restoration Zones Les Pêcheries du Sud de Sian Ka´an, leur Corrélation Environnementale, Biologique, Socioéconomique et Culturel, les Aspects pour l´Implémentation de Zones de Restauration de la Pêche OSCAR GUZMÁN ESCALANTE*, ANGEL OMAR ORTIZ MORENO , RUBEN HOIL LARA , EDUARDO PÉREZ CATZIM, JUAN BAUTISTA, PAT CITUK , y TJERK VAN ROOIJ UTEP CONANP, Retorno de Pchuca mz43 L5, San Jeronimo, Aculco, México. 10400 DF. *[email protected]. RESUMEN El manejo de los recursos marino costeros de una ANP, no puede ser administrado únicamente desde un punto de vista jurídico se deben considerar una serie de indicadores: biológicos, pesqueros y socioeconómicos. Para ello, es importante tener presente que la recopilación y el análisis de información es clave para comprender de una mejor forma los procesos de desarrollo comunitario a partir del aprovechamiento de los recursos marino pesqueros. El objetivo de este estudio fue monitorear y evaluar los procesos que se generan a partir de la actividad pesquera en Bahía del Espíritu Santo; con miras a encontrar y describir las interrelaciones que se generan a partir de los fenómenos asociados a la extracción como: Métodos de captura, estructura de la captura, fenómenos medioambientales y socioeconómica pesquera para así poder formular propuestas que motiven la conjunción del manejo y gestión de los recursos marinos de mejor forma. Este trabajo estableció que la fuente principal de ingreso de las comunidades es la pesca de langosta y de forma complementaria la escama. Además las comunidades de la zona tienen poca compresión sobre el efecto de su actividad en los recursos y el ecosistema siendo notoria la necesidad del fortalecimiento y la implementación de actividades económicas alternativas a la pesca, mediante la incentivación del cambio de comportamiento y estrategias de remoción de barreras. Eso permitirá minimizar el decaimiento de las capturas tras los periodos prolongado de explotación, optimizar los beneficios obtenidos de la pesca, disminuir las prácticas nocivas de pesca como uso de redes, pesca furtiva e ilegal, desarrollar el sentido de pertenencia, fomentar el desarrollo comunitario y la conservación del hábitat. PALABRAS CLAVE: Recursos marino costeros, indicadores:biológicos,pesqueros, y socio, interrelaciones, aprovechamiento, cambio de comportamiento, Effectiveness of Different Levels of Management on Three Marine Protected Areas: A Case Study from Belize, Central America Eficacia de Niveles Diferentes de Dirección en Tres Áreas Protegidas Marítimas: Un Estudio del Caso de Belice, América Central L'Efficacité de Différents Niveaux d'Administration sur Trois Régions Protégées marines. une Étude de cas du Bélize, l'Amérique Centrale ANNELISE HAGAN Southern Environmental Association, Placencia Village, Stann Creek, Belize. [email protected]. ABSTRACT Coral reefs worldwide are degrading at an accelerated rate. Coupled with predictions of climate change, increased coastal development and increased dependence on reef resources, the future for coral reefs looks bleak. The need for improved management is paramount in order to preserve reefs for the future. Belize hosts the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, which forms part of the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) system. In addition to climate change threats such as coral bleaching and increased hurricane activity, localized risks to reefs within this area include over-fishing, coral disease, and coastal and caye development. An effective network of marine reserves with good connectivity between sites is essential. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have the ability to act as ‘stepping stones’ allowing larval supply and dispersal from one region to another. Southern Environmental Association comanages 3 MPAs within the Southern Belize Reef Complex; Laughing Bird Caye National Park (LBCNP), Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve (GSSCMR) and Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve (SCMR). These reserves exhibit a gradient in their level of protection, ranging from a fully protected no- BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO take national park, to a marine reserve with established zoning, to a marine reserve with new zoning (enforced since 2010). Abundance and size data for commercially important species (conch, lobster and certain fish) is presented and results are displayed over time in order to show the effectiveness of the differing levels of management. The future of these southern Belize reef ecosystems is considered in the context of future threats and potential management strategies. KEY WORDS: Management, MPA, lobster, conch, reef The Precautionary Principle in Fisheries Management in CARICOM States El Principio Precautorio en el Manejo Pesquero de los Estados de la CARICOM Le Principe Precautorio dans la Gestion de Pêche des États de la CARICOM MILTON HAUGHTON CRFM, Princess Margaret Drive, PO Box 642, Belize City, Belize. [email protected]. ABSTRACT Although the precautionary principle is a widely accepted and applied principle in environmental law, its application to conservation and management of living marine resources is a more recent development. Its application to fisheries was first articulated in Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21 in 1992. But it has since been receiving considerable attention and has found currency in numerous binding agreement and non-binding fisheries instruments, at the international, regional and domestic levels. This paper briefly reviews the development of the principle in international law and argues that the precautionary principle and approach provide a firm basis for improved fisheries management, particularly in data poor environments. The paper then explores the extent to which precaution has been incorporated and applied at the regional and domestic levels in the fisheries policies and laws of CARICOM Member States. It concludes that although is being made, much more could be done to incorporate and apply the precautionary principle and approach. KEY WORDS: Precautionary, CARICOM, fisheries, management EVAN HENDERSON* and ISABELLE CÔTÉ Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada. [email protected]. [email protected]. ABSTRACT Since 2004, Indo-Pacific lionfishes (Pterois volitans and P. miles) have rapidly swept through the Caribbean region. The ecological impacts of the lionfish invasion have been the focus of most research to date, as these predatory fish prey on a wide array of native fish and crustacean species. The main goal of this study was to examine the potential economic repercussions of this invasion by measuring its effect on the economically important spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) fishery of the Bahamas. Field surveys of lobster and lionfish habitats on natural reefs suggest overlap in the characteristics of habitat used by both species, but since space on reefs is abundant, lobsters and lionfish rarely co-occurred. However, an inverse relationship existed between lobster and lionfish numbers in lobster shelter traps (condos) used by local fishers, implying potential conflict for habitat use in seagrass beds and hard-bottom areas where shelter is limited. Formal interviews with fishers allowed for an estimate of changes in effort and monetary cost to the fishery with each lionfish found in and around traps. This is the first study to test the direct effects of the lionfish invasion on any fishery. As an island nation, the Bahamas relies both economically and culturally on its marine resources. Quantifying how ecological shifts manifest themselves in the local economy will be invaluable to planners and policy makers attempting to adapt to, and mitigate, the effects of this marine invasion. KEY WORDS: Lionfish, lobster, invasive species, economic impact, habitat use Estimación de la Distribución, Abundancia y Aspectos Poblacionales y Características del Hábitat de la Almeja Blanca (Codakia orbicularis) en el Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak, Quintana Roo, México Estimation of Distribution, Abundance and Populations Aspects, and Habitat Characteristics of White Clam (Codakia orbicularis) in Xcalak Reefs National Park, Quintana Roo, Mexico Estimation des distribution, Abundance et Aspects de la Population et Caracteristiques des Habitat, des la Blanc Palourde (Codakia orbicularis) dans le Parc Nationale Récifs des Xcalak, Quintana Roo, México ERICKA MARIEL HERNÁNDEZ MONTENEGRO1*, JORGE MANUEL GÓMEZ POOT2, ALEJANDRO MEDINA QUE3, MARÍA DEL CARMEN GARCÍA RIVAS4, y WADY HADAD LÓPEZ4 1 Instituto Tecnológico de Chetumal, Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak-CONANP, Ave. Insurgentes No. 330 Col. David Gustavo Gutiérrez Chetumal, Q.Roo 77013 México. *[email protected]. 2Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas, Ave. Insurgentes No. 445, Edif. SEMARNA,T Chetumal, Quintana Roo 77039 México. [email protected]. 3Instituto Tecnológico de Chetumal. [email protected]. 4Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak. [email protected]. [email protected]. RESUMEN En el Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak se desarrolla una pesca artesanal de almeja blanca (Codakia orbicularis); anteriormente productiva y redituable, pero desde hace algunos años con un decremento en la producción y afectaciones en pastos marinos y manglar. El estudio se desarrolló a petición de la Page Efectos de la Invasión del Pez León del Indo-Pacífico en la Pesquería de Langosta de Bahamas Effets de l’Invasion des Rascasses Volantes de l’Indo-Pacifique sur la Pêche au Homards aux Bahamas 36 Effects of the Indo-Pacific Lionfish Invasion on the Bahamian Lobster Fishery BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO CONANP para conocer la viabilidad biológica de la pesquería. Los registros se tomaron entre Julio del 2010 y Abril del 2011, se muestrearon 9 sitios, se colectaron y tomaron medidas de longitud total, altura, ancho y peso. Se caracterizó el hábitat de extracción, prefiriendo la almeja suelos poco compactos, poblados con parches de pasto marino. Se caracterizó la vegetación de la duna costera, destacando la uva de mar (Coccolova uvifera), lirio de mar (Hymenocallis americana), entre otras, incluyendo tres tipos de mangle, negro (Aviscennia germinans), botoncillo (Conocarpus erecta) y blanco (Laguncularia racemosa). Se extrajo almeja en los 9 sitios muestreados, obteniendo un total de 78 individuos, con un peso total de 3394 gr., el peso promedio fue de 10.41 gr., longitud total con promedio de 12.32 mm. y rango de 19 a 78 mm., ancho con promedio de 10.86 mm. y rango de 16 a 70 mm., y altura con promedio de 4.78 mm. y rango de 5 a 35 mm. Se observa una disminución de abundancia de esta almeja comparado con los datos históricos; con los datos preeliminares obtenidos, así como con la observación de los métodos de captura se logró que el permiso de la pesquería no fuera refrendado por la autoridad competente en el 2010, lo que sigue es tomar medidas de recuperación para esta especie y el monitoreo continuo en el área. PALABRAS CLAVE: Habitat, almeja blanca, pesca artesanal, duna costera, xcalak Acciones de Control del Pez León (Pterois volitans) y de Capacitación Comunitaria en las Islas de Old Providence y Santa Catalina, Caribe Colombiano Control Actions on Lionfish (Pterois volitans) Populations and Community Training on the Islands of Old Providence and Santa Catalina, Colombian Caribbean Réalisation d'Actions de Contrôle sur les Populations du Lionfish (Pterois volitans) et d'une Formation Communautaire dans les Îles de Old Providence ed Santa Catalina, dans le Caraïbe Colombien GLORIA HINESTROZA1*, SANTIAGO POSADA1, HARVEY ROBINSON1, MARCELA AMPUDIA1, NICASIO HOWARD1, ERICK CASTRO2, y ANTHONY ROJAS2 Old Providence EcoHamlet Foudation, Providencia Isla Providencia Isla, San Andre,s Colombia. *[email protected]. 2 Secretaria de Agricultura y Pesca, Avenida Newball, Edificio Coral Palace, San Andres Islas, San Andres, Colombia. [email protected]. [email protected]. Page 37 RESUMEN Durante la última década se ha presentado una acelerada invasión del pez león (Pterois volitans, en una amplia área de ecosistemas del mar caribe y Atlántico occidental, esta especie invasora fue inicialmente reportada en Diciembre del año 2008 por Eco-Hamlet Foundationpara Providencia isla, MPA de la Reserva de Biósfera Seaflower, primer avistamiento de la especie para Colombia. Actualmente esta especie se ha distribuido por diferentes ecosistemas de la plataforma insular, y su presencia representa una amenaza sobre los recursos pesqueros del archipiélago. Este problema es agravado puesto que las especies nativas de uso comercial, que presentan problemas de sobre-pesca, compiten por el mismo nicho con el pez león. La Gobernación del Archipiélago de San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina y EcoHamlet Foundation, desarrollaron un convenio cuyo objetivo fue aunar esfuerzos para mitigar los efectos del pez león sobre los recursos pesqueros, involucrando la comunidad de las islas. Se realizaron 6 salidas de control con una captura total de 518 peces a los que se les tomaron datos biológicos, adicionalmente se llevó cabo un torneo de captura con pescadores y buzos capacitados los cuales recolectaron 450 individuos. Con los restaurantes de la isla se hizo una muestra gastronómica donde se ofrecieron más de 200 degustaciones de platos a base de pez león. Se dictaron 10 charlas en las instituciones educativas de la isla en donde participaron 200 jóvenes y niños del municipio. El objetivo principal de este trabajo es el desarrollo continuo de una estrategia integral que permita mitigar la problemática generada por el pez león en nuestros mares y transformar en una oportunidad esta amenaza generada por el hombre en nuestra área de conservación. PALABRAS CLAVE: Pez leon, especie invasora, Seaflower St. Thomas East End Reserves: Implementation of the Management Plan Las Reservas al Este de Santo Tomas: Implementación del Plan de Gestión Réserves de la Côte est de St. Thomas: Mise en Oeuvre du Plan de Gestion ANNE MARIE HOFFMAN1 and JEANNE BROWN2 The Nature Conservancy, 6501 Red Hook Plaza, Suite 201 St. Thomas , Virgin Islands 00802-1306 US. [email protected]. 2 The Nature Conservancy 3052 Estate Little Princess Christiansted, Virgin Islands 00820 USA. [email protected]. 1 ABSTRACT The St. Thomas East End Reserves (STEER) encompasses 9.6 km2 of significant coastal, marine and fisheries resources, including mangrove forests, salt ponds, lagoons, coral reef communities and cays. Active management of the St. Thomas East End Reserves (STEER) was reinvigorated in 2008 with the formation of a Core Planning Team and the identification and participation of up to 70 stakeholders and involved citizens in a review and update of the site’s Protected Area Management Plan. The STEER is comprised of coral habitat, seagrass beds, mangroves, and endangered Acropora spp. and is a vital marine and coastal area for the USVI, particularly for the fisheries of St. Thomas. A STEER Implementation Specialist has begun to implement early management strategies to 1) increase public education and awareness; 2) increase enforcement of the rules and regulations specific to STEER; 3) establish priority baseline data and implement a monitoring program to assess STEER resources; 4) and initiate activities aimed to abate land and water-based pollution into the coastal areas. This talk will examine some of the challenges and success of keeping partners and the Core Planning Team coordinated, local authorities engaged, and the community involved as well as establishing the mechanisms for sustainable funding, support and management. KEY WORDS: MPA, management, implementation, statkeholder, USVI BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO The Morphology of the Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) from the Antigua and Barbuda Shelf: Implications for Fisheries Management La Morfología del Caracol Rosa (Strombus gigas) de La Plataforma de Antigua y Barbuda: Implicaciones para La Gestión de La Pesca La Morphologie du Lambi (Strombus gigas) de la Plateforme de Antigua et Barbuda – Implications pour la Gestion des Pêches IAN HORSFORD1*, MITSUHIRO ISHIDA2, LOOBY GEORG1, MARK ARCHIBALD HILROY SIMON1, TARYN EDWARDS1, and TRICIA LOVELL1 1 Fisheries Division, Point Wharf Fisheries Complex St. John's, Antigua. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. 2 Japan International Cooperation Agency Point Wharf Fisheries Complex, St. John's, Antigua. [email protected]. ABSTRACT Morphometric measurements were taken from queen conch (Strombus gigas) from various sections of the Antigua and Barbuda shelf to: 1) ascertain if there were spatial variability regarding morphology; 2) analyse length-weight relationships for various maturation stages; 3) develop statistically valid conversion factors for different levels of processed conch meat; and 4) assess current management regimes (e.g., minimum size). For both juvenile and adult conch, shell length differed significantly among the coastal groupings, p<0.001. Shell lip thickness, an indicator of the age, was also significantly different among the coasts (p<0.001), where conch from the north and west coast were significantly older than those from the east or south coast of Antigua (p<0.001). Significant sexual dimorphism was only detected for adult conch (p<0.001), with females being 4% larger than their male counterpart. The mean lip thickness for conch collected from commercial fishing trips was 25.0mm (N = 785, S.D. = 5.5mm) indicating that divers were targeting an old population however the sex ratio of the allowable catch (minimum weight of 225g) was favouring the harvesting of female conch, X2 (1, N = 711) = 4.26, p<0.05. Conversion factors differed significantly among maturation stages (juvenile, sub adult, adult and old adult), p<0.01; hence the use of a single conversion factor to transform processed conch to nominal weight is problematic since conversion factor is dependent on the age structure of the population. These morphological differences require a multifaceted management approach (closed season, protected areas, etc) to ensure the long-term sustainability of the fisheries. Fishermen Social and Cultural Behavior Associated to Decompression Sickness in Lobster Fisheries from the Eastern Coast of Yucatan Le Comportement Social et Culturel des Pêcheurs Associés à la Maladie de Décompression dans la Pêche du Homard de la Côte Orientale du Yucatán OSWALDO HUCHIM*, SILVIA SALAS , and JULIA FRAGA CINVESTAV, Km 6 antigua carretera a Progreso, Merida, Yucatan 97310 Mexico. *[email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. ABSTRACT La captura de langosta en Yucatán, México data desde 1950 convirtiéndose en una actividad de gran valor económico y social. En la península de Yucatán se ha observado una evolución en los métodos de pesca en esta pesquería como un proceso adaptativo y de aprendizaje. Estos cambios en la tecnología han dado lugar a nuevos retos, incluyendo afecciones a la salud de los pescadores. En este trabajo se pretende conocer aquellos factores asociados a la enfermedad por descompresión que prevalecen entre los pescadores así como su percepción cultural. El trabajo de campo se realizó en San Felipe y Río Lagartos, comunidades localizadas en la costa oriente de Yucatán durante los meses de septiembre 2009 a enero 2010 usando métodos estadísticos para el contraste entre las dos comunidades estudiadas. Los resultados muestran que, entre los factores asociados a la enfermedad por descompresión de los pescadores se encuentran la falta de revisión médica cotidiana, padecimiento de enfermedades crónicas restrictivas para el buceo, falta de aplicación o conocimiento de una adecuada técnica de buceo, adicciones y principalmente un desconocimiento de la enfermedad misma. Además, los rasgos culturales, principalmente aquellos relacionados a la percepción del riesgo de los pescadores tienen un rol importante dentro de la pesquería de langosta. Las estrategias de pesca de los langosteros también tienen implicaciones en el uso de los recursos. Con base a los resultados, se proponen mecanismos de intervención a fin de promover mejoras en la salud de los pescadores vinculados a un manejo sustentable de la pesquería. KEY WORDS: Lobster, decompression, cultural, fisheries, behavior Page Aspectos Sociales y Culturales Asociados a la Enfermedad por Descompresión en la Pesquería de Langosta de la Costa Oriente de Yucatán 38 KEYWORDS: Queen conch, Strombus gigas, Antigua and Barbuda, morphology, conversion factor BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Prevalence of Clinical and Subclinical Infection by Panulirus argus Virus 1 (PaV1) in Caribbean Spiny Lobsters from a “Casita”-based Fishery in Mexico Prevalencia de la Infección Clínica y Subclínica por Panulirus argus Virus 1 (PaV1) en Langostas del Caribe en una Pesquería de México Basada en el Uso de “Casitas” Prévalence de l’Infection Clinique et Subclinique de Panulirus argus virus 1 (PAV1) chez Langoustes du Caraïbe dans une Pêcherie du Mexique Basée sur l’Usage des “Casitas” JUAN PABLO HUCHIN MIAN , PATRICIA BRIONES-FOURZÁN2 , FERNANDO NEGRETE-SOTO2, CECILIA BARRADAS-ORTÍZ2, ROSSANNA RODRÍGUEZ-CANUL1, and ENRIQUE LOZANO-ÁLVAREZ2 1 CINVESTAV-Unidad Merida Km. 6 Ant. carr. a Progreso Merida, Yucatan 97310 Mexico [email protected]. [email protected]. 2 Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, UASA Puerto Morelos Prol. Av. Niños Héroes s/n, Puerto Morelos, Q. R. Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo 77580 Mexico [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. ABSTRACT Populations of Caribbean spiny lobsters, Panulirus argus, are being attacked by Panulirus argus Virus 1 (PaV1), a highly pathogenic virus. Infected lobsters may carry the virus well before developing clinical signs of infection (milky hemolymph and a reddish discoloration over the exocuticle) or without becoming diseased at all. The use of “casitas”—large artificial shelters that harbor multiple lobsters over the full size range— in some fisheries has raised concern about a potential increase of contact transmission of PaV1 among casita-dwelling lobsters. Using PCR, we tested for the presence of PaV1 in lobsters with and without clinical signs of infection in Bahía de la Ascensión (Mexico), where casitas are extensively used. Among 723 lobsters sampled from the commercial catch (large subadults and adults) in 2009 and 2010, 4% (30) tested positive for PaV1 with no significant effect of year, but 33% of infected individuals (10/30) were asymptomatic. During winter and spring of 2010, we further sampled lobsters of all sizes from multiple casitas situated over two distant zones within the bay: Punta Allen (PA) and Vigía Chico (VC). In PA, 28% of lobsters (118/420) tested positive for PaV1, but only 3% of lobsters in VC did (8/263), with no significant seasonal effect. Of infected lobsters, 47% were asymptomatic in PA (55/118) and 75% in VC (6/8). Prevalence of infection was lower in lobsters of all sizes in VC, suggesting that local environmental factors may have a greater influence on transmission rates of PaV1 than the cohabitation of lobsters in casitas Page 39 KEY WORDS: PaV1, Panulirus argus, casitas, prevalence, PCR Population Demography of Commercially Exploited Groupers Inferred from Nuclear and Mitochondrial DNA La Demografía de la Población de Meros Explotadas Comercialmente Inferidos a Partir del ADN Nuclear y Mitocondrial Démographie de la Population de Mérous Exploités Commercialement Inférées de l'ADN Nucléaire et Mitochondrial ALEXIS JACKSON University of California, Santa Cruz, 100 Shaffer Road Santa Cruz, Californa 95060 USA. [email protected]. ABSTRACT Overfishing is one of the primary threats to marine species. Leopard grouper (Mycteroperca rosacea) and Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus), two commercially important grouper species, possess numerous biological attributes that make them vulnerable to extinction – longevity, large body size, late sexual maturity and slow growth rates. In addition to this they form spatially and temporally predictable spawning aggregations, conspicuous groupings that are targeted by artisanal fisheries. Studies that investigate the population genetics of these commercially threatened species could provide important insight into demographics of populations, as well as elucidate the genetic consequences of overfishing. This study utilized samples of Leopard and Nassau grouper collected throughout their geographic ranges. Each sample was sequenced for three mitochondrial markers and genotyped for 9 polymorphic microsatellite loci. Preliminary results suggest that Leopard grouper have undergone a population expansion in the Gulf of California, while Nassau grouper have undergone population decline in the Caribbean Sea. Both population growth and decline observed in these species might be a consequence of intense fishing pressure within the geographic ranges occupied by both groupers. Future work will further investigate genetic consequences of overfishing, as well as utilize approaches to investigate more fine scale fluctuations in effective population size over time. KEY WORDS: Groupers, conservation genetics,, effective population size, fisheries Reef Fish Larval Connections Across the Gulf of Mexico El Pez del Arrecife Conexiones Larvales a través del Golfo de México Le Poisson de Récif Connexions Larvaires à Travers le Golfe du Mexique DONALD JOHNSON* and HARRIET PERRY University of Southern Mississippi, 703 E. Beach Drive, Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39564 USA.* [email protected]. [email protected]. ABSTRACT This study examines population connectivity across the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) basin through larval transport. Understanding connectivity between regional populations is important for fishery management. Satellite tracked near-surface drifters from two large Minerals Management programs in the northern GOM were used to represent larval spread across the basin from the north. Archived data from the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model with a Lagrangian algorithm was used to determine spread from the south (Campeche Bank). Both drifter and model data were employed on the western boundary to examine continental shelf larval transport connections between the US and Mexico. Oceanography of the GOM basin is dominated by the Loop Current and its large spin-off eddies characterized by strong currents. Reef fish commonly have a planktonic larval duration (PLD) of about one BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO month from spawned egg to juvenile settlement. The question of whether currents in the basin are sufficiently strong and directed to transport larvae to distant settlement areas during the PLD is addressed. Connectivity across basin does occur, but is weak. In general, it is sufficient to homogenize the gene pool but insufficient to influence manageable population size. There is seasonal transfer of larvae across the Mexican/Texas border on the basin’s western continental shelf. During summer and primary reef fish spawning season, the flux is from Mexico to Texas. During the remainder of the year, the flux is from Texas to Mexico. Ocean dynamics at the border inhibit strong connectivity. KEY WORDS: Larvae, transport, connectivity, currents, management Genetic Variability and Management Unit Identification of Octopus maya Using Specific Microsatellite Markers Identificación de Unidades de Pesca de Octopus maya Utilizando Microsatélites Variabilité Génétique et Identification de l'Unité de Gestion de Octopus maya à l’Aide de Marqueurs Microsatellites Spécifiques OSCAR JUAREZ1*, LETICIA AREN2, FAUSTINO CAMARENA, CARLOS ROSAS PAUL SHAW, and JORGE TELLO UABC Km. 103 Carretera Tijuana - Ensenada Ensenada, Baja California, Ensenada C.P. 22860, Baja California, Mexico. [email protected]. 2 UMDI-Sisal, UNAM Puerto de Abrigo S/N , Yucatan, Mexico. [email protected]. KEY WORDS: Octopus, genetics, variability, management, microsatelites Relationships Between Spatial and Temporal Trends in Fish Abundance Derived from Local Knowledge Versus Biological Data Relaciones entre Tendencias Temporales y Espaciales en la Abundancia Pesquera Obtenida de Conocimiento Local Versus Información Biológica Les rapports entre les Tendances Spatiales et Temporelles dans l'Abondance de Poissons ont Dérivé de la Connaissance Locale Contre des Données Biologiques MANDY KARNAUSKAS* and ELIZABETH BABCOCK Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33129 USA. *[email protected]. [email protected]. ABSTRACT The success of fishery management is greatly influenced by the level of support from resource users, and it is therefore crucial to ensure that the expectations of managers and resource users are transparent. Cooperation between these groups can be enhanced through the inclusion of local knowledge in fishery assessments, but this is rarely done in practice. The purpose of this study was to compare temporal and spatial trends in species-specific abundance derived from local knowledge and biological data, to understand the circumstances under which different perspectives of the same resource are correlated. We also compare perceptions of resource trends among stakeholder groups, to elucidate some of the potential biases that affect interview responses. Respondents’ age and length of experience at the study site both affected their perceptions of changes in fish abundance over time. Older, more experienced fishers tended to disagree with the biological survey data more than younger inexperienced fishers, suggesting that perceptions were influenced by a shifting baseline syndrome. Individuals who were more dependent on the resource for income had more negative opinions regarding the effectiveness of the reserve. We show that while trends in local knowledge and biological data are sometimes related, there are many instances where perspectives of the same resource differ. Therefore, even when resource managers and resource users can come to agreement on management goals and objectives, discord regarding reserve effectiveness may still occur. Further efforts to include local knowledge in resource assessments are likely to provide more accurate assessments of changes in ecosystems. KEY WORDS: Coral reef fisheries, fish abundance, fisher knowledge, shifting baseline Page ABSTRACT The endemic Octopus maya represents one of the most important fisheries in Yucatan peninsula, since mayor octopus catches in Mexico belong to this species. The fishery has been managed as a single unit, but some signs suggest that there could be different units and that the resource could be overexploited. Genetic markers could be the correct instrument to identify populations and define management units due to octopus’s morphologic plasticity. Microsatellites show the mayor intraspecific variation among molecular markers, and have been efficient for population discrimination. This study had two objectives: the isolation of microsatellite markers specifically for O. maya; and the evaluation of the population genetic structure and variability using the microsatellites for management optimization. The analysis of eight microsatellites shows no significant differences between localities, and high migration of octopuses between localities in an evolutionary time frame. Considering the principal components analysis of genetic distances, the spatial pattern of genetic variability, and the fact that its reproductive behavior is influenced by temperature, raises the hypothesis about possible migratory patterns delineated by changes in sea temperature over Yucatan’s peninsula along the year. According to Hardy Weinberg equilibrium analysis, two loci showed heterozygote deficiency and Fis was significant suggesting inbreeding at population level, where Dzilam contributing the largest part. Since inbreeding tends to reduce fitness in natural populations, the fishery may not be optimized. In that sense, the genetic monitoring of inbreeding and heterozygosity levels within localities, as well as promoting habitat connectivity are proposed actions to improve management. 40 1 BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Consequences of Management Measures Implemented in the 1st Decade of the 21st century on the Demographic Structure of a Small-scale Artisanal Fishery in the US Virgin Islands Consecuencias de las Medidas de la Gerencia Puestas en Ejecución en la 1ra Década del Siglo XXI en la Estructura Demográfica de una Industria Pesquera del Artisanal de la Escala Pequeña en los E.E.U.U. Islas Vírgenes Conséquences des Mesures de Gestion Mises en Application dans la 1ère Décennie du 21ème Siècle sur la Structure Démographique d'une Pêche d'Artisanal à Échelle Réduite aux USA Îles Vierges BARBARA KOJIS and NORMAN QUINN* Tropical Discoveries, PO Box 30573,1 St Thomas, Virgin Islands 00803 USA. [email protected]. ABSTRACT A census of the commercial fishers was conducted from July 2003 and again from July 2010. They were conducted to better understand an important island livelihood and assist with effective fisheries management to ensure livelihoods for current and future generations while sustaining a rich, diverse and productive tropical marine environment. About 22.5% fewer fishers fished for shorter periods than in 2003 and the mean age of fishers had increased to about 53 years. They were more experienced in 2010 having fished over 24 years. The relatively low percentage of new entrants to the fishery was in part because of a moratorium on issuance of new licenses that had been in effect since 2001. Another regulation banning the use of trammel nets and limiting the use of gill nets was implemented in 2008 because of concern expressed by STX fishers of the impact of net fishing in conjunction with scuba on parrotfish populations. In spite of the extensive management efforts undertaken by federal and territorial agencies in the past decade, <10% of the fishers believed that fishing has improved. Fishers who considered fishing to be worse now than a decade ago, overwhelming gave overfishing fish as the prime reason. On STX, fishers ranked "too many fishers" as the second reason for fishing being worse. Fishers on STX supported some management actions, but didn't support others. For example, they largely supported the net ban but some believed that the decline in fishing was too many regulations and area and seasonal closures. Page 41 KEY WORDS: Reef fishery, small scale fishery, demographics, regulations, management Intensification and Diversification: Adaptation to Resource Scarcity in a Small-Scale Mexican Fishery Intensificación y Diversificación: Adaptación a la Escasez de Recursos en una Pesca Artisanal Mexicana Intensification et Diversification: l'Adaptation à la Rareté de Ressource dans une Pêche Mexicaine à petite Échelle AVA LASSETER Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 North Lois Avenue, Apt. I, Tampa, Florida 33609 USA. [email protected]. ABSTRACT Adaptation concerns how humans cope with change; it is a process that links humans with their environment. Humans draw from their cultural, social, and economic resources when they adapt to changes in the wider socio-ecological system of which they are a part. This research focuses on an example of adaptation to resource scarcity among a group of lobster fishermen in the Yucatán and develops a model based on adaptive strategies of intensification and diversification. Through a systematic analysis of adaptive decision making, this research develops a framework for enabling policymakers to better incorporate human dimensions in fishery management. KEY WORDS: Lobster, adaptation, resource scarcity, Yucatan, management Habitat Preference in the Invasive Lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) in Discovery Bay, Jamaica: Use of GIS in Management Strategies Preferencia de Hábitat en Lionfish invasivo (Pterois volitans/miles) en Discovery Bay, Jamaica: Uso de GIS en Estrategias de Manejo Préférence d'Habitat dans le Lionfish Envahissantes (Pterois volitans/ miles) à Discovery Bay, Jamaica Utilisation des GIS dans les Stratégies de Gestion SIMONE LEE*, DAYNE S.A. BUDDO, and KARL A. AIKEN University of the West Indies, Mona Campu,s Kingston, Jamaica. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. ABSTRACT The invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles) has been a source of concern due to its potential ecological, social, public health and economic impacts in Jamaica as in other Caribbean locations. The ecology of the lionfish, both in its native and introduced range, has been studied to a lesser degree than studies on its distribution and impact but not previously in Jamaica. Increased knowledge of the ecology of invasive species is an important step to identify and improve management and mitigation strategies. Habitat preference was studied in Discovery Bay, St. Ann, Jamaica in mid2011 using the habitat characteristics of depth, substrate type, reef profile and reef health at five (5) different sites. Surveys were completed for lionfish and prey abundance as well as photo-transect surveys for reef health. Results showed a preference for deeper, hard-bottom, sloping or wall profiles, (Kruskal-Wallis test, p=0.002, p=0.081, and p=0.048 respectively. Reef health was found to have no significant impact on habitat choice however this may be due to the overall poor condition of the reefs in the area. This study demonstrated how increased knowledge of ecology and GIS technology could be used to improve current management strategies by identifying potential lionfish refuges island-wide, based on habitat preference. KEYWORDS: Lionfish, Pterois volitans/miles, Jamaica, habitat preference, reefs BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Use of Artificial Shelters (“Casitas”) as an Alternative Tool for Management and Stock Evaluation of Caribbean Spiny Lobsters in Banco Chinchorro (México) El Uso de Refugios Artificiales ("Casitas") como una Herramienta Alternativa para el Manejo y la Evaluación del Stock de la Langosta Espinosa del Caribe en el Banco Chinchorro (México) Utilisation des Abris Artificiels (Casitas) comme un Outil Alternatif pour Valuation de Gestion et de Stock de Langoustes des Caraïbes dans la Banco Chinchorro (Mexique) KIM LEY-COOPER1*, ENRIQUE LOZANO-ÁLVAREZ2, BRUCE PHILLIPS1, PATRICIA BRIONES-FOURZÁN2, and ELOY SOSA-CORDERO3 Curtin University , Perth, WA Australia. [email protected]. [email protected]. 2 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología , Puerto Morelos, México. [email protected]. [email protected]. 3El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Chetumal, México. [email protected]. ABSTRACT In metapopulations of Caribbean spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus) over the Mesoamerican Reef, large reproductive adults are being depleted. In Banco Chinchorro (Mexico), an oceanic coralline atoll and Biosphere Reserve (BR) where fishing for P. argus is allowed, fishing pressure on reproductive adults is high. Although catch rates have been relative stable for the last decade, catch rates were previously much higher and current lobster production is low. An inter-institutional steering committee was established to propose a series of actions in order to create alternative fishing practices and new management ideas, as a strategy for repopulating and analysing local lobster stock of P. argus in this BR. Based on knowledge obtained in previous studies carried out further north and in other Latin American countries, preventive measures for reducing fishing effort and pressure on reproductive adults in this BR include a controlled deployment of “casitas” (large artificial shelters) as an innovative tool for local stock assessment that will provide useful data to examine juvenile growth rates, local migrations, and the potential for repopulation. Responsible use of casitas within a well regulated BR, incorporated in a cooperative based socio-economic scheme, is hereby perceived as a useful initiative for defining future management action plans in this area. Pêcheurs-Plongeur Benevolat Fourni des Données Fiables sur l'Invasion de le Lionfish dans le Parc National Recifs Alacranes, Mexique MARÍA JOSÉ LÓPEZ-GÓMEZ, ARMIN TUZ-SULUB, LEIDY PERERA-CHAN, and ALFONSO AGUILAR-PERERA* Universidad Autónoma de Yucatá,n Km. 15.5, carretera Mérida-Xmatkuil, Mérida, Yucatán 97100 México. [email protected]. ABSTRACT Diver-fishermen volunteering provided an early and fast response to detect the presence of the invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans miles) in the Alacranes Reef National Park (ARNP), in the southern Gulf of Mexico. Lobster diver-fishermen are now actively collaborating voluntarily not only to collect lionfish, but also for recording basic information from the collection sites. Specially designed workshops were applied to 95 fishermen during July 2010 for presenting them information on the morphology of the fish, invasion chronology to the Western Atlantic, and potential threats to commercial fishes and human health; plus instructions on how to collect samples. From July 2010 to February 2011, about 269 lionfish were caught by 40 diverfishermen. Up to now a database, which includes collection site, depth, date, bottom type, and additionally size of fish, would allow us to build a chronological sequence of the invasion from ARNP based on collections from fishermen. The participation of lobster diver-fishermen was promoted through the Conservation and Sustainable Development Program (PROCODES) from the Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP). This outreach initiative represents a major step forward to elaborate a management link between fishermen, managers and academia in order to deal with the lionfish invasion. Data generated from this initiative provided a valuable baseline resource and continually updated monitoring information, and may also represent the first decisive effort in early detection and mitigation of lionfish in the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula KEY WORDS: Lionfish, Yucatan Peninsula, Alacranes Reef, community collaboration, coral reef Distribution and Abundance of the Sea Cucumber Isostichopus badionotus off the Coast of Sisal, Yucatan Distribución y Abundancia del Pepino de Mar Isostichopus badionotus Frente a la Costa de Sisal, Yucatán Distribution et Abondance de Concombre de Mer Isostichopus badionotus Large de la Côte de Sisal, Yucatán JORGE LOPEZ-ROCHA Unidad Multidisciplinaria de Docencia e Investig Puerto de abrigo, s/n Sisal, Yucatan 97356 Mexico. [email protected]. ABSTRACT The sea cucumber Isostichopus badionotus fishery has recently begun in the Yucatan peninsula. Therefore it is necessary to generate information to establish exploitation strategies and appropriate fishery management policies. One of the basics to know at the beginning of the fishery is the distribution and abundance of the resource. The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution, abundance and some aspects of the of sea cucumber I. badionotus fishery in the 2011 fishing season from April to May off the coast of Sisal, Yucatan. Diving transects were done and all the observed sea cucumbers were collected and counted. Additionally, through on-board observers, information of fishing effort and catches was collected. Fifty-five transects were made Page Diver-Fishermen Volunteering Provided Reliable Data on the Lionfish Invasion in the Alacranes Reef National Park, Mexico La Participación Voluntaria de Pescadores-Buzos Proporcionó Datos Confiables sobre la Invasion del Pez LeÓN en el Parque Nacional Arrecife Alacranes, México 42 KEY WORDS: Panulirus argus, artificial shelters, biosphere reserve, stock assessment, management BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO which were located between 21.31° – 21.35° N and 90.13° – 90.40° W. A total of 477 individuals of I. badionotus were collected with an average of 9 organisms per transect (± 5.39 SD). We calculated an average density of 217 organisms/hectare (± 135 SD). Information of 186 fishing dives showed an average of 23.85 min per immersion (± 11.04 SD) and an average of 39 organisms per immersion (± 22 SD). Constant monitoring of the distribution and abundance of the resource is required to quantify the fishing effects on the sea cucumber population. KEY WORDS : Distribution, sea cucumber, Isostichopus badionotus, Yucatan, fishery Influence of Local Habitat Features on Avoidance of PaV1-diseased Panulirus argus Spiny Lobsters by Healthy Conspecifics in a “Casita”-enhanced Bay Influencia de las Características del Hábitat Local en la Evitación de PaV1 Enfermas Langosta Espinosa Panulirus argus por sus Congéneres Sanos en una "Casita" Mejorada Bahía Influence des Caractéristiques de l’Habitat Local sur l’Évitement des Langoustes Panulirus argus avec la Maladie PAV1 par Conspécifics Sains dans une Baie Ameliorée avec “Casitas” ENRIQUE LOZANO-ÁLVAREZ* , PATRICIA BRIONES-FOURZÁN , REBECA CANDIA-ZULBARÁN , FERNANDO NEGRETE-SOTO CECILIA BARRADAS-ORTÍZ , and JUAN PABLO HUCHIN-MIAN Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Puerto de Abrigo s/n Sisal, Yucatan 97355 Mexico. [email protected] Page 43 ABSTRACT In Bahía de la Ascensión (México), “casitas” (large artificial shelters) are extensively used to harvest spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus). After the recent emergence of the Panulirus argus Virus 1 (PaV1) disease in P. argus, laboratory experiments revealed that PaV1 can be transmitted by contact and through water and that healthy lobsters avoided shelters harboring diseased conspecifics. To examine these issues in the context of casitas, which typically harbor multiple lobsters of all sizes, we examined the distribution and aggregation patterns of lobsters in the absence/presence of diseased conspecifics in 530 casitas distributed over three bay zones: one more densely vegetated (“Punta Allen”, average depth: 2.5 m), one more moderately vegetated (“Los Cayos”, 2.4 m), and one virtually unvegetated (“Vigía Chico”, 1.5 m). All zones had a relatively high predation risk (N predators/N casitas). Using several statistical approaches, we found that distribution parameters of lobsters were generally not affected by the presence of diseased conspecifics in casitas. Interestingly, however, in the more denuded zone (Vigía Chico) individual casitas harbored more lobsters and lobsters were actually more crowded in casitas containing diseased conspecifics, yet disease prevalence was the lowest among lobsters of all sizes. These results suggest that (a) investment in disease avoidance by healthy lobsters is partially modulated by shelter limitation and predation risk, (b) contact transmission rates of PaV1 may be lower in nature than in the laboratory, (c) water-borne transmission rates may be lower in unvegetated habitats more exposed to solar ultraviolet radiation, which can damage viral particles. KEY WORDS: Panulirus argus, Virus 1, disease avoidance, casitas, marine vegetation, predation risk Estudio preliminar de la Distribución y Abundancia de Crustáceos Decápodos de Interés Comercial de la Laguna Conil (Yum-Balam), Quintana Roo Preliminary Study of the Distribution and Abundance of Decapod Crustaceans of Commercial Interest of the Conil Lagoon (Yum-Balam), Quintana Roo Étude Préliminaire de la Distribution et une Abondance de Crustacés Décapode d'Intérêt Commercial de la Lagune Conil (YumBalam), Quintana Roo EDÉN MAGAÑA-GALLEGOS1, ELISA Y. CHAN-VIVAS1, GASPAR R. POOT-LÓPEZ1,y OSCAR F. REYES-MENDOZA2 Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán. Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias. Carretera Mérida-Xmatkuil Km. 15.5 Apdo. Postal: 4-116 Itzimná, C.P: 97100, Mérida, Yucatán, México 2Asesoría Técnica y Estudios Costeros SCP. Calle 35 No. 406 x 52 y 54. Fracc. Francisco de Montejo. Mérida, Yucatán, México 1 RESUMEN Con el propósito de determinar el potencial pesquero de crustáceos decápodos de importancia comercial en la laguna Conil, Quintana Roo, se realizaron 60 lances nocturnos (trampas), durante dos días consecutivos, en tres zonas de pesca elegidas en consenso con pescadores locales. Las zonas de pesca se denominaron Externa, Intermedia e Interna, ubicándose a 0, 4 y 7 km de la entrada del canal. En cada zona se estableció un transecto perpendicular a la línea de costa con dirección norte-sur, cada transecto incluyó 10 trampas divididas en tres sitios. El primer sitio se ubico cerca de la costa, los sitios dos y tres se encontraban a una distancia de 1 y 2 km respectivamente al primer sitio. El muestreo fue simultáneo, utilizando tres embarcaciones, estandarizando la carnada y el esfuerzo de pesca a 11 horas/trampa/día. En total se capturaron 404 organismos de las especies Callinectes similis, Callinectes sapidus, Libinia dubia y Mennipe mercenaria. El Anova de dos vías demostró que no existió diferencia entre días de pesca, pero si entre zonas. La CPUE (ind/trampa/día) fue significativamente mayor en la Zona Interna. La captura de la Zona Externa (biomasa) estuvo conformada 47% de C. similis, 32% de M. mercenaria y 21% de L. dubia, en la Zona Intermedia la proporción fue de 45% de M. mercenaria, 36% C. similis, 11 % C. sapidus y 8% L. dubia. En la Zona Interna la mayor captura fue para L. dubia con 54%, seguido de C. similis con 37%, C. sapidus 8% y M. mercenaria con 1%. PALABRAS CLAVE: Crustáceos, CPUE, comercial BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Assemblage and Distribution of Larval and Juvenile Coral Reef Fishes in Parque Nacional Isla Contoy, Quintana Roo, Mexico Ensamblaje y Distribución de Larvas de Peces y Juveniles Arrecifales en el Parque Nacional Isla Contoy, Quintana Roo, México Assemblage et Distribution de Larves de Poissons et de Juvéniles des Récifs Coralliens dans le Parque Nacional Isla Contoy, Quintana Roo, Mexique ESTRELLA MALCA University of Miami, NOAA, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149 USA. [email protected]. ABSTRACT Parque Nacional Isla Contoy (PNIC) is a marine protected area located at the terminal end of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System bordered by the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. This island is managed by CONANP (Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas de Mexico) and protected by designated zones to manage the overfishing problem in the region. With improved management and a mosaic of habitats, PNIC has become an important nursery ground for ecologically and commercially important species. Recent increases in recreational use of the island, climate change and the ongoing Lionfish invasion in the area may severely impact coral reef fishes such as snappers, parrotfish, and wrasses, as well as tarpon and ballyhoo. This study is the first to examine the assemblage composition and distribution of the various fish families that recruit to this marine protected area. In addition, instruments were deployed earlier in the summer to obtain a time series that can begin to characterize the coastal oceanographic processes that facilitate transport of larval fishes to PNIC. Combining the biological and oceanographic components improves the resolution of the data collected. Information from this work will update the management plan, support ongoing invasive species management, enhance connectivity research and provide new information for the restricted use of recreational fishing in the internal lagoons of the island. JEANNETTE MATEO1* and RAUL GONZALEZ2 Consejo Dominicano de Grupo Jaragua, Inc. Edif. Secretaría de Agricultura, Km 61/2 Carret. Duarte, Los Jardines del Norte c/el Vergel # 33, El Vergel. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. *[email protected]. 2Consejo Dominicano de Pesca y Acuicultura, Edif. Ministerio de Agricultura, Los Jardines del Norte Santo Domingo, Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana. [email protected]. 1 ABSTRACT The study summarize the changes recorded in marine fisheries of Barahona province, in the Southwest coast of Dominican Republic.A special attention is paid to the data recorded during the life of theGerman-Dominican project PROPESCAR-SUR. The data comes from the landing recording of daily fishery activities, landing volumes, economic expenses and earnings resulting from fishery, and catch analysis.During the life-cycle of this study we recorded 6 landing sites, 9 diferent types of fishing gear, and 22 fishing grounds. The catch, mukti-specific in nature, showed 224 species distributed in 62 families. From these, Lutjanidae (22.13%), Scaridae (15.11%), Pomadasyidae (12.41%) and Carangidae (9.82%) weere the most abundant in terms of individuakls counted in the catches. Changes in cath and effort tendencies are discussed. Recommendations of co-managemnet approach to fisheries management are provided. KEYWORDS: Barahona, fisheries, historical, analysis, Dominican Republic Puerto Rico’s Small-scale Commercial Fisheries Statistics during 2007 - 2010 Estadísticas Pesqueras Comerciales de la Pesca Artesanal de Puerto Rico, 2007-2010 Porto Rico Petite Échelle Commerciale Statistiques de la Pêche au Cours , 2007 - 2010 DANIEL MATOS-CARABALLO*, HECTOR Y. LOPEZ, JESUS LEON, LUIS RIVERA LUCIA T. VARGAS DNER Fisheries Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 3665, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico 00681 USA. *[email protected]. ABSTRACT The Fisheries Research Laboratory (FRL) of the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) collected the commercial landings of fish and shellfish in Puerto Rico. The mentioned data collection is a responsibility of the Commercial Fisheries Statistics Program (CFSP). The CFSP includes the following objectives: commercial fisheries landings reports, collection of biostatistics data, enter the collected data in computer format and estimate catch per unit effort (CPUE). The CFSP reached all the objectives during 2007 - 2010. A total of 1.24 millions pounds were reported in 2007, 1.30 millions pounds in reported in 2008, 1.15 millions in 2009 and 1.16 millions reported pounds were reported in 2010. The CFSP determined a correction factor to estimate the non reported landings. Queen conch, lobsters queen snapper yellowtail snapper, silk snapper, lane snapper, dolphinfish, king mackerels and white grunts were the most species reported. Biostatistics data of fish and lobster were collected. Biostatistics data were obtained from approximately 40,000 organisms during 2007 - 2010. The CPUE for landings and biostatistics data were estimated and are presented in this report. KEY WORDS: Fishery statistics, Puerto Rico, management, landings, biostatistics Page Historical Analysis of Marine Fisheries in Barahona Province, Southwest of Dominican Republic, from 1988-2010 El Análisis Histórico de la Pesca Marítima en Provincia de Barahona, el Suroeste de República Dominicana, a partir de 19882010 L' Analyse Historique de la Pêche Maritime dans la Province de Barahona, Republique Dominicaine au cours de la Periode 1988-2010 44 KEY WORDS: Larvae, MPA, fish, Contoy, connectivity BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Marine Litter in the Caribbean: Raising Awareness, Improving Infrastructure, and Encouraging Action Basura Marina en el Caribe: Sensibilización, Mejorando la Infraestructura y Fomentando Acción Déchets Marins dans les Caraïbes: Sensibilisation, Améliorer les Infrastructures et Encourager l'Action THOMAS MATTHEWS* AND EMMA DOYLE Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute. [email protected]. [email protected]. ABSTRACT The Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI), Caribbean Marine Protected Areas Management Network and Forum (CaMPAM), and the U.S. State Department collaborated with marine protected area (MPA) programs in The Bahamas, Belize, Jamaica, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines to increase awareness of marine litter and identify issues to promote marine litter reduction. The project was grounded in the recommendations of the UNEP Caribbean Environmental Programme Action Plan for Marine Litter. Our local MPA partners identified marine litter issues particular to the social and environmental conditions of their area. With the broad goal of developing greater appreciation and personal responsibility for waste management for litter that would likely end up as marine debris, the project enabled MPA managers to launch the strongest and most innovative of their ideas on litter prevention and reduction. Through a combination of public education, teacher training, the development of litter warden programs and the establishment of wellplaced waste and recycling stations, the project provides for a number of visible and practical pilot litter control programs. KEY WORDS: Litter, MPA, waste management Fine-tuning Failure: How to Fail to Succeed Ajuste de Fracaso: Cómo Dejar de Tener Éxito Échec de Fin-accord: Comment Échouer au Succeeda PATRICK MCCONNEY CERMES, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus , BB11000 Barbados. [email protected]. Page 45 ABSTRACT The Gulf and Caribbean region, like many other parts of the world, is littered with failed or failing fisheries projects. They come in all sorts, shapes and sizes. Under the rubric of fisheries governance, with its emphasis on civil society participation as an expected factor of success, of particular interest are projects that involve state fisheries authorities or fisherfolk non-governmental organisations and external donor agencies. Such project partnerships, if well designed, are intended to yield win-win outcomes. In this paper I examine the proposition that perhaps these projects are short term win-win, even if they truly fail in the long term. Such ‘beneficial’ failure may be the result of collusion amongst the actors that has serious implications for governance. Project failure (in its literal sense) is easier to define than success. The key is to refer to agreed goals and objectives. Goal displacement, adaptation or other adjustments must be taken into account. Still, observations suggest that it is not uncommon for grantees to ‘almost succeed’ on a recurring basis that provides the grantors with opportunities to continue funding the same grantees, and to forecast the likely outcomes. This fine-tuning of failure perpetuates a mutually beneficial supply and demand until some perturbation breaks the cycle. Fine-tuning failure is a coping strategy that constrains self-organisation, adaptive capacity and resilience in fisheries governance. KEY WORDS: Fisheries, governance, projects, fail, succeed Estado de Salud Ecológica del Arrecife Mesoamericano y Los Esfuerzos de Manejo a Nivel Local, Nacional y Regional Para Mejorarlo Health Status of the Mesoamerican Reef Ecology and Management Efforts at Local, National and Regional Levels to Improve Actuelle du Récif Mésoaméricain et les Efforts a Entreprendre Pour une Meilleure Gestion au Niveau Local, Regional et National MELANIE MCFIELD1*, MARISOL RUEDA FLORES2, IAN DRYSDALE3, KEN MARKS4, y ARMEID THOMPSON5 Healthy Reefs Initiative, Smithsonian Institution, 1755 Coney Drive, Belize City, Belize. *[email protected]. 2Healthy Reefs Initiative Priv. Fuente de Agua Azul 22. Residencial Santa Fe, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo 77710 México. [email protected]. 3Healthy Reefs Initiative, Roatan, Honduras. [email protected]. 4Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment Database, Miami,Florida USA. [email protected]. 5Healthy Reefs Initiative, Belize City, Belize. [email protected]. 1 RESUMEN El Sistema Arrecifal Mesoamericano (SAM) estaba considerado dentro de los arrecifes más saludables en el Caribe. La Iniciativa Arrecifes Saludables (HRI) en colaboración con más de 30 organizaciones internacionales, regionales, nacionales y locales, quienes aportaron datos de 130 arrecifes monitoreados (México, Belice y Honduras), generó el Reporte de la Salud Ecológica del SAM 2010. Se emplearon cuatro indicadores de la salud del arrecife (cobertura de coral, cobertura de macroalgas carnosas, biomasa de peces herbívoros y comerciales), resultando en que 1% de los arrecifes está en condiciones “muy buenas”; 8% en “buenas”; 21% “regular”; 40% “pobre”; y 30% en “críticas”. Cincuenta de estos sitios fueron evaluados por HRI en el 2006 y 2009, donde 62% disminuyeron en su estatus de salud comparado a un 12% que mejoró. El incremento de macroalgas y la disminución en biomasa de peces es considerable pero observamos un incremento (de 13 a 19%) en la cobertura de coral. De 2005 a 2009 se contaron 88,300 peces, siendo solo el 1% mayores a 40cm de longitud. Los países del SAM han implementado medidas fuertes de manejo del arrecife – incluyendo la total protección de todas las especies de peces loro en Belice, de tiburones en Honduras y la creación del área protegida “Manglares de Nichupté” y la “Reserva de la Biósfera del Tiburón Ballena” en México. Se necesita tiempo para que estas medidas surtan efecto y sean cuantificables en términos de la salud del arrecife. Si no se BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO implementan medidas para reducir los niveles de CO2, todos estos esfuerzos de manejo serán en vano comparado a los impactos del blanqueamiento de coral y la acidificación del océano, ocasionados por el cambio climático global. PALABRAS CLAVE: Arrecife mesoamericano, cobertura de coral, peces herbívoros, peces comerciales, cobertura de macroalgas Snapper Spawning (Lutjanidae) on Florida’s East and Northeast Coast and Comparisons to Conspecific Spawning in the Western Atlantic Desove de Pargo (Lutjanidae) en la Costa Oriental y Nororiental de la Florida y Comparaciónes con Desoves Conespecificos en el Atlántico Occidental Ponte de Vivaneau (Lutjanidae) dans la Côte est et Nord-Est de la Floride et Comparaison avec des Pontes Conspécifiques dans l'Atlantique Ouest MICHELLE S. T. MEADOWS1*, KENYON C. LINDEMAN2, and JONATHAN M. SHENKER1 Florida Institute of Technology, Department of Biological Sciences, 150 W. University Blvd., Melbourne, Florida 32901 USA. 2 *[email protected]. [email protected]. Florida Institute of Technology, Department of Science & Math Education, 150 W. University Blvd., Melbourne, Florida 32901 USA. [email protected]. KEY WORDS: Lujanidae, snapper, spawning Distribucion y Abundancia del Caracol rosado (Strombus gigas), en el Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak (PNAX), Quintana Roo, Xexico Distribution and Abundance of Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) in the Xcalak Coral Reef National Park (PNAX), Quintana Roo, Mexico Une Distribution et une Abondance de Lambi (Strombus gigas), dans le Parc National des Récifs de Xcalak (PNAX), de Quintana Roo, le Mexique ALEJANDRO MEDINA Instituto Tecnologico de Chetumal. Av. Insurgentes #330,Chetumal, Quintana Roo 77013 Mexico. [email protected]. RESUMEN Se llevo a cabo un estudio del caracol rosado Strombus gigas, para conocer la distribución y abundancia de este recurso en cinco sitios dentro del PNAX, durante siete meses de muestreo (julio-noviembre de 2009 y enero-febrero de 2010). Se obtuvieron un total de 6,126 organismos distribuidos de la siguiente manera por sitio: Portillas 4,575 organismos, Punta Gavilán 1,223 organismos, Hobna 133 organismos, Sonrisas 100 organismos y Quebrado 95 organismos. La estadística básica indico que el rango de tallas para Portillas fue de 58 a 231 mm longitud Sifonal (LS), con una talla promedio de 139 mm LS, para Punta Gavilán tuvo un rango de 65 a 230 mm LS, y su talla promedio fue de 118 mm LS, para Hobna la talla promedio fue de 183 mm LS, para Sonrisas la talla promedio fue de 156.4 mm LS y para el Quebrado la talla promedio fue de 179.1 mm LS. En cuanto a la estimación de la densidad, se encontró que en Portillas, se localizo la mayor densidad promedio (0.515 ind/m2), seguida por el sitio conocido como Punta Gavilán con una densidad de (0.02 ind/m2). Realizando una comparación con investigaciones llevadas a cabo en otros sitios en Quintana Roo, no se encontró una densidad similar como la localizada en Portillas, sin embargo debido a la importancia de este sitio y por ser el primer reporte científico de la misma, lo hace primordial para su monitoreo continuo e investigación dentro del PNAX, al igual que el sitio de punta Gavilan PALABRAS CLAVE: Distribucion y abundancia, dencidad, pesqueria, caracol rosado, Quintana Roo Page ABSTRACT Information on the spawning of snapper species (family Lutjanidae) is limited for much of east Florida. Data on spawning metrics and sites are necessary for sustainable management of these economically and ecologically important reef fishes. To date, fishery scientists and managers have not fully utilized ecological knowledge of fishers to acquire important biological information unobtainable elsewhere, including identification of existing, declining, and historical spawning sites and associated information. In this ongoing study, experienced recreational and commercial fishers are being surveyed to identify existing and historical spawning metrics of northern red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus, vermilion snapper, Rhomboplites aurorubens, gray snapper, L. griseus, mutton snapper, L. analis, cubera snapper, L. cyanopterus, yellowtail snapper, Ocyurus chrysurus, and lane snapper, L. synagris, from the Jupiter Inlet to the Georgia border. Fishers’ observations of direct and indirect spawning indicators are used to identify potential spawning sites. Early survey results have provided new and reliable information on at least 15 potential current and past spawning sites of L. analis, L. campechanus, L. cyanopterus, L. griseus, and R. aurorubens. In addition to the surveys, a systematic analysis of scientific literature, unpublished data, and gray literature is being used to identify biological and physical metrics of spawning for existing and historical snapper populations throughout the Western Atlantic, including Brazil. Results from the surveys and comprehensive review of the metrics across multiple regions will facilitate research to improve management strategies that better conserve spawning stocks. The findings also affirm the regional need for cooperative research with knowledgeable fishers. 46 1 BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Les Activités Scientifiques aux Îlets Pigeon, Zone Classée en Cœur de Parc National de la Guadeloupe Scientific Activities in Pigeon Islets, an Area Classified as a Core of the National Park of Guadeloupe. Las actividades cientificas a los Islotes Pigeon, Zona Clasificada como Corazon del Guadalupe Parque Nacional. SIMONE MEGE1* et CLAUDE BOUCHON2 Parc National de la Guadeloupe 43 rue Jean Jaurès Baie-Mahault, Guadeloupe 97122 Guadeloupe (FRANCE) [email protected] 2Université Antilles-GuyaneLaboratoire de Biologie marine Campus de Fouillole Pointe-à-Pitre 97159 Guadeloupe 1 RESUMÉ Le Parc national de la Guadeloupe a été créé en 1989. Depuis juin 2009, il est composé de cœurs multipolaires, d’une aire optimale d’adhésion à la charte et d’une aire maritime adjacente. La superficie actuelle du Parc est de 21 000 ha pour le cœur, 90 000 ha pour l’aire d’adhésion et de 130 000 ha pour l’aire maritime adjacente. Le parc national étant un établissement pérenne, il est un lieu privilégié pour la mise en place de suivis à long terme. La quasi-totalité des écosystèmes de la Caraïbe est représentée dans les 10 espaces terrestres et marins classés en cœur de Parc. Parmi ces cœurs, les îlets Pigeon situés au large de la côte sous le vent de la Guadeloupe offrent une biodiversité marine parmi les plus élevées des Antilles françaises. Pour suivre à long terme l’évolution des peuplements coralliens, un protocole spécifique, à partir de photographies sous-marines, a été mis en place et fait l’objet d’une collaboration entre l’Université des Antilles et de la Guyane et le Parc national de la Guadeloupe. Autour des îlets Pigeon, 12 sites ont été délimités à l’aide de quadrats de 80 x 60 cm. Les indicateurs sont : la nécrose des coraux adultes ; le blanchissement ; l’apparition de nouvelles colonies et la présence de maladies. MOTS CLÉS: Lesser Antilles, National Park, Guadeloupe, Reef monitoring, Health status Analisis de los Metodos de Captura Utilizados Para el Control de la Poblacion de Peces Leon (Pterios spp.) en Puerto Rico Analyse de la Méthodes de Piégeage Utilisé pour le Contróle de la Population Lionfish (Pterios spp.) á Porto Rico Analysis of the Methods of Capture use in Puerto Rico to Control the Populaton of the Invasive Lionfish (Pterios spp) JOEL MELENDEZ1*, GEOVANNY NEGRON2, CARMEN ROSA VALENTIN DEL RIO , y LUIS RAUL SAEZ Ecotono, Inc., Programa Graduado de Ciencias Ambientales, UPR, PO Box79172, PO Box 70377, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-8377 *[email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. 2Pontificia Universidad Catolica de PR, Recinto de Mayaguez Ecotono, Inc., 2250 Avenida Las America,s Suite P O Box 79172 ,Carolina, Puerto Rico 00984-9172 Ponce , Puerto Rico 00717-9997 USA. [email protected]. Page 47 1 RESUMEN Este documento, sirve como una referencia para el manejo del pez león del Indo Pacífico (Pterois spp.) en Puerto Rico. Presentaremos un trasfondo de la invasión y los mecanismos utilizados para el control de la especie en diferentes ambientes costeros (manglares, praderas de hierbas marinas y arrecifes de coral) de la Isla. Las herramientas descritas han sido utilizadas tanto por pescadores comerciales, deportistas y público en general con el objetivo de disminuir cualquier efecto detrimental en nuestras poblaciones de peces e invertebrados y sus consecuencias en términos ecológicos y económicos en Puerto Rico. Las metas y objetivos de este documento son analizar los métodos de captura utilizados en Puerto Rico para el control de esta especie. La discusión analiza la metodología y herramientas utilizadas para el control (captura), del pez león (Pterois spp.). Debido a la falta de un documento de mejores prácticas para el manejo de la especie, este documento servirá de base para la redacción de futuros planes de manejo o de respuesta rápida en el Caribe. Esperamos que la revisión de los artes de pesca existente, la comparación de métodos y análisis de costo efectividad nos permitan diseñar en un futuro medidas que pudieran ser más eficientes. po PALABRAS CLAVE: Pez leon, captura, manejo, Pterois, Puerto Rico A Model for Collaborative Conservation: The Lionfish Research and Education Program at the Cape Eleuthera Institute, Eleuthera, Bahamas Un Modelo para la Conservación de Colaboración: La Investigación Pez León y el Programa de Educación en el Instituto del Cabo Eleuthera Bahamas Un Modèle de Conservation de Collaboration: La Recherche Lionfish Programme d'Éducation et à l'Institut Eleuthera, Eleuthera, Bahamas SKYLAR MILLER1*, LAD AKINS2, STEPHANIE GREEN3, and KRISTA SHERMAN4 The Cape Eleuthera Institute, PO Box 29, Rock Sound, Eleuthera, The Bahamas. *[email protected]. 2Reef Environmental Education Foundation, PO Box 246 98300, Overseas Hwy., Key Largo, Florida 33037 USA. [email protected]. 3Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6 Canada. [email protected]. 4Bahamas National Trust, P.O. Box N4105, The Retreat Gardens, Village Road Nassau New Providence, The Bahamas. [email protected]. 1 ABSTRACT The mission of the Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI), located on Eleuthera, the Bahamas, is to promote the conservation of tropical ecosystems by facilitating research, supporting education and conducting outreach with local and global communities. Over the past five years, the invasion of Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles) has emerged as a major threat to marine biota across the Bahamian archipelago. In 2010, CEI formed the Lionfish Research and Education Program (LREP) in collaboration with partners from the Reef Environmental Education Foundation and Simon Fraser University (SFU). LREP seeks to aid and inform efforts to protect marine ecosystems from the effects of the lionfish invasion. Research initiatives include long term experiments, in collaboration with the Bahamas Department of Marine Resources and SFU, to evaluate the effectiveness of lionfish removal in facilitating the recovery of native Bahamian reef fish populations, studies of the viability of trapping as a method for control, and studies of lionfish behavior, habitat BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO use and movement. The program also fosters stewardship within local communities and promotes the harvest and consumption of lionfish as a method for control, through a number of education and awareness efforts. These activities also engage local and visiting high-school and college students, interns and staff, and provide outreach to key government personnel and NGOs. Through LREP, CEI is emerging as a center for lionfish research and outreach in the Caribbean, with a view to effectively disseminate valuable information on best practices for lionfish control and management to both local and regional stakeholders. KEY WORDS: Lionfish invasion, reef fish, outreach, collaboration, Bahamas Community Structure of Reef Fishes in a Tropical Seasonal Upwelling Area, Golfo de Papagayo, Costa Rica Structura de Comunidad de Peces Arrecifales en un Área Tropical de Afloramiento Estacional, Golfo de Papagayo, Costa Rica Composition Spécifique des Poissons Récifauxen un Remontée d'Eau Saisonnière dans le Pacifique Tropical, Gulfe de Papagayo, Costa Rica KEY WORDS: Reef fish, Eastern Tropical Pacific, seasonal upwelling, Pomacentridae, Haemulidae Tipología de la Flota Yucateca de Mediana Altura que Opera en el Banco de Campeche, México Typology of the Semi-industrial Yucateca Fleet that Operates in Campeche Bank, Mexico Typologie de la Flotte Yucateca Semi-Industrielle qui Agit dans le Banc de Campeche, au Mexique CARMEN MONROY1*, SILVIA SALAS2, y GABRIELA GALINDO3 INAPESCA, Apto. Postal 73, Progreso, Mérida, Yucatán 97320 México. *[email protected]. 2 CINVESTAV, Apto. Postal 73, Mérida, Yucatán 97300 México. [email protected]. 3 INAPESCA Av. Ejército Mexicano No. 106 Boca del Río, Veracruz 94298 México. [email protected]. 1 RESUMEN Se realizó una caracterización de la flota yucateca de mediana altura que opera en el Banco de Campeche. Esta flota compuesta por 540 embarcaciones con diferente poder de pesca, es heterogénea en términos de sus características físicas. Las embarcaciones utilizan diferentes artes y/o métodos de pesca y asignan su esfuerzo principalmente a la captura de mero, huachinango y pulpo, las cuales representan las principales pesquerías del estado de Yucatán. Se combinó información obtenida de bitácoras de pesca registrada por los capitanes durante las temporadas de pesca 2000 y 2001 (n=8,390), también se contó con la plantilla de las características físicas de las embarcaciones. Las características de la flota tal como, la longitud de eslora y potencia del motor permitieron agrupar las embarcaciones en cinco categorías. El análisis de la actividad pesquera de la flota permitió estimar el esfuerzo nominal (número de viajes), donde cada bitácora fue considerada un viaje de pesca. Durante las temporadas de pesca analizadas, la flota realizó en promedio 4,100 viajes con 430 unidades de pesca (79.6 % de la flota) y con un promedio de 344 viajes al mes. El 54.8% de estas embarcaciones realizaron entre 8 y 13 viajes al año. El 20.4% de la flota estuvo completamente inactiva, esto significa un exceso en la capacidad de pesca de la flota yucateca. Respecto a las artes de pesca utilizadas, en 54.6% de las operaciones los pescadores utilizaron el palangre de línea, en 18.1% utilizaron el alijo con el palangre de mano, en 16.9% el alijo y la jimba y en 10.4% la bicicleta. PALABRAS CLAVE: Banco de Campeche, características físicas, actividad pesquera Page ABSTRACT Golfo de Papagayo (GP), located on the North Pacific coast of Costa Rica, displays a seasonal coastal upwelling during dry months. Between May 2005 and February 2006, 66 visual censuses were conducted at 7 rocky reefs, depths ranging 1.0-15 m. A total of 16,188 fishes were identified. Previously reported fish species and family richness for the GP region was increased ~32%, to 99 and 37, respectively. Eleven species (Chromis atrilobata, Haemulon maculicauda, H. steindachneri, Abudefduf troschelii, Apogon pacificus, Clupeidae sp., Thalassoma lucasanum, Halichoeres dispilus, Caranx caballus, Stegastes flavilatus, and S. acapulcoensis) accounted for ~ 80% of the fish. Each site had a particular assemblage, as indicated by site-month interactions found in diversity (H’=2.32±0.37 SD, range 1.36-2.95), evenness (E=0.81±0.08, range 0.47-0.94), and species richness (S=19±6.2, range 7-32). Results suggested mixed spatio-temporal variability patterns. Euclidian distance between sites was not a factor, but habitat attributes were. The first two axes of a Principal Component Analysis accounted for only 25% of the variation, but suggested an influence of sampling month, Caulerpa sertulariodes algal cover, slope, depth, rugosity, and live coral cover. The onset and increase of C. sertularioides cover at several study sites confirmed concerns about the invasive nature of this macroalga. By having large-range species dominating the fish assemblages, GP ichthyofauna appears to be more resilient to drastic changes in water conditions. 48 HELENA MOLINA-UREÑA Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, San José 11501-2060 Costa Rica. [email protected]. BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Assessment of the economic impacts of the lion fish (Pterois volitans) invasion in Jamaica Evaluacion del impacto economic de la invasion del pez león (Pterois volitans) en Jamaica Évaluation des Incidences Économiques de l’Invasion des Rascasses Volantes (Pterois volitans) en Jamaïque 1 1 2 1 STEPHAN MOONSAMMY *, DAYNE BUDDO , and GOVIND SEEPERSAD University of the West Indies Agribusiness Society of UWI Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension St.Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago [email protected] 2Universityof the West Indies, Mona Campus Discovery Bay marine Lab Jamaica Discovery Ba The invasion of the Lionfish (<em>Pterois volitans and Pterois miles</em>) in Jamaica has numerous ecological impacts on the abundant marine ecosystems surrounding the island. The predominant effect of the Lionfish invasion is on the biodiversity in the marine habitats. As a result, there are direct and indirect economic implications especially in the areas of domestic fisheries, marine tourism and the non-market value for maintaining the biodiversity. In assessing the economic impacts of the lionfish invasion in Jamaica, the total economic impact was derived as a function dependent on the direct and indirect costs; where the direct costs were derived by correlating Lionfish gut content secondary data and the domestic market price for varying fish species; the indirect costs were identified as the non-market value and derived by collecting primary data from varying stake holders using the Contingent Valuation Method. The data was collected from fishermen, tourist, locals and dive shop operators using a stratified random sample frame from three parishes in Jamaica, St. Anns, St. James and Trelawny. The data was analyzed in the Gretl program using a combination of econometric techniques; more specifically, Ordinary Least Squares and Logistic Regression. The research establishes a baseline cost of the lionfish invasion which can be used to derive more detailed economic analysis. The results of this research can be used by government officials to quantify in economic terms the presence of Lionfish and develop the necessary policies to effectively manage the situation. KEY WORDS: Biodiversity, Contingent Valuation, Jamaica, Economic , Fisheries Examining Reef Fish Aggregations in the Florida Keys Examinando Agregaciones de Desove de Peces en los Cayos de la Florida Examen des Agrégations de Poissons de Récifs dans les Florida Keys DANIELLE MORLEY1 *, TODD KELLISON2, CHRIS TAYLOR2, ART GLEASON3, ALEJANDRO ACOSTA , and MICHAEL FEELEY4 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2796 Overseas Highway, Suite 119, Marathon, Florida 33050 USA. [email protected]. [email protected]. 2National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, North Carolina 28516 USA. [email protected]. [email protected]. 3University of Miami, Coral Gables,Florida 33124 USA. [email protected]. 4National Park Service, 18001 Old Cutler Road, Suite 419, Palmetto Bay, Florida 33157 USA. [email protected]. Page 49 1 ABSTRACT Fish spawning aggregations (FSAs) are a critical step in the life history of several commercially important grouper and snapper species throughout the Florida Keys. It has been shown that aggregations in other areas are susceptible to overexploitation. To ensure proper management of these resources, FSAs within the Florida Keys are being evaluated using a wide array of sampling tools (aerial surveys, sonar mapping, scuba divers, drop camera, etc.). The following objectives are being examined: 1) whether reported FSA sites share common habitat characteristics, 2) determine the level of fish utilization and site fidelity, 3) collect life history data and, 4) locate any additional aggregations sites. Findings from this work will be used to aid resource managers in determining the efficacy of current marine reserve locations and provide information to further protect these resources. KEY WORDS: spawning aggregations, marine reserves, reef fish, acoustic mapping Strategies and Practices for Invasive Lionfish Control: A Guide for Managers Estrategias y Prácticas para el Control del Pez León Invasoras: Una Guía para Gerentes Stratégies et Méthodes de Contrôle des Rascasses Volantes Envahissantes: Un Guide pour les Managers JAMES MORRIS1*, LAD AKINS2, DAYNE BUDDO3, STEPHANIE GREEN4, and RICARDO LOZANO5 NOAA, 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, North Carolina 28516 USA . *[email protected]. 2Reef Environmental Education Foundation , 3 University of the French West Indies – Jamaica. 4Simon Fraser University. 5Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel ABSTRACT Invasive lionfish pose a significant threat to coral reef systems of the wider Caribbean. Coastal managers are now faced with the complex problem of lionfish management in addition to previous reef stressors such as overfishing, climate change, and pollution. To aid coastal managers with lionfish management, we have developed a comprehensive guide specifically for lionfish. Using outcomes of a best strategies workshop held in 2010 in Cancun, Mexico, we have compiled various field tested recommendations for lionfish outreach, control, monitoring, and research. Various perspectives are also provided for issues such as harvesting lionfish as a foodfish and the many gear types used during collection. Detailed instructions are also provided on capture to ensure safe handling. These principles were compiled by an international writing team and broad working group from several Caribbean countries and organizations to provide coastal managers with the most advanced techniques for controlling, monitoring, and developing research questions on invasive lionfish locally and regionally. KEY WORDS: Lionfish, best practices, Pterois BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Enhancing the Career Paths of Protected Area Staff: Coordinating Training and Certification as Essential Components of Professionalizing Management Realzando la Carrera Profesional del Personal de las Áreas Protegidas: Coordinación de Entrenamiento y Certificación como Componentes Esenciales en la Profesionalización del Manejo de las Áreas Protegidas Renforcement de la Carrière du Personnel des Aires Protégées: Coordination de la Formation et la Certification en tant que Composantes Essentielles de la Professionnalisation de Gestion 1 EDUARD MULLER1*, GLENN RICCI2, JULIUS FRANCIS3, and KEN LINDEMAN4 Escuela Latinoamericana de Áreas Protegidas, Barrio Escalante, San Jose, Costa Rica. [email protected]. 2University of Rhode Island ,3 Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association. 4Florida Institute of Technology. ABSTRACT The thousands of MPAs worldwide represent increasingly complex management institutions that require highly diverse skill sets to optimally manage. These areas are often managed by staff without formal training, continued skill development, or associations to certify professional development and to represent MPA staff as a skilled trade like any other. This is a suboptimal paradigm for managing the institutions increasingly responsible for protecting threatened natural and social capital from diverse threats including climate change. Without professional development infrastructure similar to other important professions (from teachers to electricians to physicians), MPA practitioners are often hard-pressed to acquire the resources and respect from business and political interests that are essential to long term success. In addition to quality training programs in the classroom and the field, staff should be empowered through their full career cycle by professionalizing career development with the aid of transparent performance standards. These can be achieved through carefully designed certification programs that recognize performance on the job. A partnership to work with existing organizations to further professionalize marine and terrestrial PA management worldwide is in development by IUCN through the WCPA Training Task Force, the Global Protected Areas Programme, and the CBD Secretariat, with many global partners. The plan includes: 1) development of high-quality open access curricula specific to rangers, managers, or system administrators; 2) accreditation of partner institutions and creation of a scholarship trust fund for trainees; and 3) establishing regional certification programs for MPA professionals based on proven job performance using the successful MPA PRO model. Impacts Écosystèmiques de la Pêche sur les Réseaux Trophiques Caribéen PETER MUMBY*, ROBERT STENECK2, and JANET GIBSON University of Queensland, St Lucia Brisbane, Qld 4072 Australia. [email protected]. University of Maine. ABSTRACT The fishing down of marine food webs has been described in pelagic and demersal systems but rarely documented in coral reef environments. We recorded a rapid shift in fish community structure in Belize that accompanied a marked decline in grouper and snapper abundance and a switch towards smaller (less desirable), herbivorous parrotfishes. In a 6-7 year period (2002-2008/9), observations of large-bodied grouper (Serranidae) declined significantly from an encounter probability of 21% per 200 m2 transect to just 2%. The biomass of carnivorous snappers (Lutjanidae) underwent a 7-fold decline, primarily in the species Ocyurus chrysurus. Parrotfish biomass declined by 41% between 2002 and 2008/9. A tri-trophic cascade occurred in which mesopredators (e.g., Cephalopholis fulvus)increased by 880% of 2002 levels and caused a crash in damselfish populations by ~45%. We discuss the implications for reef resilience. KEY WORDS: Fishing, trophic cascade, Belize, resilience Importance of Ecologically Connected Habitat Sites in the Gulf of Mexico and Wider Caribbean Region Importancia de los Sitios de Hábitat Ecológicamente Conectada en el Golfo de México y Región del Gran Caribe Importance des Sites d'Habitat Écologiquement Liées, dans le Golfe du Mexique et de la Région des Caraïbes HARRIET NASH Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5869, Corpus Christi, Texas 78412 USA [email protected] ABSTRACT The nexus of biological connections throughout the Gulf of Mexico (GMx) region extends from the Caribbean Sea into GMx waters of the United States, Mexico, and Cuba. Identification of important high-biodiversity habitats, the species that utilize such uncommon habitats in the GMx, and ecological connectivity provides a scientific basis for cooperative international marine policy focused on conservation and sustainable management of living marine resources. Despite cultural and legal differences, the GMx-bordering nations share the benefits of sustainably managed transboundary living marine resources. Combined with a compatibility analysis of existing national marine policies, ecosystem-based marine spatial planning would enhance the understanding of connectivity elements and processes, map distribution of habitats with high biodiversity, minimize discontinuity among national marine policies, and maximize coordinated international protection while managing transboundary living marine resources based on biophysical characteristics of the large marine ecosystem. A unified trinational effort to protect and conserve shared living marine resources would enhance the ecosystem’s resiliency Page Fishing Down a Caribbean Food Web Relaxes Trophic Cascades Efecto de la Pesca a traves de la Red Alimenticia en Cadenas Troficas Caribeñas 50 KEY WORDS: MPA, WCPA, MPA PRO, training, certification BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO and recovery in response to natural and anthropogenic disasters. Existing conditions in the GMx region support an enterprise to design several alternatives for an international network of marine protected areas in the GMx for joint consideration by policy decision-makers from the United States, Mexico, and Cuba. KEY WORDS: Marine protected area, connectivity, international marine policy, Gulf of Mexico, MPA network Una Alternativa para el Control del Pez León (Pterois volitans) en Puerto Morelos (México) y Análisis Preliminar del Impacto Potencial de Esta Especie Invasora en la Fauna Arrecifal Local An Alternative to Control Lionfish (Pterois volitans) in Puerto Morelos (Mexico) and Preliminary Analysis of the Potential Impact of this Invasive Species on the Local Reef Fauna Une Alternative pour Contrôler la Rascasse Volante (Pterois volitans) à Puerto Morelos (Mexique) et l'Analyse Préliminaire de l'Impact Potentiel de cette Espèce Envahissante sur la Faune des Récifs Locaux FERNANDO NEGRETE-SOTO1* , RODOLFO FRANCO-GORDILLO2 , y CECILIA BARRADAS-ORTIZ1 UASA ICMYL UNAM CHECHEN 521 (R17,MZA 10 10, L5) COL. J. CETINA GASCA Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo 77580 México [email protected] [email protected] CONANP PUERTO MORELOS , [email protected] 1 Page 51 RESUMEN El pez león del Indopacífico (Pterois volitans) ha invadido la región del gran Caribe, donde carece de depredadores importantes. En el Parque Nacional “Arrecifes de Puerto Morelos” (Quintana Roo, México), la abundancia del pez león ha aumentado considerablemente en los últimos años, representando un peligro potencial para la fauna arrecifal nativa de importancia tanto ecológica como económica. Por ello, las autoridades del Parque, con apoyo del gobierno federal, implementaron un proyecto de captura y comercialización de pez león como una alternativa de control local de la especie. Entre julio y agosto de 2010 fueron capturados 4489 peces en un intervalo de talla y peso de 45–430 mm longitud total (LT) y 12–1310 g, respectivamente, con un peso total de 1419 kg. De este total, 1088 kg (= 2799 peces ≥200 g) fueron comercializados en la presentación de filete (326 kg). Aunque aún se requiere fomentar el mercado de pez león, su comercialización para consumo humano es viable, lo que representaría un beneficio tanto social como ecológico. Para determinar el posible impacto por depredación del pez león sobre la fauna local del Parque, se analizó el contenido estomacal de 83 peces (tallas: 143–416 mm LT, peso: 34–1277 g) capturados en la zona frontal del arrecife (profundidad: 15–30 m) y 85 peces (41–340 mm LT y 0.5–377 g) capturados en la zona posterior–laguna arrecifal (<8 m). Resultados preliminares de este análisis indican que, en ambas zonas, las principales presas del pez león son peces (% de frecuencia: 51.6% y 43.8%, respectivamente) y crustáceos (31.6% y 46.9%, respectivamente), con escasa representación de otros grupos tróficos. Movement Patterns of Tiger Grouper (Mycteroperca tigris) at Spawning Aggregation Sites in the US Virgin Islands Patronesde Movimiento de Mero Tigre (Mycteroperca tigris) en Sitios de Agregación en las Islas Vírgenes de los Estados Unidos de Desove De Desove les Dessins de Mouvement de Tigre Grouper (Mycteroperca tigris) aux sites d'Agrégation Frayants dans les Îles Vierges Américaines RICHARD S. NEMETH* and ELIZABETH KADISON University of the Virgin Islands, Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, 2 John Brewer's Bay St. Thomas, 00802-9990 US Virgin Islands. [email protected]. [email protected]. ABSTRACT Most large groupers (Serranidae) form annual spawning aggregations (FSA) at predictable times and locations, which makes them extremely vulnerable to over-fishing. Seasonal or permanent fishery area closures can provide effective protection, but defining biologically relevant boundaries is difficult due to limited knowledge of the movement and migration patterns associated with spawning. The aim of this study was to determine the spatial and temporal pattern of movement and migration associated with spawning aggregations of tiger grouper (Mycteroperca tigris) and compare these patterns with other large grouper species: Nassau (Epinephelus striatus) and yellowfin (Mycteroperca venenosa) grouper. The study was conducted along the southern shelf edge of the US Virgin Islands. Male and female tiger groupers were acoustically tagged and released two spawning aggregation sites: Grammanik Bank and Marine Conservation District, which are about 5 km apart. An array of acoustic receivers was strategically placed in an overlapping curtain around and between each FSA. Data indicate that this species commonly moved 1 to 3 km in a few hours and could cover 15 km in a 24 hr period. Movements of tagged groupers at the spawning site carried them outside the existing closure boundaries and exposed them to fishing mortality on a daily basis. Moreover, tiger groupers from each spawning site also visited the other spawning site suggesting reduced spawning site fidelity in this species. KEY WORDS: Conservation, fish spawning aggregation, Virgin Islands, marine protected areas, Serranidae Bio-degradable Escape Panel Research on Fish Pots in Dominica: A Fisheries Resources Management Tool Estudio del Panel Bio-degradable de Escape para Trampas de Peces en Dominica: Una Herramienta de Manejo de Recursos Pesqueros Recherche sur les Panneaux de Sortie Bio-Dégradables pour les Pièges à Poissons à la Dominique: Un Outil de Gestion des Ressources Halieutiques NORMAN NORRIS1*, JULLAN DEFOE1, VALCINA STOUTE1, and MITSUHIRO ISHIDA2 Fisheries Division Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, Physical Planning and Fisheries Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica. 1 BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. 2 Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Fisheries Division, Point Wharf Complex, St. John's, Antigua and Baruda W. I. ABSTRACT The serious negative impact of ghost-fishing by abandoned, lost and derelict fish pots on Dominica’s limited and fragile marine resources over the last ten years have been documented. This resulted in experiments into the most appropriate type of bio-degradable escape panel and tying materials to reduce the continuous incidence of ghost fishing. For the first part of the study, ten bio-degradable fish pots were used to simulate lost pots. Experiments were conducted using three types of bio-degradable tying materials. After forty-five to fifty days the jute twine bio-degraded. This is the material that was used for the national study. Part two contained forty-five pots with bio-degradable panels and deployed by ten fishers in six communities on the East and West coasts of Dominica. The pots were of straight funnel and gooseneck type entrance. The Jute twine was used as standard bio-degradable material for the escape panel which was constructed to the side of the pot. This part of the study observed the behavior and durability of the twine during hauling operation and response of fishers to the new idea of fitting all pots with a bio-degradable escape panel. The Fisheries Act #11 of 1987 does not require that fish pots in Dominica be fitted with an escape panel as part of a management tool for the sector. Most fishers agreed that the modified fish pot (with the biodegradable escape panel) was a definite improvement and one that should be made mandatory. KEY WORDS: Fish Pots, gooseneck type entrance, management tool Ingreso de Puerulos de Panulirus argus en el “Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak”, México: Estacionalidad y Comparación de dos Tipos de Collector Influx of Spiny Lobster Panulirus argus Puerulii in “Parque Nacional Arrrecifes de Xcalak”, Mexico: Seasonality and Comparison Among Two Types of Collector Recrutement de Puérulus de Langouste Panulirus argus dans le “Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak”, Mexique. Saisonnalité et Comparaison des deux Types de Collecteur JOSÉ OLIVARES-ESCOBEDO1*, ELOY SOSA-CORDERO2, y ANGÉLICA RAMÍREZ-GONZÁLEZ2 Parque Nacional Costa, W de I.Mujeres P. Cancún y Blvd Kukulcán Km. 4.8 Zona Hotelera Cancún, Quintana Roo 77500 Mexico. *[email protected]. 2El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR), Av. Centenario Km 5.5 Chetumal, Quintana Roo 77014 Mexico. [email protected]. [email protected]. PALABRAS CLAVE: Spiny lobster postlarvae, recruitment , Mexican Caribbean, AIC index Social-ecological Dynamics and the Effects of Bonding Social Capital on Local Fish Marketing in Grenville Grenada La Dinámica Socio-ecológicos y los Efectos de Cohesivo Capital Social en la Comercialización de Pescado en Grenville, Grenada Dynamiques Socio-Écologiques et les Effets du liens Capital Social sur la Commercialisation Locale de Poisson à Grenville, Grenada KEMRAJ PARSRAM1*, CRAFTON ISAAC2, and FRANCIS CALLISTE3 CERMES, UWI , BARBADOS. [email protected]. 2Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisherie , 3Grenada Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Grenada 1 ABSTRACT Grenville, the second largest fishing centre in Grenada, shares characteristics typical of small scale fisheries across the eastern Caribbean and further afield. A major fishery involves small tunas and tuna-like fishes. Approximately 50 boats, typically with a crew of 2, troll daily inside and along the edge of the island’s extensive shelf, landing on average nearly 400 metric tonnes of fish annually. Sixty percent of these landings are usually blackfin tuna (locally known as ‘bonita’ or ‘common tur’) and skip jack tuna. Over the last seven years, this fishery and particularly its marketing system have been plagued with perturbations, both idiosyncratic and covariate.In this paper, I explore some critical social-ecological factors that cause or contribute to these perturbations. I highlight how bonding social capital between fishers and unemployed youths (two key categories of stakeholders in the fishery) helps them to cope with some of these perturbations. This paper is part of larger doctoral research on the governance of small-scale fisheries in the eastern Caribbean. The findings here are based upon information collected through key informant interviews, participant observations, and informal interviews during a one year period of residence (July 2010 - June 2011) in the fishing community of Grenville. KEY WORDS: Small-scale fisheries, idiosyncratic and covariate perturbation, social-ecological system, bonding social capital Page RESUMEN Este es el primer reporte sobre puerulos de langosta Panulirus argus en la costa sur de Quintana Roo, México. De Julio-2006 a Diciembre-2008, se registró el ingreso mensual de puerulos en dos sitios del “Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak (PNAX)”: frente al poblado de Xcalak y el Canal Zaragoza. En cada sitio había un quebrado o canal donde se emplazó un par de estaciones, una con tres colectores Witham y otra con tres colectores GuSi. Del total capturado de 1563 puerulos, 7.7% fueron puerulos transparentes. En el marco de inferencia estadística basado en la teoría de la información, fueron comparados varios modelos de complejidad creciente, según sus puntajes del índice del criterio de Akaike AIC. De acuerdo con el modelo de mínimo AIC, que mejor representó la variación de los datos, el ingreso de puerulos depende de tres factores: i) Estacionalidad, con tiempo en lunas de cuarto creciente, el ingreso tuvo un pico mayor en octubre-noviembre y uno menor en marzo-abril; ii) año de monitoreo, con mayores valores en 2006 respecto de 2007 y 2008; y iii) tipo de colector, con capturas ligeramente mayores con el colector Witham. El ingreso de puerulos no dependió del sitio. Por la importancia social y económica del recurso, se recomienda continuar el monitoreo de puerulos en ambos sitios del PNAX usando solo colectores GuSi, de mayor duración y menor costo. 52 1 BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Morphological Characterization of Haemocytes of the Red Octopus, Octopus maya Caracterización Morfológica de los Hemocitos del Pulpo Rojo, Octopus maya La Caractérisation Morphologique des Hémocytes de la Pieuvre Rouge, Octopus maya CRISTINA PASCUAL1*, ARLETTE HERNÁNDEZ2, AND IVÁN GUZMAN2 UNAM, Puerto de Abrigo s/n Merida, Yucatan 97355 Mexico. [email protected]. 2 Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco , Villlahermosa México 1 ABSTRACT The red octopus, Octopus maya, is endemic to the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, which holds an important fishery. There are several papers on biological aspects, but the immune system is poorly understood. Haemocytes or blood cells are an essential part of the defense mechanisms of marine invertebrates; therefore, the objective of this study was to perform the morphological characterization of the hemocytes of the hemolymph and hematopoietic organ (white body), taking intoaccount qualitative and quantitative criteria. Compared nine histological techniques, testing for blood smear Wright was the most appropriate. According to the characteristics of the nucleus and cytoplasmic granules presence of cells were classified into granular and hyaline. The diameter of the nucleus and the cells were measured (Axio Vision program 100X Carl Zeiss), and analyzed as quantitative criteria of cell differentiation through an analysis of "T" or Mann Whitney according to data distribution. The core diameter of granular haemocytes was significantly higher than that of hyaline hemocytes. The results indicate that the cell diameter of the white body hemocytes was significantly greater than the diameter of the peripheral hemocytes, which may be associated with lymphoid cell maturation. The results provide a morphological basis for the characterization of the hemocytes O. maya and reference data for further studies on cellular immune response in the group Octopoda. KEY WORDS: Haemocytes, Octopus maya, hematopoietic Heterotrophic Cultivation Effect on the Immune Status of the Pink Shrimp, Farfantepenaeus duorarum Page 53 Efecto del Cultivo Heterotrófico sobre la Condición Inmunológica del Camarón Rosado, Farfantepenaeus duorarum Effet de la Cultura Hétérotrophes sur le Statut Immunitaire de la Crevette Rose, Farfantepenaeus duorarum CRISTINA PASCUAL JIMÉNEZ*, MANUEL VALENZUELA, GABRIELA GAXIOLA, CARLOS ROSAS RUDY A. LARA Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto de Abrigo s/n Sisal, Yucatan 97355 Mexico. *[email protected]. ABSTRACT Shrimp farming is an important economic activity that generates a elevated environmental cost, due to high volumes of water required. In recent decades, alternative practices have been tested with minimal water exchange in heterotrophic systems. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of heterotrophic culture on the immune status of juvenile pink, Farfantepaneus dourarum, analyzed through the molting process, as the mobilization of nutrients and immunological effectors during ecdysis, compromise immunity of the cultured organisms. Postlarvae 1 g were stoked at a density of 80 PL/m2 in ponds of 20,000 l. We worked with four replicates per treatment: a) Heterotrophic system (fed with 5% of commercial feed), and b) Natural water (10%).The experiment lasted four months, at the end in 400 shrimp has obtained the hemolymph, digestive gland and determined the state of molt. We analyzed the concentration of hemocytes, hemagglutination activity, respiratory burst, the activity of phenoloxidase and hepatosomatic index by two-way ANOVA to determine the effect of treatment and moulting. Shrimp of heterotrophic system had significantly higher immune components, linked to a higher concentration of bacteria in the hemolymph and in the culture medium, which may be generating an immunostimulatory effect. Besides this, a significantly higher hepatosomatic index and low feed conversion indicated the huge potential of this alternative system. KEY WORDS: Heterothophic , shrimp, immune condition, Farfantepenaeus duorarum Multi-dimensional Analysis to Study Process by Panulirus argus Virus 1 (PaV1) in Spiny Lobsters Naturally Infected Análisis Multidimensional para Estudiar el Proceso Infeccioso por Panulirus argus Virus 1 (PaV1) en la Langosta Espinosa del Caribe Infectada Naturalmente Analyses Multidimensionnelles pour Étudier Processus par Panulirus argus Virus 1 (PaV1) dans Langoustes Infecté Naturellement CRISTINA PASCUAL JIMÉNEZ1*, JUAN PABLO HUCHÍN-MIAN2, NUNO SIMÕES , PATRICIA BRIONES-FOURZAN ENRIQUE LOZANOALVAREZ , ROSSANNA RODRÍGUEZ-CANUL, and MAITE MASCARÓ MIQUELAJAUREGUI 1 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto de Abrigo s/n Sisal, Yucatán 97355 México. * [email protected]. 2CINVESTAP Unidad Mérida Km. 6 Antigua Carretera a Progreso, CORDEMEX , Yucatán México. ABSTRACT The spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, has been affected by a highly pathogenic virus known as Panulirus argus Virus 1 (PaV1). PaV1 appears to be widespread throughout the Caribbean region. Macroscopic signs of PaV1 infection are milky hemolymph that lacks the ability to clot, reddish carapace and lethargy. Despite the important information obtained through experimental infections, little is known about the physiological responses in naturally infected P. argus. The aim of this study was to evaluate physiological and immunological parameters in Panulirus argus lobsters naturally infected with PaV1, and compare multidimensional analysis; principal component (PCA) and redundancy analysis (RDA) to determine correlation between hematological variables and severity of PaV1 infection, which was determined by histopathology and PCR. 20 juvenile spiny lobsters P. argus that showed high morbidity of PaV1 BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO were captured by scuba in the reef lagoon of Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México. Additionally, 25 healthy lobsters without clinical signs of PaV1 infection were collected from the same area and used as controls. Alterations of total hemocytes counts, low values of plasmatic protein and total phenoloxidase activity in plasma, coupled with high levels of cholesterol and acylglycerols were among the most reliable effects observed in the infected lobsters indicating metabolic wasting and presumed immune suppression. Understanding the process of infection is extremely important to know the development of infection in natural conditions. RDA was a more integrated analysis method. Multidimensional analysis showed integrative effect on physiological and immunological condition during PaV1 process in naturally infected lobsters. . KEY WORDS: Panulirus argus, Virus 1, immunology, redundancy analysis, hemolymph components Implication of the Professional Fishermen in the Control of the Invasive Species Pterois volitans (Lionfish) in the French West Indies Implicacion del Sector Pesquero en la Estrategia de Control del Pez Leon (Pterois volitans) en la Antillas Francesa Implication de la Pêche Professionnelle dans la Stratégie de Lutte contre l’Espèce Invasive Poisson Lion (Pterois volitans) dans les Antilles Françaises KEY WORDS: Pterois volitans, lionfish, fishery, caribbean partnership, French West Indies Growth Assessment of the Pink Queen Conch Strombus gigas by Direct Methods in Two Nursery Grounds of a Natural Protected Area of the Mexican Caribbean Evaluación del Crecimiento del Caracol Rosa Strombus gigas por Métodos Directos en dos Sitios de Reclutamiento de un Área Natural Protegido del Caribe Mexicano Détermination de la Croissance du Lambi, Strombus gigas par Méthodes Directs dans deux sites de Recrutement dans une Aire Marine Protégée dans la Caraïbe Mexicaine JOANNE PEEL* and DALILA ALDANA-ARANDA CINVESTAV-IPN, Km 6 Antigua Carretera a Progreso, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico* [email protected]. ABSTRACT The Queen Conch is an important fishery resource of the Caribbean and high fishing pressure has led to its depletion. The Xel-Ha Inlet is used as a park for ecotourism, representing a sanctuary for the Conch. Most knowledge about its growth was generated in enclosures or derived from population dynamics, but has been studied little by direct methods. Growth appears to be higher under natural conditions than in enclosures or hatcheries. In this study we compared the growth rates of 1242 S.gigas in two protected nurseries (BN and CU), each with an area of 6,000m² and average densities of 0.1981±0.0981ind. m⁻² and 0.1633±0.0651, respectively.The particularity of the sanctuary is the freshwater input from underground caves surrounding it. BN is characterized by fine sand/mud, while the bottom of CU is composed of coarser coralline algae rubble. Both sites present macroalgae patches. Capture-mark-recapture method was employed in the period from April 2009 to May 2011. Population size and relative density were estimated using Schnabel’s method. Growth was highest in juveniles with an initial shell length of <100mm and 100-149mm, increasing 0.29±0.09mmday⁻¹ and 0.27±0.07mm day⁻¹, respectively, being statistically equivalent. Growth decreased significantly in size classes 150-199mm (0.19±0.09mm day⁻¹) and ≥200mm (0.08±0.08mm day⁻¹). No differences could be detected between the growth rates at the two sites, except for the class of <100mm, with an average growth of 0.32±0.09mm day⁻¹ at BN and 0.26±0.06mm day⁻¹ at CU. Variability in growth rate showed seasonal differences. We discuss ecological significance of growth rates. KEY WORDS: Strombus gigas, nurseries, Marine Protected Area, growth, mark-recapture Page ABSTRACT The lionfish (Pterois volitans), accidentally introduced species has gradually invaded all the Caribbean waters and the Gulf of Mexico. Dans les Antilles françaises, les premières observations relatées datent de 2010, et sont depuis de plus en plus fréquentes. In the French West Indies, the first observations described are from 2010 and have since become more frequent. Its impacts on ecosystems and the risk of accident due to their poisonous system put the caribbean fishermen in the front line of the dangers it represents. Therefore, the Regional Fisheries Committee of Guadeloupe intends to involve the professional fishermen in the control of this invasive species with tha project involving many actors in the French West Indies and the islands around. The project includes several actions, such as training and education of fishermen, ciguatoxic and pesticides analysis, and the establishment of monitoring protocols to follow and to fight against the invasion. More than the French Caribbean islands, the goal of this project is to share experience with all the partners working on this issue in the Caribbean, including the establishment of standard protocols for monitoring and control, for the development of sustainable partnerships the Caribbean actors dealing with this problematic, but also to create a working group of fisheries experts in the Lesser Antilles. 54 MARION PATIN* and NICOLAS DIAZ CRPMEM Guadeloupe - Regional fisheries Committee 2 bis rue Schoelcher Pointe-à-Pitre, 97110 Guadeloupe, France (F.W.I.) *[email protected]. [email protected]. BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Outcomes and Experiences from a Small Grant Scheme in Support of Marine Resource Governance Resultados y Experiencias de un Sistema de Pequeñas Subvenciones en Apoyo a la Gobernabilidad de los Recursos Marinos Resultats et Expériences d’un Régime de Petites Subventions en Appui à la Gouvernance des Resources Marines MARIA PENA* and PATRICK MCCONNEY CERMES, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, St. Michael, - BB 11000 Barbados. *[email protected]. [email protected]. ABSTRACT The Marine Resource Governance in the Eastern Caribbean Project (MarGov project) implemented by the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES), at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, has been undertaking applied research to address the critical need to build capacity and network connections for adaptation and resilience into present and planned marine resource governance initiatives in the eastern Caribbean. In addition to the academic aspects of the MarGov research programme, small grants to support complementary, high quality applied research integral to the project were made available to project partners.Eight small grants were awarded and implemented by both governmental and nongovernmental entities - Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI), Barbados Fisheries Advisory Committee (FAC), Grenada Fisheries Division, Sustainable Grenadines (SusGren) project, Caribbean Network of Fisher Folk Organisations (CNFO), St. Lucia Department of Fisheries and St. Kitts and Nevis Department of Marine Resources. Research focused on fisheries management planning, governance arrangements, participatory decision-making mechanisms for the sea urchin fisheries in Grenada and St. Lucia; strengthening collaboration and developing adaptive capacity of fisher folk and fisher folk organisations in the Grenadines and the region; improving governance through information exchange and demonstration, analysis of institutional frameworks and capacity in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago; and fisheries management planning based on the ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) in St. Kitts and Nevis. This paper reports on the outcomes of this research and the small grant experience for the grantees and CERMES. KEY WORDS: Grants, marine resource governance, eastern Caribbean Page 55 Caracterización Socioeconómica de la Pesquería de Recurso Caracolen Isla Arena, Campeche Socio-economic Characterization of the Resource Shell in Isla arena, Campeche La Caractérisation Socio-Économique de la Pêche d'Escargot Ressources Isla Arena, Campeche IRMA COYOLXAUHQUI PÉREZ GARCÍA*, y DALILA ALDANA ARANDA Cinvestav-IPN, Km 6 antigua carretera a progreso, Mérida, Yucatán 97310 México. [email protected]. RESUMEN Isla Arena Campeche México, es una comunidad con 800 habitantes aprox., se conecta 30 km sobre carretera al pueblo más cercano, Tankuche; y sobre 45 millas náuticas del puerto pesquero-turístico artesanal de Celestún, Yucatán. La única actividad económica productiva es la pesca artesanal. El objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar la composición de la captura del recurso caracol, los métodos y artes de pesca empleados en la captura, así como la información social y económica que genera su pesquería. Se aplicaron cuestionarios y entrevistas a los pescadores de isla arena en 2008. Las especies capturadas son ocho, en la zona intermareal se capturan, Melongena corona bispinosa (la chivita), Melongena melongena (nolón) y Fasciolaria tulipa (la campechana), en el buceo libre se captura, Turbinella angulata (tomburro), Pleuroploca gigantea (caracol rojo), Busycon contrarium (sacabocado), Strombus pugilis (canelo)y Strombus costatus (caracol blanco). Las capturadas incidentales con redes agalleras son, Turbinella angulata, Strombus costatus , Pleuroploca gigantea y Busycon contrarium. Se capturan estas especies, inclusive en periodos de veda. Las mujeres no participan en actividades pesqueras, los hijos de pescadores cursan nivel educativo que les proporciona la comunidad, en una casa habitación viven de uno hasta ocho personas, todos con parentesco familiar o consanguíneo. El ingreso económico como pescador artesanal es muy variable, depende de la temporada de captura de alguna especie comercial y de los factores ambientales que afecten en la región. Esta comunidad posee cuatro generaciones de pescadores artesanales, con desplazamientos de la población rural a la costa; los cuales han adoptado la pesca artesanal como otra actividad económica. La venta del cayo de caracolse presenta en tres modalidades, crudo, cocido y completo (concha y músculo). PALABRAS CLAVE: Isla arena, recurso caracol, captura, pesquería, socioeconómico Exploring the Role of Different Actors in Caribbean Coral Reef Governance Through Multi-level Social Networks Explorando el Eapel de los Diferentes Actores de la Gobernanza los Arrecifes de Coral del Caribe a través de Multi-nivel de las Redes Sociales Explorer le Rôle des Différents Acteurs dans la Gouvernance des Récifs Coralliens des Caraïbes Grâce aux Réseaux Sociaux à Plusieurs Niveaux ANGELIE PETERSON CERMES, 24 Kenridge Park, Apt 5, Fitts Village, St. James, Barbados. [email protected]. ABSTRACT Caribbean coral reef governance includes an increasing range of actors related to reef use, research, management, and decision-making. The relationships between actors and the networks that these relationships form are a possible source of constraint or facilitation in terms of reef management. Social network analysis (SNA) can be used as a tool to quantify the relationships and interactions between actors and understand the roles of these actors within a network. The Future of Reefs in a Changing Environment (FORCE) project investigates ecosystem health, livelihoods of reef-dependent communities, governance structures, and their relationship to the successful management of Caribbean reefs. Social science research is being conducted as part of the BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO FORCE project in fifteen communities across five Caribbean countries. Interviews with representatives from multiple governance levels including local and national government, NGO’s, community organizations, and individual resource users provide quantitative and qualitative information about the relationships between the various actors involved in reef governance. Preliminary results of the social networks of coral reef governance in the community of West End, Roatan in Honduras are presented. Results will be used to explore SNA as a tool for understanding governance and management of Caribbean coral reefs and to provide recommendations to improve coral reef governance through the better understanding of these networks. KEY WORDS: Governance, social networks, reef management Aspectos Socio Económicos de los Pescadores Artesanales de la Isla de San Andres; Departamento Archipielago de San Andres, Providencia y Santa Catalina, Caribe Colombiano Socio-economic Aspects of Artisanal Fishermen from the Island of San Andres: Departament Archipelago of San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina, Colombian Caribbean Aspects Socio-Economiques des Artisans Pêcheurs de l'Île de San Andres; Département de l’Archipel de San Andres, Providencia et Santa Catalina Caraïbes Colombienne RESUMEN En el Departamento Archipiélago de San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina, la pesca artesanal es importante para el sostenimiento socio económico de muchas familias en especial los raizales. En la Secretaría de Agricultura y Pesca de la Gobernación de San Andrés, se encuentran en el libro de registro más de 1100 pescadores, de los cuales 704 cuentan con un carnet que los identifica como pescadores artesanales. En el año 2011, la Secretaría de Agricultura, realizó un censo con el fin de establecer las condiciones socio económicas de los pescadores artesanales. El 58,21% comprende edades que van desde los 40 a 60 años. El 73,98% cuentan con régimen de salud como aportante y contributivo. El 67,91% de los pescadores no son dueños de las embarcaciones en las que realizan su actividad. El 85,37% de los pescadores tienen entre 1 a 3 hijos. Es importante llevar a cabo un programa de Educación, capacitación, transferencia de tecnología y generación de alternativas productivas que permita desarrollar proyectos tendientes mejorar el nivel de vida de los pescadores artesanales y sus familias. PALABRAS CLAVE: Pescadores artesanales, Isla San Andrés, pesca artesanal, Caribe Colombiano Characterization of the By-catch in the South-West Caribbean Caracterización de la Pesca Incidental en el Caribe Sur-occidental Caractérisation de la Pêche Prises Accessoires dans les Caraïbes du Sud-Ouest MARTHA PRADA1*, ELIZABETH TAYLOR2, OPAL BENT2, CLINTON POMARE3, ERICK CASTRO3, and NANCY DAVES4 Blue Dream Ltd., CORALINA, Avenida 20 de Julio 5-92, San Andres Island, Colombia. *[email protected] .2CORALINA, Via San Luis San Andres Isla, Colombia. [email protected]. [email protected]. 3Gobernacion Secretaria Agricultura y Pesca, Avenida Newball, Coral [email protected]. [email protected]. 4NOAA Fisheries, Internationa Affairs, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Springs Maryland 20910 USA. [email protected]. 1 ABSTRACT Aware of the importance of progressively include ecosystem based-management concepts in the fisheries management, data on characterization, abundance and spatial location of the by-catch within the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve has began. With the collaboration of commercial fishing captains of the spiny lobsters captured with traps and the reef fishes captured with different types of hooks and lines, and the young observers we have acquired a photo collection and quantified the targeted species and its associated by-catch of these two fisheries. In this work, we present results from a year of data reporting the presence of several sharks and other reef fishes considered rare or unknown from the hook and lines fisheries. Having more marine invertebrates and proliferation of the lionfish the by-catch of the lobster traps was characterized. In general, the two fisheries are highly selective fishing gears that produced 5-15% of by-catch, a quantity considered low but represented around 100t of marine organisms extracted from the ecosystem annually. Two thirds of the by-catch is either consumed or sold at a lower price, while the remains being returned to the ocean. The data collected provide key information needed to improve fisheries management by including total ecosystem losses and bring the opportunity of users participation, as well as allowed the elaboration of educational materials to be widely presented to the general community about the importance of the by-catch an aspect forgotten in many Caribbean fisheries. KEY WORDS: Bycatch, trap fisheries, hook and line fisheries 56 CLINTON POMARE J.1*, ADRIANA M. SUÁREZ Q.2, ONEIDA GUARDIOLA I.3, y ANTHONY ROJAS1 Gobernación de San Andrés, Av. Francisco Newball, Edificio Coral Palace, Av. Las Americas Segundo Piso Almacén Agromundo, San Andrés Isla, Colombia. [email protected]. [email protected]. 2 Instituto Colombiano de Desarrollo Rural-INCODER, Bogotá D.C., Colombia. [email protected]. 3 Instituto Colombiano de Desarrollo Rural-INCODER Barranquilla Colombia. [email protected]. Page 1 BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO GCFI Strengthens the Use Application of Scientific Information Towards Sustainable Management and Conservation of the Conch Strombus gigas in the Caribbean GCFI Fortalece el Uso de la Ciencia Aplicada al Manejo Sostenible y la Conservación del Caracol Strombus gigas en el Caribe GCFI Renforce l'Application d'Utilisation de l'Information Scientifique vers une Gestion Durable et la Conservation de la Lambi Strombus gigas dans les Caraïbes MARTHA PRADA1*, DALILA ALDANA2, ERICK CASTRO3, RICHARD APPELDOORN4, NANCY DAVES5, ROBERT GLAZER6, and MIGUEL ROLON7 1 Blue Dream Ltd., CORALINA, Avenida 20 de Julio 5-92, San Andres Island, Colombia. *[email protected]. 2CINVESTAV Km. 6 Antigua carretera a Progreso Apdo. Postal 73, Cordemex, 97310, Mérida, Yucatan, Mexico. [email protected]. 3Gobernacion San Andres, Secretaria Agricultura y Pesca, Avenida Newball, Coral Palace, San Andres Isla, Colombia. [email protected]. 4Universidad de Puerto Rico, Ciencias Marina, recinto Mayaguez, Carr 304 final, Isla Magueyes, Lajas, Puerto Rico 00667 USA. [email protected]. 5NOAA Fisheries, International Affairs, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 USA. [email protected]. 6Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Marathon, Florida 33050 USA. [email protected]. 7Caribbean Fisheries Management Council. 268 Muñoz Rivera Ave., Suite 1108. San Juan. Puerto Rico 00918-1920. [email protected]. 57 ABSTRACT The Strombus gigas is perhaps the most appreciated and utilized species across the Caribbean since time immemorial; however over the vast extent of its geographic distribution populations have been decimated. Therefore, in 1992 control of international trade was implemented under CITES Appendix II. The GCFI has played a substantial role in advancing queen conch management. Annually, scientists, managers and fishers have participated in dedicated workshops, forums, and education and outreach activities, raising the importance of this species and its vulnerability. New ideas and projects have been developed among different stakeholders, are now slowly making their way into regulatory frameworks. The printing of a book on the status of the species, the availability of works in the proceedings and the support for better fishery regulations in Colombia, Nicaragua, Honduras, Jamaica, Belize, Dominican Republic have all been supported by the GCFI. Now-a-days countries base their exploitation limits on fishery-independent surveys using collective scientific advances and better fishing regulations in Colombia, Nicaragua, Honduras, Jamaica, Belize, and Dominican Republic are being put in place. The determination of Apicomplexa impacts has been possible only because of the support of the GCFI community. Regional workshops organized to better understand how to apply the fishery science to the sustainable management of the species took place in Xel-Ha, Cancún, San Andrés Island, Santo Domingo, and Victoria. Yet, more work is needed. For instance aspects such as: ecosystem-based management, co-management, reduction of illegal fishing and trade, standardization of indicators, population connectivity including genetic aspects and larvae dispersal are among them. Progress in these areas will require this cooperation to continue. Page KEY WORDS: Strombus gigas, GCFI, collaborative work Occupational Hazards of Artisanal Fishers in the US Virgin Islands Peligros Ocupacionales de los Pescadores del Artisanal en los E.E.U.U. Islas Vírgenes Risques Professionnels des Pêcheurs d'Artisanal aux USA Îles Vierges NORMAN QUINN and BARBARA KOJIS Tropical Discoveries, PO Box 305731, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00803 USA. [email protected]. ABSTRACT Fishing is an arduous occupation that provides a livelihood for many independent people in the Caribbean. It plays an important role in the cultural heritage of many Caribbean communities, while providing healthy locally sourced food. This study reports on occupational hazards and the safety aspects of artisanal fishing in the US Virgin Islands and tracks the dive profile of a representative commercial diver. Safety awareness, adequate training, safe vessels, adequate equipment and an established system for search and rescue are essential to control the risks of fishing in the open ocean. The safety of fishermen would improve by having more reliable accident reporting systems in place with better records that are publicly available. This information would help identify the causes of accidents and focus efforts on where problems exist so as to reduce the number of accidents and deaths. KEY WORDS: Occupational safety, OSHA, decompression sickness, US Coast Guard, first aid Is the Fishery of the Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides) at Risk in North-West Yucatan? Effects Due the to Presence of a Parasitic Isopod ¿Está en Riesgo la Pesquería de la Xlavita (Lagodon rhomboides) en el Noroccidente de Yucatán? Efectos Debidos a la Presencia de un Isópodo Parásito Est-cela Pêche de le sar Salème (Lagodon rhomboides) à Risque dans le Nord-Ouest du Yucatán? Les Effets dus a la Présence d'un Isopode Parasitaire ALEJANDRO RAMÍREZ-ROJAS, JOSÉ LUIS BONILLA-GÓMEZ, XAVIER CHIAPPA-CARRARA, and DANIEL ARCEO-CARRANZA UMDI Sisal, UNAM Pto. de abrigo s/n, Sisal, Hunucma, Yucatan 97356 México. hamatai@unam,mx. ABSTRACT The pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides) caught in the Yucatan coast is usually commercialized in local markets for human consumption. It is also a dominant component of the fish assemblages along the coastal systems of Yucatan, and recently it has been registered as a new host for the parasitic isopod Cymothoa excisa. From 448 collected fishes, 28 were infested with at least one isopod, frequently an adult female. There is a significant relationship BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO between the host and parasites total length; also, significant differences were found in the condition factor between parasitized and non-parasitized fishes. Parasitized fishes reach similar lengths to the ones of non-parasitized individuals, though the presence of the isopod affects negatively the weight of their hosts. KEY WORDS: Pinfish, cymothoid, fishery, parasitism, Yucatan Otolith Morphometric Analysis of Gag (Mycteroperca microlepis) from the Campeche Bank Análisis Morfométrico de los Otolitos del Abadejo (Mycteroperca microlepis) del Banco de Campeche Analyse Morphométrique des Otolithes de Badèche Baillou (Mycteroperca microlepis) du Banc de Campeche XIMENA RENAN1*, JOAQUIN RODRIGO GARZA- PEREZ2, and THIERRY BRULÉ1 CINVESTAV-IPN Unidad Merida, Antigua Carretera a Progreso K. 6, Cordemex. Merida, Yucatan 97310 Mexico. * [email protected]. [email protected]. 2UMDI- Sisal, Facultad de Ciencia,s UNAM Puerto de Abrigo s/n Sisal, Yucatan 97356 Mexico. [email protected]. 1 Aislamiento de Neuropéptidos de los Subproductos de la Pesquería del Octopus maya y sus Implicaciones en el Proceso del Manejo de la Pesquería Isolation of Neuropeptides from the Byproducts of Octopus maya Fishery and their Implications in the Management Process of the Fishery L'isolement de Neuropeptides des Dérivés de Pêcherie dede l'Octopus maya, et son Implication dans le Comportement du Maniement de la Prise DANIELA REYES PEÑALOZA* y SERGIO RODRÍGUEZ MORALES UNAM-Sisal, 3 Pte. 28 30 915B Hunucmá, Yucatán 97355 Mexico. *danielsan24-24@hotmail. [email protected]. RESUMEN El pulpo rojo (Octopus maya) es uno de los recursos pesqueros más importantes de la Península de Yucatán, con capturas anuales 11, 609 toneladas y ganancias de 27 millones de dólares. Sin embargo, en últimas fechas se ha reducido su captura, debido a problemas de sobreexplotación, mareas rojas, entre otros fenómenos. Esta disminución en las capturas no solo ocurre a nivel local, sino a nivel internacional, lo cual ha llevado a utilizar estrategias que ayuden en la utilización eficiente de los recursos capturados. En el caso del pulpo rojo de Yucatán, se utiliza el 90 % de lo capturado, sin embargo, el 10% (aproximadamente 1,010 Ton de vísceras) es lanzado al mar o confinado en un basurero. Dentro de estas vísceras, se encuentran las glándulas salivales posteriores; donde se produce la saliva, que se ha demostrado ser vital en la mayoría de los octópodos, ya que muchos de ellos la utilizan para paralizar y matar a sus presas. De otras especies de cefalópodos, se han aislado moléculas de las glándulas salivales para su empleo como herramientas farmacológicas o medicamentos. Por lo anterior, se realizó un estudio sistemático para demostrar cómo O. maya depreda a sus presas, seguido de la búsqueda de neuropéptidos presentes en las glándulas salivales del pulpo rojo, primero a nivel laboratorio, y luego en condiciones de subproductos de la pesquería. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran que O. maya utiliza el “beso de la muerte”, un nuevo mecanismo de depredación en crustáceos, y que en sus glándulas salivales se producen neuropéptidos que paralizan y matan al cangrejo en menos de 10 minutos. PALABRAS CLAVE: Neuropéptidos, glandulas salivares posteriores, Octopus maya, subproductos, pesquería Page KEY WORDS: Gag, otolith shape, otolith morphometric, stock discrimination 58 ABSTRACT This study, attempts to discriminate stocks by using otolith morphometric and shape. From 1996 to 1999, 235 Gag were sampled from commercial and artisanal fishery catches taken on the Campeche Bank, southern Gulf of Mexico. Both otoliths (sagittae) were removed through the gill arch, alcohol cleaned, stored dry in small paper bags and weighed (weighted average; 0.0001 g). Each left otolith was consistently oriented at a 45°position (sulcusside down, rostrum upwards)and digitally photographed using a stereomicroscope at 4×and 5×equipped with a video camera. Otolith morphometric measurements were obtained using Image-ProâPlus V6 software and included: length, width, area, perimeter, roundness, rectangularity and elliptical perimeter. Otolith shape was determined through Age & Shape software using 10 wavelets scales (WLT) each one with 512 random measurements per otolith. Gag standard length ranged from 22.7 to 101.0 cm and total weight 245.3 to 20,450.0 g. Ages ranged from 1 to 17 years. Prior to statistical analysis, all 10 WLT scales were standardized by dividing each amplitude by the mean radial otolith length. A PCA showed that WLT0 to WLT6 accounted for 80% of the variability in the data and were used in further analyses. The hierarchical cluster analysis (WPGMA-standardized Euclidean distance) displayed two distinct groups (at a distance of 3.5. The RDA indicates that otolith area was strongly related to fish age, year classes and standard fish length whereas rectangularity, roundness, elliptical perimeter and perimeter related weakly. Otolith length and otolith width were not related to any variable. BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Evaluación de los Stock de Langosta (Panulirus argus) en Diferentes Zonas de Pesca de la Costa de Yucatán y Quintana Roo, México Stock Assessment of Lobster (Panulirus argus) in Different Fishing Zones of the Coast from Yucatan and Quintana Roo, Mexico Èvaluation des stocks de la Langouste (Panulirus argus) de la Pêche dans les Différentes Zones de la Côte du Yucatán et de Quintana Roo, au Mexique GLORIA VERÓNICA RÍOS LARA1*, CARLOS ZETINA MOGUEL2, AURORA RAMÍREZ ESTEVEZ3, CARLOS AGUILAR CARDOZO4, y KARLA ZETINA RIOS5 1 Instituto Nacional de Pesca, A. P. 73 Progreso, Yucatán 97320 México. *[email protected]. 2Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Av. Industrias no Contaminantes por Periférico Norte. Mérida, Yucatán, México. [email protected]. 3Instituto Nacional de Pesca Matamoros # 7 Puerto Morelos Quintana Roo 77580 México [email protected]. 4Instituto Nacional de Pesca, Estación Biológica Isla Mujeres, Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, México. [email protected]. 5ITESO, Periférico Sur Manuel Gómez Morín No. 8585, Tlaquepaque, Jalisco 45604 México. [email protected]. ABSTRACT La explotación de langosta P. argus en la Península de Yucatán se lleva a cabo en un área muy extensa, en la cual existen diferencias en términos de distribución del recurso, distribución del esfuerzo, forma de captura, nivel organizativo de las comunidades pesqueras, políticas de manejo local y federal y la demanda en el mercado local nacional e internacional. Para fines de manejo, se ha planteado dividir las zonas de explotación y analizar la pesquería en cada zona de pesca y obtener puntos de referencia, con base en la información existente en cada una de ellas. En este documento se presentan los resultados obtenidos en evaluaciones recientes realizadas para la Plataforma de Yucatán y la zona norte (Holbox) y noreste en las costas de Quintana Roo (Isla Mujeres). Para evaluar la población en la Plataforma de Yucatán se utilizó un modelo dinámico, no-lineal, y estructurado por edades y para la zona NorteNoreste se construyó un modelo de rendimiento excedente. Para la Plataforma de Yucatán se estimó la biomasa inicial B0 = 1, 636 t con una desviación estándar de 52.5 t y la tasa de explotación F = 0.49. Para la zona Norte-Noreste se obtuvieron estimaciones de la capacidad de carga K = 6 557 t, con una tasa intrínseca de crecimiento r = 0.141, resultando un rendimiento máximo sostenible RMS = 232 t. Estas evaluaciones deben ser revisadas con frecuencia. PALABRAS CLAVE: Panulirus argus, langosta, evaluación, manejo, Peninsula de Yucatán 59 El Uso de Imágenes Satelitales para la Determinación de Clorofila y su Relación con la Marea Roja en las Costas del Estado de Yucatán, México Page The Use of Satellite Images for the Determination of Chlorophyll and Its Relationship with the Red Tide in the Coasts of the State of Yucatán, Mexico L'Utilisation des Images Satellite pour la Détermination de la Chlorophylle et sa Relation avec la Marée Rouge dans les Côtes de l'Etat du Yucatán, Mexique LUIS. A. RODRIGUEZ GIL*, C.F. REYES SOSA, S.L. NAHUAT DZIB, y J.L. GIOGANA FIGUERO JORGE TELLO CETINA Laboratorio Aprovechamiento Recursos Marinos, Instituto Tecnológico de Mérida, Km5. Carretera Mérida-Progreso, Merida, Yucatan 97118 Mexico. [email protected]. RESUMEN La Marea Roja es un fenómeno natural y espontáneo caracterizado por un aumento de la concentración de ciertos organismos componentes del Plancton. La marea roja se presenta principalmente en verano y a aumentado su periodicidad en los años: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008 y 2011 que provocaron grandes pérdidas en el sector pesquero y turístico. Por lo que, el objeto de este estudio fue determinar la concentración de clorofila y la temperatura con el uso de imágenes satelitales y relacionar estos parámetros con la presencia o ausencia de marea roja. Para validar la información de las imágenes satelitales se tomaron muestras durante los años 2010 y 2011, a través de una red de estaciones comprendida entre Celestun y Dzilam de Bravo, a lo largo de la costa de Yucatán. Las muestras colectadas fueron analizadas en los laboratorios de Aprovechamiento de Recursos Marinos del Instituto Tecnológico. Dos fases fueron realizadas, la primera, abarcó el análisis los productos como resultado de las imágenes satelitales en el laboratorio para ubicar los sitios de mayor concentración de clorofila. La segunda fase de validación consistió en tomar muestras de agua de mar solamente en los sitios ya ubicados para determinar en el laboratorio la química del agua y la concentración de clorofila. Estos resultados permiten economizar en los gastos del muestreo y previenen con antelación la presencia de marea roja. Las densidades de células de cada especie se presentaron inferiores al límite de referencia de la NOM-005-SSA12001. Por lo que, se concluye que durante los años 2011 se detectó la presencia de la marea roja y durante el año de 2010 no se presentó en las costas del estado de Yucatán. PALABRAS CLAVE: Marea roja, imagines satelitales BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Descripción de la Pesquería ", Peces de la pesca" en el Archipiélago de San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina, Reserva de la Biosfera Seaflower Description of the Fishery, "Finfish fishery" in the Archipelago of San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina, Biosphere Reserve Seaflower Description de la Pêche « la Pêche des Poissons » dans l'Archipel de San Andrés, Providencia et Santa Catalina, Réserve de la Biosphère Seaflower ANTHONY ROJAS*, HUGO WILSON , ERICK CASTRO, y CLINTON POMARE Secretaría de Agricultura y Pesca Francisco Newball, Edificio Coral Palace San Andres Islas, San Andres Colombia. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. RESUMEN La pesca de escama en el Archipiélago de San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina, Reserva de Biosfera Seaflower, se desarrolla a escala artesanal e industrial, y se caracteriza por ser multiespecífico en las especies capturadas (más de 70 especies), empleando varios tipos de artes y métodos de pesca en varios tipos de flotas pesqueras. La pesca artesanal emplea como principal arte la línea de mano y anzuelo con varios métodos derivados (troleo, pesca a media agua y pesca de profundidad), y en menor proporción se emplea el buceo con el uso del arpón, y por ultimo las nasas. Por su parte, la pesca industrial emplea como artes el reel (palangre vertical), el longline (palangre horizontal de fondo) y las nasas. La producción realizada por la flota industrial entre el 2001y el 2005 oscila entre los 300- 350 tn anuales, a partir del 2006 la captura no sobrepasa los 200 tn. Se cuenta con poca información sobre la composición de especies de las capturas industriales, la cual está dirigida a su la mayor parte a la extracción de peces de la familia Lutjanidae (pargos) y Serranidae (meros y chernas). Para la Pesca Artesanal la producción entre el 2004 y el 2006 oscila entre 100 y 110 Tn, sin embargo desde el 2007 se evidencia un incremento de hasta 100% de la captura, captura que corresponden en su mayor parte a la especies: Thunnus atlanticus, Katsuwonus pelamis, Makaira nigricans, Acanthocybium solandri, Coryphaena hippurus, Sphyraena barracuda, Elagatis bipinnulata, Ocyurus chrysurus, Canthidermis sufflamen, Lutjanus jocu. LUIS ALBERTO ROSADO-ESPINOSA1*, ILEANA ORTEGON-AZNAR2, y MIGUEL RUIZ ZARATE CCBA-UADY, Km 15.5 Carr. Mérida-Xmatkuil, A.P. 4-116, Merida, Yucatan 97100 Mexico. *[email protected]. [email protected]. 2 Licenciatura en Biología Marina, CCBA Universidad Autónoma de Yucatan Km 15.5 carr Mérida Xmatkuil A.P. 4-116. Mérida , Yucatán C.P. 97100 México. [email protected] 1 RESUMEN Durante la época de frentes fríos la actividad pesquera en las costas de Yucatán disminuye, mientras que una gran cantidad de biomasa algal arriba a las costas provenientes de mantos marinos. La colecta y uso por parte de los pescadores podría ser una actividad económica alternativa durante esos periodos. Sin embargo poco se sabe sobre los mantos algales, como su composición, ubicación y área que abarcan. Se obtuvo una imagen Landsat ETM+ en abril del 2010, clasificándose 14 ambientes no supervisados por el método ISODATA y se eligieron al azar 58 puntos para realizar la supervisión en campo. Para corroborar los ambientes se realizaron videotransectos de 50m en cada una de las coordenadas y colectas para confirmar la identidad de las especies, cada video se desfragmentó en fotogramas con el programa Pinnacle Studio V. 14. Posteriormente se identificó las especies y se realizó el listado de las especies de algas presentes en la zona. Se utilizó el Programa ArcGis 9.3 para obtener el área de cada polígono o ambiente. Se encontró un total de 74 especies de macroalgas. En la imagen satelital se verificó el ensamble de algas en cada comunidad, disminuyéndose el número de clases a nueve. En las zonas más profundas las comunidades de algas fueron conformadas principalmente por Sargassum spp. En los sitios de profundidad media se encontró una comunidad de algas rojas conformada estructuralmente por algas carragenofítas y en las zonas de menor profundidad la vegetación va disminuyendo. La obtención de esta información sienta bases ecológicas para la identificación, uso y manejo de un recurso natural renovable potencialmente aprovechable por las poblaciones humanas costeras de Yucatán. PALABRAS CLAVE: Mantos algales, recurso renovable, aprovechamiento, ANP, Dzilam de Bravo Page Caracterización Estructural de los Mantos Algales como Recurso Natural Explotable en el Area Natural Protegida de Dzilam de Bravo, Yucatán Structural Characterization of Algal Beds as a Natural Exploitable Resource in the Natural Protected Area of Dzilam de Bravo, Yucatan Une caractÉrisation Structurelle des Lits de Algues Comme Ressource Naturelle pour une Utilisation dans la Zone Naturelle Protégée du Dzilam de Bravo, dans le Yucatán 60 PALABRAS CLAVE: Pesqueria, San Andres Islas, Seaflower, pesca de escamas BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Estado de la Población del Camarón Rosado (Farfantepenaeus notialis) e Impacto de la Pesquería de Arrastre en el Caribe Colombiano Status of the Pink Shrimp Population (Farfantepenaeus notialis) and Impact of the Trawl Fishery in the Colombian Caribbean Sea Seaetat de la Population de Crevettes Roses (Farfantepenaeus notialis) et l’Impact de laPêche au Chalut dans la Mer des CaraÏbes Colombiennes MARIO RUEDA* y JORGE VIAÑA INVEMAR, Cerro de Punta Betin, Santa Marta, Magdalena 1016 Colombia. *[email protected]. [email protected]. RESUMEN Hasta 2010 la flota de arrastre de camarón ha permanecido activa por 38 años en el Caribe de Colombia, mostrando signos de sobre-explotación e impacto sobre la biodiversidad marina. Este trabajo con base en reconstrucción de series históricas de captura y esfuerzo de pesca y monitoreo abordo durante 2010, evaluó el estado del recurso y el impacto de la flota de arrastre sobre la biodiversidad. Los desembarcos mostraron que más del 70% correspondieron al camarón rosado (Farfantepenaeus notialis). La dinámica de la pesquería mostró las fases de crecimiento, plena explotación, sobre-explotación, colapso y probable recuperación del recurso. El comportamiento del esfuerzo explicó esta dinámica a través de una fase de incremento significativo hasta 1991 (r = 0,62; p<0,05) y posterior decaimiento (r = 0,84; p<0,05). El análisis de abundancia relativa mostró una tendencia monotónica decreciente (r = 0,88; p<0,05), la cual evidenció que durante parte de la historia de la pesquería está rebasó su máximo rendimiento sostenible. Un modelo no lineal de rendimiento excedente corroboró la ocurrencia de estados entre sobre-explotación, colapso y probable recuperación. El efecto del arrastre sobre la estructura poblacional de F. notialis indicó que 13% de las capturas inciden sobre individuos inmaduros. El efecto sobre la biodiversidad mostró que la flota en 2010 capturó 149 taxa en la fauna acompañante, mientras que la relación captura objetivo vs. fauna acompañante fue 1:12. Se sugieren estrategias de manejo que incluyen el aumento de la selectividad de las redes de arrastre y una reducción significativa del esfuerzo de pesca. PALABRAS CLAVE: Shrimp, trawl fishing, population status, fishing impact, Colombian Caribbean Sea Page 61 Dinámica Poblacional del Pez León (Pterois volitans) en El Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak (PNAX), Quintana Roo, Caribe Mexicano Lion Fish Population Dynamics (Pterois volitans) In Xcalak Reefs National Park (PNAX), Quintana Roo, Mexican Caribbean Dinamique des Populations des Poisson Lion (Pterois volitans) Dans le Parc Nationale Récifs Des Xcalak (PNAX), Quintana Roo, Mexicaine Caraïbes MIGUEL MATEO SABIDO ITZÁ1* , JORGE MANUEL GÓMEZ POOT2 , ALEJANDRO MEDINA QUEJ1 , MARÍA DEL CARMEN GARCÍA RIVAS2 y WADY HADAD LÓPEZ2 1 Instituto Tecnológico de Chetumal Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak-CONANP Ave. Insurgentes 330 Col. David Gustavo Gutiérrez Chetumal, Q.Roo 77013 México [email protected], [email protected] 2Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas Ave. Insurgentes No. 445 Edif. SEMARNAT Chetumal, Quintana Roo 77039 México [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] RESUMEN El pez león (Pterois volitans.) es la primera especie exótica-invasora en establecerse en el Caribe Mexicano. Actualmente no son claros los efectos que tendrá esta especie sobre las comunidades marinas del Caribe Mexicano, pero se realizan numerosos intentos por conocer estos en este su nuevo hábitat. En el Parque Nacional Xcalak se han obtenido un total de 2554 capturas de 2009 a 2011, con medias por año de 118, 133 y 178 mm de LT respectivamente; los datos de capturas están debidamente georeferenciados dentro del ANP. De acuerdo al hábitat se ha divido en dos zonas de importancia ecológica,a) laguna arrecifal LA y b) arrecife profundo AP, encontrándose hasta ahora que la talla promedio en LA fue de 127 mm LT y en AP fue de 206 mm de LT. También se sexaron 1923 peces y por medio de la prueba estadística χ2 obtuvimos que las proporciones de sexo son iguales. De igual manera se determinó el tipo de crecimiento de la especie por medio de una relación potencial mediante las variables longitud-peso para cada sexo, resultando ser de tipo alométrico. Por último se realizó un análisis de los parámetros de crecimiento por métodos indirectos, mediante la aplicación del programa informático FISAT, obteniéndose diferencias significativas en el tamaño y la tasa de crecimiento entre sexos.Se espera que con los resultados obtenidos podamos establecer estrategias de control de esta especie para proteger el ecosistema arrecifal del ANP, siendo este estudio un primer paso al entendimiento del pez invasor en la zona. PALABRAS CLAVE: pez león, caribe mexicano, xcalak, proporción de sexos, parámetros de crecimiento BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Conspicuous Consumption and the Hidden Costs of Luxury Seafood El Consumo Conspicuo y los Costos Ocultos de Marisco de Lujo La Consommation Ostentatoire et les Couts Cachés de Fruits de Mer De Luxe YVONNE SADOVY University of Hong Kong Society for the Conservation of Reef Fish Aggreg School of Biological Sciences, Pok Fu Lam Road Hong Kong, 0000 China [email protected], Comparative Analysis Of Fishing Operations Of Fleets That Catch Red Octopus (Octopus maya) In The Yucatan Shelf, Mexico Analyse Comparative des Méthodes de Fonctionnement et la Quasi-rente flottilles Octopus Rouge (Octopus maya) sur la Peninsula du Yucatan, Mexique SILVIA SALAS1, JULIA RAMOS-MIRANDA2 , EVA CORONADO1, DOMINGO FLORES-HERNÁNDEZ2, MIGUEL ANGEL CABRERA1 y, MAURILIA PÉREZ-SÁNCHEZ FANCISCO GÓMEZ-CRIOLLO 1 CINVESTAV Km 6 Antigua carretera a Progreso Merida, Yucatan 97310 Mexico [email protected], 2EPOMEX-UAC Av. Agustín Melgar s/n, entre Juan de la Barrera y Calle 20 Col. Campeche, Campeche 24039 México [email protected], CINVESTAV Carretera Antigua a Progreso Km 6 Mérida Yucatán 97310 México [email protected], EPOMEX-UAC Av. Agustín Melgar s/n, entre Juan de la Barrera y Calle 20 Col. CampecheCampeche 24039 México [email protected] CINVESTAV Carretera Antigua a Progreso Km 6 MéridaYucatán 97310 México [email protected] EPOMEX-UAC Av. Agustín Melgar s/n, entre Juan de la Barrera y Calle 20 Col. Campeche Campeche 24039 México [email protected] EPOMEX-UAC Av. Agustín Melgar s/n, entre Juan de la Barrera y Calle 20 Col. Campeche Campeche 24039 México RESUMEN La pesquería de pulpo en Yucatán y Campeche, México, es relevante a nivel nacional y regional al generar empleos y por su aporte económico. Esta ha atraído a un gran número de personas a través del tiempo. En este estudio se analizan las formas de operación de tres flotas en términos del esfuerzo de pesca (f), la captura por unidad de esfuerzo (CPUE) y la cuasi-renta (beneficios menos costos de viaje). La información analizada proviene de entrevistas mensuales aplicadas a pescadores en ocho puertos en Yucatán y Campeche. Esta información incluye: tiempo y área de pesca, costos de viaje, precio del pulpo, capturas, edad de pescador, y experiencia de pesca. El tiempo de pesca mostró una relación significativa con la captura de pulpo para la flota menor y mediana, los viajes se correlacionaron más con las capturas en el caso de flota mayor. No se observaron diferencias significativas en la experiencia de los pescadores por puerto y tipo de flota. En Yucatán la mayor intensidad de (f) se ejerció al inició de la temporada de pesca por las flotas mayor y mediana y al final de la temporada por la flota menor. En Campeche la mayor intensidad de f se observó a mitad de la temporada y disminuyó al final. Los precios de pulpo variaron a lo largo de la temporada y para los diferentes puertos, los costos de viaje fueron bajos y la cuasi-renta por pescador fue positiva y variable por puerto y mes ($100 a $400.00/día), pero mayor que un salario mínimo diario. Esto muestra los incentivos que atraen más pescadores a la pesquería y la razón para mantenerse en ella. PALABRAS CLAVE: Pulpo, CPUE, quasi-renta, interacción de flotas, Península de Yucatán Page Análisis Comparativo de Formas de Operación y Cuasi-Renta de Flotas que Capturan Pulpo Rojo (Octopus maya), en la Península de Yucatán, México 62 ABSTRACT Most of us enjoy seafood but few know much of its provenance, how it is caught or shipped or the impacts of fishing on reef ecosystems and the fishing communities that depend on them. The talk will explore the growing appeal and marketing of high-priced seafood around the world, the implications of the luxury seafood trade on marine ecosystems, socio-economics, the special management and conservation challenges where luxury goods are concerned. It will also cover the role of mariculture. Two case studies will be explored to demonstrate the growing interconnectedness of world markets in high-value natural resources; the live reef food fish trade (LRFFT), centred largely in Hong Kong and Mainland China, and the global trade in luxury invertebrates. The histories and trends in these trades will be discussed and possible solutions explored. The markets, shops and restaurants of Hong Kong, a global trade centre for marine products, care full of fishes and invertebrates that come from reefs around the world. Although historically the Pacific and Southeast Asia were major sources of luxury seafood for the markets of China, reports of Caribbean fishes and invertebrates in the trade are increasing. Species include endemics from the far reaches of the planet, and charismatic giant fish or invertebrates threatened with extinction. These range from groupers that form spawning aggregations which are targeted and easily decimated by fishing for the live fish trade, to the spectacular Napoleon fish and Goliath grouper, the biggest of all reef fishes, to invertebrates such as abalone and sea cucumber, or ‘beche de mer’. The marine footprint of these trades appears to be unsustainable at current levels of consumption, and controls on them minimal. Both national and international efforts by different sectors of Society are needed to address the challenges. BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Análisis Sobre Riesgos y Accidentes en Pesquerías Artesanales en el Sureste de México Analysis of Accidents and Risk Conditions in Artisanal Fisheries in the Southeast Coast of Mexico Analyse des Risques et des Accidents dans la Pêche Artisanale dans le sud du Mexique SILVIA SALAS, JORGE EUAN-ÁVILA , LUIS ALBERTO MUÑOZ , EVA CORONADO LEOPOLDO PALOMO-CORTÉS Cinvestav Km 6 Antigua carretera a Progreso Merida, Yucatan 97310 Mexico [email protected] CINVESTAV Km 6 antigua carretera a Progreso Mérida, Yucatán 97310 México [email protected] Universidad Riviera Cd. Carmen Quintana Roo México [email protected] CINVESTAV Km 6 antigua carretera a Progreso MéridaYucatán 97310 México [email protected] CINVESTAV Km 6 antigua carretera a Progreso MéridaYucatán 97310 México [email protected] RESUMEN En este estudio, se analizan las operaciones de la flota ribereña en Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán y Quintana Roo, México, orientado a recabar información sobre tiempo y zonas de pesca, accidentes más comunes y quien ayuda a los pescadores en condiciones de riesgo. La información fue colectada mediante talleres participativos con representantesde 17 instituciones de gobierno y educativas, información histórica de accidentes y a través de entrevistas aplicadas a pescadores en 15 puertos. Se reportan los accidentes más comunes en los cuatro estados y los accidentesparticulares para cada zona ytipo de pesquería, así como los procedimientos y acciones de los pescadores ante estas situaciones. Igualmente se explora en torno a la percepción de los pescadores ante condiciones de riesgo en su actividad. Los resultados muestran diferencias en el tiempo de pesca por puerto (7-10 horas) y la distancias de la costa (15- 20 millas). Se registraron12 tipos de accidentes o condiciones de riesgoscomunes en los cuatro Estados, siendo las fallas mecánicas, las lesiones con equipo de pesca y los robos, los más frecuentes. Se reportan riesgos específicos por zonasy tipo de pesquería, como los choques con barcos cargueros en Tabasco y Campeche ydescompresión porbuceo en el caso de la pesca de langosta en Yucatán y Quintana Roo. Se observo que en la mayoría de los casos los pescadores consideran a las cooperativas, permisionarios y familiares como la primera opción deayuda en condiciones de riesgo. Se discuten las estrategias de seguridad de los pescadores ante las emergencias y se proponen planes de acción que podrían ayudar a reducir los riesgos en las operaciones de pescaen la region. Page 63 PALABRAS CLAVE: En este estudio, se analizan las operaci, accidentes, flota ribereña, estrategias de seguridad, México Network analysis of two stakeholder organisations involved in the governance of the fishing industry of Trinidad and Tobago Análisis de red de dos organizaciones de actores implicadas en la gestión de la industria pesquera de Trinidad y Tobago Analyse du réseau de deux organismes d’intervenants impliqués dans la gouvernance de l’industrie de la pêche de Trinidad et Tobago KEISHA SANDY* and NICOLE LEOTAUD Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) Building 7, Unit #8 Fernandes Industrial Estate Laventille, NA NA Trinidad and Tobago [email protected]; [email protected] ABSTRACT In 2008, researchers collected data on the Monitoring and Advisory Committee on the Fisheries of Trinidad and Tobago (MAC) and the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Fisherfolk (TTUF) organisation to determine the characteristics of networks that are relevant to resilience and adaptability of fisheries governance. The research also examined the kinds of interventions and governance structures that have been effective in enhancing adaptive capacity and enabling self-organisation. The MAC is a Cabinet-appointed body that includes both direct and indirect stakeholders of the fishing industry, while the TTUF is the umbrella organisation that represents the primary fisherfolk organisations of Trinidad and Tobago. The study used social network analysis metrics such as density, network centralisation, degree centrality and homophily to investigate whether the networks of both organisations had features that facilitated resilience. KEYWORDS: adaptive management, fisheries, governance, resilience, social network analysis BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Distribución y Abundancia del ensamble de gasterópodos en Relación a Variables Ambientales en el Banco de Campeche, México Distribution and Abundance of Benthic Gastropod Assemblage in Relation to Environmental Variables in the Campeche Bank, Mexico Distribution et Abondance des Gasteropodes en relation aux Variables Environnementaux dans le Bank de Campeche, Mexique JOSEFINA SANTOS1*, JAVIER BELLO2, MARTHA ENRIQUEZ DÍAZ2 , and DALILA ALDANA ARANDA1 CINVESTAV Carretera Antigua a Progreso Km 6 Mérida, Yucatán 97310 México [email protected], [email protected] 2Universidad Veracruzana Av. Independencia No. 30, Boca del Río, Veracruz Veracruz, Veracruz 94290 México [email protected], 1 [email protected]; 1 RESUMEN La distribución y la abundancia de los gasterópodos en la Sonda de Campeche, México son descritas en relación con los factores ambientales, usando análisis de correspondencia canónico (CCA). En 2009 se realizaron 120 transectos lineales de 150 x 1.5 m, entre las coordenadas 20° 50’ 06’’ LN y 90° 24’ 30’’ LO, hasta 19° 15’ 30’’ LN y 90° 49’ 00’’ LO, frente a Isla Arena, Tenabo, Campeche y Champotón. En cada sitio se midieron los organismos, registrando profundidad, temperatura, oxígeno disuelto, salinidad. Se realizaron colectas de sedimento para determinar el porcentaje de materia orgánica y diámetro de partícula. La especie con mayor distribuciónfue Turbinella angulata presente en 65% de las estaciones, con densidad de 0.0017 ind/m2. Busycon perversum presente 25% de los transectos con densidad de 0.0009 ind/m2;Strombus costatus y Pleuroploca gigantea fueron observados en 6% de las estaciones, con densidades de 0.0001 ind/m2 en ambas especies; Strombus pugilis se presentó en 13% de los cuadrantes, con la más alta densidad 0.0716 ind/m2. Se presentan índices de diversidad y riqueza de especies. Los patrones de abundancia relativa fueron asociados a gradientes ambientales. S. pugilisse asoció a profundidades de 8 a 16 m, arena fina y contenido materia orgánica (> 6 mg/g). Para S. costatus la abundancia estuvo asociada con arena media y contenido de materia orgánica (> 7.5 mg/g). No se observaron gradientes ambientales asociados la distribución y abundancia de los gasterópodos carnívoros (Turbinella angulata, Busycon perversum Strombus pugilis) en la Sonda de Campeche. Dynamique Historique de la Pêche Industrielle Multi-espèces de poissons dans la réserve de biosphère Seaflower, Caraïbes Colombiens ADRIANA SANTOS-MARTÍNEZ1, CLINTON POMARE2, and MARIO RUEDA3 Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Caribe - San Luis Free Town San Andrés, Archipiélago Colombia [email protected], 2Secretaria de Agricultura y Pesca Gobenación del Departamento Archipiélago San Andrés , Colombia [email protected], 3Instituto dnvestigaciones Marinas y Costeras Punta Betín Santa Marta Colombia [email protected] 1 RESUMEN Se analizó la dinámica histórica de la pesca industrial multiespecies de peces del Archipiélago de San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina, Caribe colombiano (ASPC) - Reserva de Biosfera Seaflower, con el propósito de conocer el desempeño de la pesquería y aportar medidas de manejo. La información, procedente de instituciones nacionales públicas y privadas, correspondió a desembarcos entre los años 1996 y 2010. La comunidad íctica en el área de estudio se estimó en 270 especies, propias del trópico (alta diversidad y baja abundancia); siendo objeto de explotación por pesca el 25% de las especies, pero solo 10 de ellas representan el 60% de las capturas. De los 15 años analizados se obtuvo que la captura promedio anual fue cercana a 188 t (rango: de 336 t en 1996 a 49,6 t en 2010), mientras que la captura por unidad de esfuerzo (CPUE) fue 150 kilos/día; no obstante, se identificó una tendencia significativa en la disminución de la abundancia relativa de peces. Adicionalmente en la última década se determinó un patrón intra-anual, con valores intercalados de CPUE: mayores valores en abril, julio y septiembre, mientras menores valores durante los picos climáticos. Con respecto a los años anteriores, los promedios de captura anual bajaron en 19% y en CPUE en 7%. Dicho patrón es similar a las tendencias de otras pesquerías como la de langosta y caracol en ASPC. El esfuerzo de pesca dirigido a los peces, fue mayor con el palangre vertical ó reel (46%), seguido por la línea (long line 33%). Se requiere hacer investigación más detallada de las principales especies, con fines de evaluar el estado de las principales poblaciones. PALABRAS CLAVE: Pesquería multiespecies de peces, Pesca industrial, Reserva Biosfera Seaflower, Colombia, Caribe Page Dinámica Histórica de la Pesca Industrial Multiespecies de Peces en la Reserva de Biosfera Seaflower, Caribe Colombiano Historical Dynamics of Industrial Fishing in Multispecies Fish Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, Colombian Caribbean 64 PALABRAS CLAVE: distribución, abundancia, gasterópodos, variables ambientales, análisis multivariado BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO The Recreational For-Hire Sector in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico: Structural and Economic Observations from the Third Decadal Survey El Sector de Alquiler de Barcos para la Pesca Recreativa en el Golfo de México de los Estados Unidos: Observaciones Estructurales y Económicas de la Tercera Encuesta Decadal Location de Bateaux de Pêche de loisir dans le Golfe du Mexique aux Etats-Unis: Observations Structurelles et Économiques de la Troisième Enquête Décennale MICHELLE A. SAVOLAINEN1 and REX H. CAFFEY2 Louisiana State Univ. AgCenter & Dept. of Agricu Louisiana Sea Grant College Program & CNREP 1 Woodin Hall, Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA [email protected], 2Louisiana State Univ. AgCenter & Dept. of Agricultural Economics Louisiana Sea Grant College Program & CNREP 179 Woodin Hall, Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA 70803-5603 USA [email protected] 1 ABSTRACT Cross-sectional surveys of the recreational for-hire (RFH) industry in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico were sponsored by NOAA Fisheries and jointly conducted by Texas A&M and the University of Florida in 1988 and 1998. The third decadal survey, conducted by Louisiana State University in 2010, collected effort, economic, and policy data for the calendar year 2009. Questionnaires were distributed to 2,305 captains in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and West Florida with a response rate of 33% (n=689) via postal (75%) and internet (25%) participation. Consistent with earlier studies, owner-operators comprised the majority (76%) of respondents, with 96% operating uninspected passenger vessels (OUPV), a management unit NOAA refers to as “charter boats”. The remaining 4% operated U.S. Coast Guard inspected vessels, or “head boats”, down from 9% and 7% observed in the 1988 and 1999 surveys, respectively. Potential explanations for this apparent decrease include regulatory reductions on reef species, competition from the expanding charter boat sector, and sampling differences among decadal surveys. While previous survey efforts were limited to the offshore, federal fleet, the advent of a comprehensive, state-based license frame allowed for improved characterization of the RFH industry. “Guide boats” are a subcategory of uninspected, inshore/coastal charter vessels that represent a sizable, yet previously under-emphasized, management unit. These operations accounted for 71% of Gulf vessels in 2009 and more than 52% of the region’s estimated $211 million in dockside revenue. Structural and economic profiles for these subsectors are provided by state and region with longitudinal comparisons to earlier Gulf-wide surveys. Page 65 KEYWORDS: recreational for-hire, fishing, socioeconomic, survey, Gulf of Mexico Abundance and Size Frequency of Corallivores in Acropora cervicornis Aquaculture Farms In Culebra, Puerto Rico Abundancia y Frecuencia de Tamaño de los Coralivoros Habitando las Siembras de Acropora cervicornis en Culebra, Puerto Rico Abondance et Fréquences de Tailles des Corallivores dans Acropora cervicornis Fermes Aquacoles à Culebra, Porto Rico SANDRA SCHLEIER Sociedad Ambiente Marino PO BOX 9581 Carolina, P.R. 00988 Puerto Rico [email protected] ABSTRACT In response to coral reef decline, many coral aquaculture methods have been engineered to help restore the reefs to optimal conditions. Low-tech Acropora cervicornis aquacultures have been surprisingly successful in Culebra, Puerto Rico with colonies growing up to 4cm in a month. This success is being threatened by increasing populations of corallivores, colonizing and damaging A. cervicornis tissue. To access abundance and size frequency we removed each corallivore found on the colonies and measured them. Abundance was 120.2 ind/sec (individuals per section of colonies) and size frequency ranged from 5.8mm to 21.9mm. These preliminary results will contribute to the ongoing investigation to control the corallivore infestation and protect A. cervicornis colonies. KEY WORDS: Corallivores, Acropora BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO An in situ Visual Mark-Recapture Method to Assess the Abundance of Spawners at an Aggregation Site Un in situ Visual De Marcado y Recapture Método Para Evaluar la Abundancia de Reproductores en un Sitio de Agregación Une in situ Visuelle de Marquage-Recapture Méthode pour Évaluer l’Abondance des Géniteurs à un Site d’Agrégation BRICE SEMMENS1, PHILLIPE BUSH2, SCOTT HEPPELL3, CHRISTY PATTENGILL-SEMMENS4, CROY MCCOY2, and BRADLEY JOHNSON2 1 Scripps Institute of Oceanography University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla, CA 92093-0202 USA [email protected], 2 Department of Environment, Cayman Islands Government P.O. Box 486GT Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, 3Oregon State University Department of Fisheries and Wildlife 104 Nash Hall Corvallis Oregon USA, 4REEF Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) PO Box 246 Key LargoFlorida 33037 USA ABSTRACT In recent years, Caribbean resource management agencies have increasingly sought to establish protections on economically important aggregating tropical marine fishes such as Nassau grouper. Management actions include seasonal closures during spawning, marine protected areas at aggregation sites, and even complete elimination of harvest. Typically, such active management has been precipitated by steep declines in the abundance of the aggregating species, such that classic methods of abundance estimation (e.g. transects) are ineffective due to low densities. The challenge in assessing the effectiveness of such management thus lies largely in the development of accurate estimates of stock size and rebuilding. We will present an in situ visual markrecapture study design that can be used to estimate the total abundance of spawners at an aggregation site. The design takes advantage of the high density and approachability of aggregating grouper by SCUBA divers. Because recent evidence suggesting aggregations represent the totality of spawning stock for the region served by the aggregation site, this method provides an effective index of stock size, and through time, numerical stock response to management actions. KEYWORDS: aggregation, stock assessment, mark recapture, spawning, Nassau grouper Comparaison de Différentes Méthodes d’Examens Scientifiques Employées pour Évaluer les Meilleures Informations Disponibles pour la Gestion des Pêcheries MANOJ SHIVLANI1 and WILLIAM MICHAELS2 Center for Independent Experts NTVI 10600 SW 131 Court Miami, Florida 33186-3455 USA [email protected], 2National Marine Fisheries Service NOAA Office of Science and Technology 1315 East West Hwy, SSMC3, F/ST2 Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 USA [email protected] 1 ABSTRACT Effective fisheries conservation and management measures must be based on the best scientific information available (BSIA), and the scientific peer review process is an integral in the determination of BSIA. The scientific review process may take various forms (e.g., peer review meeting, remote peer reviews), and the degree of implementing peer review standards will often vary depending on how influential the scientific information will be in fisheries management decisions. In the US, the Center for Independent Experts (CIE) provides independent peer review for US National Marine Fisheries Service stock assessments, workshops, and other science; reviews are conducted across all US fishery management regions, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean, and review products serve as advisory outputs to inform management decisions. In this study, the US scientific review process will be compared with peer review systems used by selected fishing nations and intergovernmental organizations. The comparison will highlight the trade-offs associated with the different peer review systems, examining attributes such as the peer review format, degree of independence, the timing of peer reviews in the management process, peer review frequency, peer reviewer selection process, and the use of peer review in decision-making, among others. An attribute matrix will be developed to compare how different management regimes utilize peer review and to provide guidance on how to improve peer review processes to ensure integrity and credibility of scientific information for fisheries management. KEY WORDS: fisheries, peer review, fishery management Page La Comparación de los Procesos de Revisión Científica Utilizada en la Determinación de la Mejor Información Científica Disponible Para la Gestión de la Pesca 66 Comparison of Scientific Review Processes Used in the Determination of Best Scientific Information Available for Fisheries Management BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Conectividad Ecosistémica por Peces Loro Entre Manglar, Praderas Y Arrecifes Coralinos En San Andrés Isla (Reserva De Biósfera Seaflower), En Época De Sequía Ecosystem Connectivity By Parrotfishes Between Mangrove, Seagrass And Coral Reefs In San Andres Island (Biosphere Reserve Seaflower), In Dry Season Connectivité Éosystème par Poissons Perroquets entre Mangrove, Prairies Marines et les Récifs de Corail dans l’Ile de San Andres (Réserve de Biosphère Seaflower) en Époque de Sécheresse OMAR SIERRA ROZO and ADRIANA SANTOS-MARTÍNEZ Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sede Caribe San Luis Free Town San Andrés isla, Colombia [email protected]; [email protected] RESUMEN Fue investigado el enlace funcional entre manglares, pastos marinos y arrecifes de coral para la ontogenia de scáridos en San Andrés isla, Caribe colombiano,en temporada de sequía de 2010. En sitios con diferente asociación de estos hábitats, se evaluó composición, abundancia y estado de desarrollo de los peces en cada biotopo mediante censos visuales con transeptos de banda. Estadísticamente se compararon estas variables entre hábitats y se correlacionaron con atributos físico-químicos y fisiográficos. La estructura íctica entre hábitatsse relacionóusando análisis de similitud.Se observó una riqueza de 10 especies, una abundancia de 707 individuos, y un índice de Shannon de 1,86. La riqueza media en praderas y manglar fue similar, y en arrecifes próximos a estos hábitats fue mayor al igual que la diversidad. Scarus coelestinus, Scarus guacamaia, Scarus iseri, Sparisoma chrysopterum, Sparisoma rubripinne ySparisoma viride presentaron mayor densidad de adultos en arrecifes conectados al manglar y/o praderas, manifestándose patrones de distribución ligados a la ontogenia. El análisis de similitud conformó un grupo con todos los hábitats excepto el arrecife aislado. La profundidad varío entre manglares y praderas aproximadamente un metro, y para arrecifes entre 4-12 m. No hubo diferencias marcadas entre atributos de praderas. Se presentaron diferencias entre arrecifes para la cobertura de cascajo, coral blando y duro, y esponjas (α=0,05), y para la complejidad topogr áfica. Se constató la función como hábitats de cría de manglares y praderas para algunos scáridos, y la influencia de la complejidad del biotopo sobre la composición íctica. Los resultados complementan un estudio reciente en la isla, con igual diseño pero desarrollado en época de lluvias, y son insumo para la gestión de los recursos. PALABRAS CLAVE: Conectividad ecosistémica, peces loro, manglar, pastos marinos, arrecifes coralinos Page 67 Using Available Data and Stakeholder Knowledge to Resolve a Management Dilemma for a Data-Poor Seine Fishery in St. Vincent and The Grenadines Utilizando los Datos Disponibles y el Conocimiento de los Interesados a Resolver un Dilema de Gestión para una Pesquería de Sena Que es Pobre en Datos en San Vicente y Las Granadinas En Utilisant les Données Disponibles et les Connaissances des Acteurs pour Résoudre un Dilemme de Gestion pour une Pêche à La Senne de Plage Qui a Peu de Données à Saint-Vincent et Les Grenadines SUSAN SINGH-RENTON1, MAREN HEADLEY1, and KRIS ISAACS2 Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) Se Third Floor, Corea's Building, Halifax Street Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. [email protected]; [email protected], 2Fisheries Division, Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines [email protected] 1 ABSTRACT St. Vincent’s beach seine fishery harvests mainly two small, pelagic species, mackerel scad, (Decapterus macarellus) and bigeye scad (Selar crumenopthalmus), and provides an affordable supply of essential protein for the local population. In 2005, this fishery also began to supply foreign longline vessels with live bait. While this new market opportunity increased economic benefits, it also caused conflicts among fishers and decreased the amount available to the local food market. Given the data-poor nature of this fishery, a simple approach was used to identify management solutions. Stakeholders were interviewed about selling, purchasing and usage practices, and their views on management solutions. This information was examined jointly with estimates of production and food market sales available for 1999-2008. The results indicated that fish production could not meet the estimated food market demand, and so both markets were competing for the same fish. Mackerel scad was identified as the preferred food species whereas bigeye scad was preferred for bait. Observed monthly fluctuations in gross revenues from both markets depended on production levels and price trends. Management solutions identified included: review of the current mesh size regulation, with adjustment and enforcement; quota limits for the bait market; limitations on the size and number of vessels purchasing bait; limitation of bait sales to bigeye scad and to specific months. Equitable distribution of economic benefits from the bait market, and improvement of market conditions and services to maximize the efficiency and benefits of the food market were also identified as key management priorities. KEYWORDS: small pelagic, seine fishery, data-poor, stakeholder knowledge, fishery management BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Bahamas Lionfish Control Pilot Project: Goals, Challenges, Opportunities and Preliminary Results Bahamas Control Lionfish Proyecto Piloto: Metas, Retos, Oportunidades y Resultados Preliminares Bahamas Lionfish Projet Pilote De Contrôle: Les Objectifs, Défis, Opportunités et les Résultats Préliminaires NICOLA SMITH1, LAKESHIA ANDERSON2 , LAD AKINS3, and STEPHANIE GREEN4 Government of the Bahamas, Ministry of Agricultu Levy Building, East Bay St., Nassau, Bahamas Nassau, P.O. Box N-3 Bahamas [email protected]; 2Bahamas Department of Marine Resources Levy Building, East Bay St. Nassau, P.O. Box N-3 Bahamas [email protected]; 3REEF Environmental Education Foundation 98300 Overseas Hwy Key Largo Florida 33037 USA [email protected]; 4 Dept. of Biol. Sciences, Simon Fraser University 8888 University Drive BurnabyBritish Columbia V5A1S6 Canada [email protected] 1 ABSTRACT Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans) were initially reported in The Bahamas in 2004. By 2007, lionfish adults and juveniles were reported from all major island groups throughout the Bahamian archipelago. In response to growing concerns about the potential negative effects of the invasion on the ecology, economy and human health in the region, The Bahamas initiated a Lionfish Control Pilot Project in 2009 under a wider Caribbean program entitled Mitigating the Threats of Invasive Alien Species in the Insular Caribbean. The project is of four years duration, primarily funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), with additional support and collaboration from local and international governmental, non-governmental, and academic organizations. The Bahamas uses a holistic approach to the invasion which entails: (1) lionfish ecological research, (2) invasive species policy and legislation review, (3) professional training, and (4) public outreach and education. Here, we present the project’s goals and highlight the challenges, opportunities and preliminary results that have emerged two years since its inception. KEYWORDS: Bahamas, invasive species control, lionfish Pesquerías de Meros del Caribe Mexicano. Conocimiento Local y Cuestiones de Manejo Grouper Fisheries in the Mexican Caribbean. Local Knowledge and Management Issues RESUMEN En Quintana Roo, estado que corresponde al Caribe Mexicano, la escama es un recurso multi-específico de relevancia social y económica. Según cifras oficiales, de 2000 a 2008 la escama aportó 76% en volumen y 42% del valor de la captura anual. Los meros, fam. Serranidae, son un componente mayoritario de la escama; no obstante, el conocimiento sobre sus pesquerías es escaso y fragmentario. En este trabajo se revisa la información disponible sobre los meros, con hincapié en el conocimiento local; además de abordar asuntos de manejo. Primero se establece la importancia socio-económica de los meros, las tendencias de sus capturas y diferencias en composición taxonómica a escala local. En la zona norte dominan el mero rojo Epinephelus morio y abadejo blanco Mycteroperca microlepis; mientras que en las zonas central y sur dominan el mero criollo E. striatus y el abadejo-negrillo M. bonaci. Enseguida se presentan piezas de información provinientes del conocimiento local de los pescadores, tales como: i) localización de 59 sitios de agrupación reproductiva en zonas de pesca tradicionales; ii) estacionalidad de la actividad reproductiva de los meros; iii) estado del recurso; y iv) medidas de manejo. Se aprecia un gradiente en la presión de pesca de norte a sur; aunque para el 43% de los pescadores entrevistados la pesca de meros está en crisis. Finalmente se analizan las regulaciones pesqueras vigentes en la región, y se discuten propuestas para fortalecer el manejo encaminadas a lograr el aprovechamiento sustentable de estos valiosos recursos. PALABRAS CLAVE: Serranidae, Epinephelus striatus, Mycteroperca bonaci, Fish spawning aggregations, finfish Page ELOY SOSA-CORDERO and ANGÉLICA RAMÍREZ-GONZÁLEZ El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR) Ave. Centenario Km 5.5 Chetumal, Quintana Roo 77014 Mexico [email protected] El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR) Av. Centenario Km 5.5 Chetumal, --- 77014 Mexico [email protected] 68 Pêcheries de Mérous des Caraïbes du Mexique. Connaissance Locale et Questions Relatives à La Gestión BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO El Pez León Pterois volitans en el sur de Quintana Roo, Mexico. Características de las Poblaciones a partir del Primer Año de Colecta (2009-2010) Lionfish Pterois volitans in southern Quintana Roo, Mexico. Population Characteristics based on the first year of Collection efforts (2009-2010) Poisson volant Pterois volitans dans sud du Quintana Roo, Mexique. Caractéristiques de la population à partir de les Données collectées au cours de la Première année de Relevage (2009-2010) ELOY SOSA-CORDERO1, MARÍA DEL CARMEN GARCÍA-RIVAS2 , NALLELY HERNÁNDEZ3, y GABRIEL MUÑOZ3 ECOSUR Ave. Centenario Km 5.5 Chetumal, Quintana Roo 77014 Mexico [email protected] 2Reserva de la Biosfera Banco Chinchorro-CONANP Insurgentes 445. Col. Magisterial. Chetumal, Quintana Roo 77000 Mexico [email protected], 3Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak Insurgentes 445. Col. Magisterial. Chetumal Quintana Roo 77000 Mexico Reserva de la Biosfera Banco Chinchorro-CONANP Insurgentes 445. Col. Insurgentes. Chetumal Quintana Roo 77000 Mexico RESUMEN En 2009 se registró la presencia del pez león Pterois volitans en Quintana Roo, México. Esto recibió amplia difusión y ocasionó preocupación en sectores productivos, autoridades y académicos. El personal de las áreas naturales (ANPs)-CONANP asumió el liderazgo para enfrentar esta invasión. Entre las primeras acciones comenzó la colecta para eliminar peces león por pescadores, guías de turismo y personal de las ANPs. En este trabajo se analizan datos colectados de Julio 2009 a Agosto de 2010 en dos ANPs del sur de Quintana Roo: Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak (PNAX) y Reserva de la Biosfera Banco Chinchorro (RBBCh). En el PNAX, fueron colectados n= 515 individuos a profundidades de 1 a 53 m. Las tallas variaron entre 20 y 320 mm de longitud total (LT), media (DE) 139.9± 60.31; peso de 0.5 a 394 g, media 61.0± 12.42. La relación peso (P, g)-longitud (L, mm LT) representada por P= aL^b , con a= 0,000010306 y b= 3.04. En la RBBCh fueron colectados n= 297 ejemplares a profundidades de 2 a 23 m. Las tallas variaron entre 62.0 y 330.0 mm LT, media 180.9± 48.69; peso de 9 a 400 g, media 127.3± 27.65. La relación talla-profundidad fue no-lineal en ambas ANPs. Se concluye que la invasión comenzó mucho antes del primer registro. Con base en estos datos se aplican ecuaciones simples para predecir algunos parámetros demográficos de las poblaciones de pez león que han colonizado los hábitats arrecifales de la región PALABRAS CLAVE: Banco Chinchorro, length-weight , body size-depth, Mexican Caribbean Page 69 Distribución Espacio- temporal de la Abundancia y Tallas del Pulpo Rojo Octopus maya (Octopoda: Octopodidade) en la Zona Costera del Estado de Campeche, México Spatiotemporal Distribution of the Abundance and Size of Red Octopus, Octopus maya (Octopoda: Octopodidade) in the Campeche Coastal Zone, Mexico Répartition spatio-temporelle de l’Abundance et Longure Chez le Pulpe Rouge, Octopus maya (Octopoda: Octopodidade) dans la Zone Côtiére de Campeche, Mexique ATAHUALPA SOSA-LOPEZ, LUIS AMADO AYALA-PEREZ, JULIA RAMOS-MIRANDA, SILVIA SALAS-MARQUEZ DANIEL PECH, y DOMINGO FLORES-HERNANDEZ Instituto EPOMEX, Universidad Autónoma de Campec Av Agustin Melgar s/n entre Juan de la Barrera y C-20, Col Buenavista San Francisco de Campeche, Campeche 24039 Mexico [email protected] Departamento El Hombre y su Ambiente. Universidad Autónoma Metrop Calz. del Hueso, Col. Villaquietud 04960 Coyoacan, México Mexico, Mexico 1100 Mexico Instituto EPOMEX, Universidad Autónoma de Campeche Laboratorio Biología Pesquera, CINVESTAV IPN Unidad Mérida MéridaYucatán 97310 Mexico Instituto EPOMEX, Universidad Autónoma de Campeche Instituo EPOMEX, Universidad Autónoma de Campeche RESUMEN Se analiza la distribución espacial y temporal de O. maya y su posible asociación con las condiciones ambientales imperantes en la zona de captura en el norte del estado de Campeche. Se analizan datos de abundancia en densidad y CPUE (Kg·linea-1·h-1), así como de tallas (longitud del manto) registrados mensualmente durante un año y en cuatro zonas de pesca (Isla Arena, San Francisco de Campeche, Seybaplaya y Champotón). La información fue obtenida por medio de la selección y seguimiento a bordo de dos embarcaciones en cada uno de las zonas de pesca . En cada viaje se registró la abundancia y talla de O. maya. Adicionalmente se registró la temperatura y salinidad de la agua, y la profundidad. Los resultados de la variación media del CPUE, muestran que los picos ocurren durante la temporada de pesca (Agosto-Diciembre). En contraste, la CPUE durante la veda fue nula. Los resultados también indicaron que la mayor CPUE se obtiene en la zona de Champotón en septiembre y octubre. La CPUE de nivel más baja se observó en localidad de Seybaplaya en el mes noviembre. Las mayores densidades y mayores tallas se observaron en la zona de Champotón. En el presente trabajo se discute la importancia de la potencial relación entrela distribución espacio-temporal de O. maya con respecto a las condiciones ambientales imperantes en las zonas de captura y la importancia de estos en el manejo integral del recurso. PALABRAS CLAVE: Artisanal Fishery, Caphalopoda, density, biomass, modelling BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Negative Consequences of Allee Effect are Compounded by Fishing Pressure on Queen Conch Las Consecuencias Negativas del Efecto de Allee son Sompuestas Pescando la Presión sobre la Concha de la Reina Des Conséquencias Negativas de l’éffet d’Allee sont composés en Pêchant la Pression sur la Lambi ALLAN STONER1, MARTHA DAVIS2, and CATHERINE BOOKER3 NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center 2030 S. Marine Science Drive Newport, Oregon 97365 USA [email protected]; 2Community Conch 5050 S. Albion St Littleton, CO 80121 USA [email protected]; 3Community Conch 304 E 49th St. Savannah GA 31405 USA [email protected] 1 ABSTRACT Relationships between density of mature adults and mating frequency in queen conch were observed at three sites in the central Bahamas including one notake marine reserve (Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park) and two historically important fishing grounds (Berry Islands and Andros Island). No mating was observed in any one count with density < 47 adults/ha, which is consistent with the established occurrence of a mate-finding Allee effect in queen conch. The unfished reserve site had larger and older conch, and mating frequency increased rapidly with adult density, reaching an asymptote at 12-14% of the population mating at highest density levels. Logistic modeling showed that a 90% probability of mating occurred at 100 adults/ha. Mating frequencies increased more slowly with density on the fishing grounds, with 6.3% of the population in the Berry Islands and only 2.3% at Andros Island mating at the highest density levels. A 90% probability of mating required 570 and 350 adults/ha, respectively, at those fishing grounds. Higher densities required for successful mating in the fished areas were associated with numerical dominance by small, thick-shelled adults representing a shift in population structure that is likely the result of selection imposed by fishing pressure. Lower mating frequencies were observed in populations dominated by this small adult phenotype, compounding the density effect on reproduction. Because releases of hatchery-reared queen conch have not been successful, preserving the integrity of spawner density and population structure will be critical for conch conservation. KEYWORDS: queen conch, reproduction, fishing effects, density-dependence, The Bahamas SAMUEL SULEIMAN Sociedad Ambiente Marino Universidad de Puerto Rico PO Box 22158 San Juan, PR 00931 [email protected] RESUMEN La globalización nos ha permitido conocer aspectos de la economía mundial que antes nos eran desconocidos. El crecimiento desenfrenado de los países ha acelerado el consumo de los recursos existentes. Todos necesitamos o queremos satisfacer nuestras necesidades, gustos y deseos a pesar de lo agotado de los recursos. Los gobiernos y los comercios intentan fallidamente de cumplir con la demanda por medio de importaciones. Estudiamos la naturaleza de los recursos y encontramos detalles tan especializados y específicos de las especies que harían una gran diferencia si se pudieran poner en práctica. La realidad de la ecuación es que hemos gastado lo que no tenemos y no hemos planificado como remediar la situación. Los costos de implementación no permiten que operaciones de cultivo sean costo efectivas. De todos los gastos operacionales el presupuesto mayor se dedica a los recursos humanos. Aunque hay una mayor conciencia de la necesidad de la integración comunitaria cada vez hay menos compromiso en mantener los valores dirigidos hacia la conservación. Desarrollar una estrategia comunitaria adaptativa para el manejo de rehabilitación de los arrecifes por medio de acuacultura de corales con voluntarios como recurso ha demostrado ser una fuente efectiva en la restauración de hábitat necesario para la cría de peces. La incursión de voluntarios en procesos de restauración es crítica para mantener una generación efectiva en tridimensionalidad arrecifal para la protección de juveniles en desarrollo. PALABRAS CLAVE: management strategy, habitat restoration, voluntary participation Variabilidad Genetica Enzimatica y Flujo de Genes del Pulpo Octopus maya en la Península de Yucatán Enzyme Genetic Variability and Gene Flow in Octopus maya from the Yucatan Peninsula Enzyme Variabilite Genetique et Flux de Genes dans Octopus maya Peninsule du Yucatan JORGE TELLO1, GILBERTO SAN1, LUIS RODRIGUEZ1, LETICIA ARENA JOSE ESCAMILLA2, and JOSEFINA SANTOS1 Instituto Tecnológico de Mérida Av. Tecnológico S/N Mérida, Yucatán 97118 México [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] 2Unidad Multidisciplinaria de Docencia e Investigación. UNAM Puerto de Abrigo s/n Sisal. Yucatán SisalYucatan 97854 Mexico [email protected] 1 RESUMEN La electroforesis de isoenzimas fue utilizada para investigar la variabilidad genética en 26 loci codificando a las enzimas correspondientes dentro y entre nueve muestras de Octopus maya colectadas en la península de Yucatán, México. El número medio de alelos por locus, porcentaje de loci polimórficos, la heterocigosis promedio y directa de este molusco fue de: 1.08 ± 0.05 hasta 1. 15 ± 0.04.P 99= 26.9231 hasta 34.6154 %, Hprom= 0.1142 hasta 0.1390 Hdir. = 0.0354 hasta 0.0938 respectivamente. Los parámetros determinados fueron: Estadística descriptiva, Estadística F, Distancias genéticas, Equilibrio de Hardy - Weinberg, UPGMA y el número de migrantes como indicador del flujo de genes. Los valores de heterocigosis, en un rango de 0.3506 para la G6PDH y Page La Participation Volontaire comme Stratégie de Gestion des Coraux Croissant pour la Restauration des Habitats 70 Participación Voluntaria como Estrategia de Manejo en el Cultivo de Corales para la Restauración de Hábitat Voluntary Participation as a Management Strategy in Growing Corals for Habitat Restoration BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO de 0.4793 para la ARGK, con un valor de heterocigosis promedio de 0.1824, los de Fis un valor promedio de 0.5313 y los de Fst de 0.0140 indican una deficiencia de heterocigotos pero que se encuentran dentro de los rangos reportados para especies de invertebrados marinos. El número de migrantes derivado de la ecuación de Slatkin resultó de 2.1 por generación, lo que en forma global indica un cierto grado de variabilidad entre las poblaciones y es consistente con los bajos valores de distancia genética de Nei encontrados, particularmente el nodo que sugiere la separación de la población de Rio Lagartos y de Dzilam Bravo de las otras poblaciones estudiadas, con un valor obtenido de 0.0004. Por los resultados de este estudio, se concluye que las poblaciones de Octopus maya presentan un cierto grado variabilidad genética interpoblacional que no refleja fragilidad en la subsistencia de estas poblaciones. PALABRAS CLAVE: Estructura Genética, Variación Genética, Flujo de Genes, Isoenzimas, Octopus maya Puerto Rican Small Scale Fleet Costs and Earnings Study Estudio sobre Costes e Ingresos de la Pesquería de Pequeña Escala en Puerto Rico Étude de Petits Échelle Flotte de Coûts et Revenus de Puerto Rico FLAVIA TONIOLI1, MANOJ SHIVLANI2, ROBERTO KOENEKE3, and JUAN AGAR4 Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric University of Miami 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway Miami, Florida 33149 USA [email protected]; 2Center for Independent Experts (CIE) NTVI 10600 SW 131 Court Miami, Florida 33186 USA [email protected]; 3 Division of Marine Affairs and Policy University of Miami 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway Miami Florida 33149 USA [email protected]; 4 Southeast Fisheries Science Center NOAA Fisheries 75 Virginia Beach Drive MiamiFlorida 33149 USA [email protected] 1 Page 71 ABSTRACT This paper describes the main findings of a socio-economic study, which evaluated the economic performance of the small-scale fleet in Puerto Rico conducted from 2008-2010. The survey inquired about household demographics, fishing practices, capital investment in fishing vessels, gear and equipment, variable and fixed costs, earnings, and geographic distribution of fishing trips. In person surveys were administered to 363 fishermen, using a stratified random sample by region. The study revealed that the majority of the fishermen interviewed were middle-aged, who attained only moderate levels of formal education and exhibited high levels of fishing dependence (65%), both of which limited their employment opportunities outside the fishery. Most of the fishermen interviewed had considerable fishing experience (30 years) and participated in their respective fisheries on a full-time basis. Also, most of the interviewees were captains who owned their own vessels. Comparisons of variable costs across commonly used gears showed significant variations that were largely due to fuel consumption. On average, fuel expenses accounted for 67% of the total variable costs (excluding crew payments). The study also determined that the average reported landings and revenues differed from those averages reported as part of the Puerto Rico trip ticket program. However, the study did not find systematic under-reporting of landings and revenues in the trip ticket database relative to those figures reported in this study. Preliminary profit estimates suggest that SCUBA is the most economically advantageous commercial fishing activity, which explains the surge in participation in recent years. KEYWORDS: Small-scale fisheries, Socioeconomics, Puerto Rico Density and Size Distribution of Invasive Lionfish on Reefs around South Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands La Densidad y la Distribución de Tamaño de Peces León Invasive en los Arrecifes Alrededor de South Caicos, Islas Turcas y Caicos Densité et Distribution en Taille des Rascasses Volantes Invasives sur les Récifs autour de South Caicos, Îles Turques et Caiques SARAH TRAIGER and JOHN CLAYDON School for Field Studies 10 Federal St. Salem, MA 01970 United States [email protected]; CIEE Research Station Bonaire Kaya Gobernador Debrot 26 Kralendijk, Bonaire Dutch Caribbean [email protected] ABSTRACT Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) were first observed in South Caicos in 2007; preliminary surveys in 2008 revealed predominantly immature lionfish in shallow areas, but few individuals on deeper reefs. From September-December 2010, we investigated density and population structure of lionfish on reefs 10-36 meters around South Caicos. To estimate density, we counted lionfish along transects five meters wide (length determined from GPS towed on surface). We swam three transects at 12 m and 18 m, and six at 24 m, covering a total of ~3 km. To investigate lionfish size distribution, we collected 54 lionfish from 10-36 meters and measured their total lengths (TL). The mean density of lionfish over all transects was 86.99 lionfish ha-1 (SD = 69.95). Mean densities were significantly higher at 24 m (146.10 ha-1, SD = 41.24) compared to 18 m (33.64 ha-1, SD = 30.29) and 12 m (11.97 ha-1, SD = 13.53) (ANOVA p < 0.001). Lionfish frequently aggregated in groups of 4 or more individuals at the deeper limit of the survey area. With mean size 22.69 cm TL (SD = 7.48), most lionfish collected (72%) were above the estimated size at maturity (18 cm TL). Furthermore, five lionfish collected were ripe females. There was no correlation between lionfish size and depth (Pearson correlation, r = 0.2155, p > 0.05. Despite the lag from the start of the invasion, densities of lionfish are now highest on the deeper reefs which appear to represent adult habitat, with juveniles found in shallower habitats. KEYWORDS: lionfish, Pterois volitans/miles, invasive BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Genetic Connectivity of Spiny Lobster in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef Conectividad Genética de Langosta En El Arrecife Mesoamericano Connectivité Génétique de Langouste dans Le Récif Barriére Méso-Américain NATHAN TRUELOVE University of Manchester Faculty of Life Sciences Michael Smith Building Oxford Road Manchester, Lancs M13 9PT United Kingdom [email protected] , ABSTRACT >Understanding ecologically relevant patterns of connectivity, defined as the extent to which populations in different parts of a species range are linked by the exchange of eggs, larvae, juveniles or adults is an important factor for enhancing resilience in coral reef ecosystems. Connectivity research is crucial for helping managers build socio-ecological resilience into Marine protected areas (MPAs) not only by ensuring the replenishment of coral communities and fisheries stocks but also by enhancing the recovery of damaged reefs. Research in MPAs in Belize during the first year of my PhD found limited genetic connectivity between Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) populations in MPAs located in northern and southern Belize (separated by < 100km. Connectivity research in coral and fish species (with much shorter larval durations) found high levels of local retention in the southern Mesoamerican barrier reef system (MBRS) and limited connectivity between the northern and southern MBRS due to complex interactions amongst local hydrodynamics and larval behavior. MPAs located in regions of high local recruitment may be more resilient MPAs that are dependent on larvae produced from distant regions, particularly in areas where complex ecological and social linkages remain poorly understood. KEYWORDS: Panulirus argus, Microsatellite, Genetics, Connectivity , Marine Protected Area ABSTRACT Caribbean people rely heavily on coral reefs, which contribute billions of dollars each year through tourism, fisheries and the provision of coastal defence. Coral reefs are being damaged by activities such as unsustainable fishing and pollution, and face an uncertain future with global climate change. Effective management of reefs is critical for the economies of many Caribbean countries and the well-being of reef resource users. Implementing marine resource management to promote coral reef ecosystem health requires an understanding of the governance systems that influence the success or failure of particular reef management tools. The Future of Reefs in a Changing Environment (FORCE) project investigates the relationship between governance arrangements and the success of reef management, and the implications of this relationship for both reef-dependent livelihoods and reef ecological health. The FORCE project is conducting social science research across five countries in the Caribbean, and the results from Honduras are presented. Interviews with community members, marine managers and policy makers were conducted in three communities in the Bay Islands to investigate perceptions of marine governance and reef health, and the constraints to implementing marine management measures. Results will be used to formulate recommendations for coral reef managers and policy makers regarding the management practices that they can choose to implement within the governance constraints in operation for their particular situation. KEYWORDS: marine governance, coral reefs, management measures, fisheries, tourism Validation of a Spawning Aggregation of Red Hind, Epinephelus guttatus, in the Alacranes Reef National Park, off Northern Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico Validación de una Agrupación de Desove de Mero Payaso, Epinephelus guttatus, en Parque Nacional Arrecife Alacranes Frente a la Costa Norte de la Península de Yucatán, México Validation d'un Aggregation du Red Hind, Epinephelus guttatus, dans le Parc National de Recif Alacranes du Nord Yucatán, Mexique ARMIN TUZ-SULUB* and ALFONSO AGUILAR PERERA Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Km. 15.5, carretera Mérida-Xmatkuil, Mérida, Yucatán 97100 México. [email protected]. ABSTRACT A Red hind (“mero payaso”) spawning aggregation was scientifically validated, through 1) underwater visual censuses using SCUBA and 2) collection of individuals using spearfishing and hook and line, in the northeastern area of the Alacranes Reef National Park. A sample of 219 Epinephelus guttatus (127 Page RACHEL TURNER1, CLARE FITZSIMMONS2, JOHANNA FORSTER2, ROBIN MAHON ANGELIE PETERSON , and SELINA STEAD1 University of the West Indies, Barbados [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] 2 Newcastle University,UK [email protected] [email protected], [email protected] 1 72 Resource User Perceptions of Marine Governance and Coral Reef Management in The Bay Islands, Honduras Percepciones de Usuarios de Recursos con Respecto a Gobernacion del Medio Ambiente Marino y Manejo de Los Arrecifes en Las Islas De Bahía, Honduras Perceptions des Utilisateurs des Ressources Concernant Marins Gouvernance et la Gestión des Récifs Coralliens dans les Îles Bay, Honduras BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO males and 97 females) was taken from an aggregation on a specific site the full moon days of January, February and March 2009 in the fore reef between 20-30 m depth. Such a sample had individuals with a mean size of 38 cm (range 25-49 cm) in total length and 868 g (range 1860-240 g) in total weight exhibiting mature gonads through macroscopic analysis. Underwater surveys of eight 100 m-transects revealed that E. guttatus was forming small groupings (3-4 individuals) relatively close each other and interacting (i.e., chasing); such transects showed a density of 50 ind/100 m2. Previous knowledge on the existence of this aggregation emerged from semi-structured interviews applied to lobster fishers who traditionally catch this grouper. Information from this research will be considered within the conservation and management program of the Alacranes Reef National Park. KEY WORDS: Groupers, red hind, Alacranes Reef, Gulf of Mexico , Yucatan Peninsula Survey of the Exploited Sea Cucumber (Aspidochirotida: Holoturidae) in the Northern Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico Monitoreo de la Explotación del Pepino de Mar (Aspidochirotida: Holoturidae) en la Costa Norte de la Península de Yucatán, México Sondage du Concombre de Mer Exploite (Aspidochirotida: Holoturidae) sur la Cote Nord du Yucatán, Mexique ARMIN TUZ-SULUB*, ALFONSO AGUILAR-PERERA, and ORTEGON-AZNAR ILIANA Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan, A.P 4-116 Itzimna, Merida, Yucatan 97100 Mexico. [email protected]. 73 ABSTRACT The exploitation of sea cucumber in the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula is considered, within the fishery legislation from the government, under non-consolidated regime. Since 2001, the development of this incipient fishery has moved into the implementation of sustainable management measures for the 2011 season. The concept of precautionary approach applied to fishing activities, involves the role of science as fundamental to the exploitation of natural resources under the premise of a biologically sustainable, economically optimal, and socially acceptable harvest. During April 15 to May 14, 2011, the fishery authority implemented a total of 61 fishing permits. We conducted a survey involving interviews applied to fishermen who got the permit, sea cucumber biometric analyses, and sampling in the fishing areas in order to determine the characteristics of the biological, social and economic benefits of this potential new fishery as a vital component of its sustainable use. The exploited sea cucumber was comprised by the Three-rowed sea cucumber, Isostichopus badionotus (95% of the catch; 15-27 cm TL), and the remaining 5% by Furry sea cucumber, Astichopus multifidus, and Florida sea cucumber, Holothuria floridana, species. The total catch reached over 1,000 t, which benefited economically to more than 550 fishermen and indirectly to more than 1200 families of 8 fishing communities of the coast. Page KEY WORDS: Sustainable fishery, sea cucumber, yucatan Experimental Analyses on Coral Larvae Settlement in Guadeloupe Island (Lesser Antilles) Estudio Experimental del Asentamiento de las Larvas Coralinas en la Isla de Guadeloupe (Antillas Menores) Analyses Expérimentales sur L'instalation des Larves de Coraux en Guadeloupe (Petites Antilles) LÉA URVOIX1*, YOLANDE BOUCHON-NAVARO, SÉBASTIEN CORDONNIER, CHARLOTTE DROMARD, JEAN-LOUP MANCEAU, and CLAUDE BOUCHON 1 Université Antilles-Guyane, Campus de Fouillole, DYNECAR Pointe a Pitre, Guadeloupe 97159 France. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. ABSTRACT In the framework of a study on the coral recruitment of the Lesser Antilles reefs, an experiment was designed to test the importance of artificial and natural substrata for the settlement of coral planulae. Several types of material were used: glass, plexiglass, unglazed ceramic tiles and Acropora palmata dead skeletons. Each material was shaped in order to provide tiles of 20 cm by 20 cm. The thickness of the tiles varied between 0.5 cm for plexiglass and 1.5 cm for the others. Ceramic tiles were found to be the most attractive material for planulae settlement, respectively followed by glass, coral skeleton and plexiglass. Considering these results, a monthly monitoring of the planulae settlement was conducted using unglazed ceramic tiles during one year. Three different depths were tested: 5m, 10 m, 20 m. These tiles had one smooth side and one side with grooves. Fixation on the sides of the tiles was also examined. Planulae settled on all the sides of the tiles but showed strong preferences for the external border of the underneath side. Settlement appeared to be inversely related to depth (from 5 to 20 m). Larvae settlement was observed all the year round, but presented an important peak between March to June. The recruitment curve presented a peak at 5 m and smoothened according to depth. KEY WORDS: Coral larvae, settlement, ceramic tiles, recruitment, caribbean BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO The New Way to Determine the Gut Content of the Exotic Fish Pterois volitans in the Mexican Caribbean Una Nueva Forma de Determinar el Contenido Estomacal del Pez León Pterois volitans en el Caribe Mexicano La Nouvelle Façon de Déterminer le Contenu de L'intestin des Poissons Exotiques dans les Caraïbes Mexicaines Pterois volitans MARTHA VALDEZ1 *, CAROLINA QUINTAL-LIZAMA1, MARIA DEL CARMEN GARCÍA-RIVAS2, and RICARDO GÓMEZ-LOZANO3 El Colegio de la Frontera Sur-Chetumal, Av Centenario Km 5,5, Chetumal, Quintana Roo 77079 Mexico. [email protected]. [email protected]. 2 Reserva de la Biosfera de Banco Chinchorro Insurgentes 445 Chetumal Quintana Roo Mexico. [email protected]. 3Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel, Altos Plaza del Sol s/n Cozumel, Chetumal 77600 Mexico. [email protected]. 1 ABSTRACT Understanding the dietary habits of lionfish is central to recognize the effects of this exotic species over the reef ecosystem. DNA barcoding is a recent molecular technique that can help identification of the species in gut contents of any predator. In this study, we tested the effectiveness of DNA barcoding to determine the diets of 144 specimens of Pterois volitans (10 to 330 LS) from 8 places of the Mexican Caribbean. In total, 320 samples (217 fish and 111 crustaceans) were analyzed. From them, we obtained 162 sequences. All of them were identified to the finest level with the Barcode of Life Database (BOLD). 27 fish species were identified from the gut, among them Apogon lachneri, Apogon maculates, Astrapogon puncticulatus, Coryphopterus bol, Coryphopterus thrix, Coryphopterus tortugae, Priolepis hipoliti, Gramma loreto, Haemulon flavolineatum, Halichoeres garnoti, Thalassoma bifasciatum, Starksia ocellata, Abudefduf saxatilis, Stegastes partitus, Scarus iseri, Sparisoma aurofrenatum, Sparisoma viride, Cephalopholis cruentata, Enneanectes boehlkei, and Monacanthus tuckeri as well as some evidence of cannibalism. Surprisingly, three of the species identified are new records for Mexican Caribbean; six specimens were Lythypnus and one Starskia. In the case of crustaceans, six species were identified, Thor amboinensis, Euphausia americana, Munida taenia, Penaeopsis serrata, Neogonodactylus oerstedii and Pseudosquilla ciliata, six more only to genera and 12 have no matching species in BOLD, and one polychaete (Phyllodoce sp.) This methodology provides new highlights to study the gut contents with no matter of the digestion grade of them. KEY WORDS: Barcode, DNA, fishes, COI, gut content Poissons Coralliens Racontent la Même Histoire à travers la Caraïbe? HENRI VALLÈS* and HAZEL OXENFORD Centre for Resource Management and Environmental, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus , Barbados. *[email protected]. [email protected]. ABSTRACT There is a great need to develop indicators of the status of exploited reef fish communities in the context of Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management. Preferably, these indicators should be simple and intuitive, so that they can be effectively used by any stakeholder group.In this study, we use Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) data to explore relationships among four simple community metrics conventionally used to detect fishing impacts (total fish biomass, total fish density, fish mean weight and fish species richness) from 415 underwater reef-surveys across the Caribbean, performed between 1998 and 2004. Our ultimate goal is to determine which of these metrics, if any, can stand alone and is most specific to fishing impacts. In order to do this, we examined how these metrics co-varied across the region and identified their environmental correlates, while controlling for potentially confounding spatial effects. We found that total fish density and fish mean weight, the two components of fish total biomass, were uncorrelated and thus conveyed different information. In contrast, total biomass was correlated with the other three metrics and was least informative once the latter were considered. Fish density and fish mean weight displayed the strongest associations with environmental factors, but they differed in the nature of their associations. Fish mean weight was negatively related to human population density whereas fish density was positively related to a reef rugosity index. Overall, our findings support the idea that, at the community level, mean fish weight is the most specific indicator of fishing impacts. KEY WORDS: Indicator, fishing, management Strengthening Coastal Pollution Management in the Wider Caribbean Region Reforzando la Gestión de Contaminación Costera en la Región Gran Caribe Renforcerla Gestion de la Pollution Côtière dans la Région des Caraïbes HANNEKE VAN LAVIEREN1*, CHRIS METCALFE2, KEN DROUILLARD3, PETER SALE3, GERARDO GOLD BOUCHOT4, RAYMOND REID5, and LISA BENEDETTI6 1 UNU INWEH, 175 Longwood Road South, Suite 204, Hamilton, ON L3M3C5 Canada. [email protected]. 2Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario Canada. 3University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada. 4CINVESTAV Unidad Merida, Merida, Yucatán, Mexico. 5University of West Indies Mona Kingston Jamaica. 6UNU-INWEH, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. ABSTRACT Control of aquatic pollution is critical for improving coastal zone management and for the conservation of fisheries resources. Wider Caribbean Region (WCR) countries generally lack monitoring capacity and reliable information on levels and distribution of pollutants, particularly advanced chemicals, or Page ¿Cuentan Diferentes Indicadores del Estado de las Comunidades de Peces de Arrecife la Misma Historia a través del Caribe? Est-ce que des Différents Indicateurs de L’état des Communautés de 74 Do Different Community Indicators of the Status of Exploited Reef Fish Communities Tell the Same Story Across the Caribbean? BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO the ecological and/or human health risks. Given the substantial cultural and economic importance of coastalenvironments to WCR communities, this should be cause for serious concern.This paper describes a monitoring program for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the coastal fish species, white grunt (Haemulon plumieri) chosen for its wide distribution and philopatric behaviour. It highlights lessons learned on improving capacity for environmental monitoring of POPs andhow an effective south-south network between academic institutions, laboratories and management agencies was built. Data are reported for Jamaica, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico. Overall, PCB and organochlorine concentrations were low relative to threshold levels used to address human health concerns from contaminated seafood. However, since this fish species occupies low to mid-trophic levels in the marine food web, there is a risk of higher contaminant concentrations accumulating in top trophic level piscivorous fish and birds. Identified sources of contaminants include domestic sewage, agriculture and industry, large continental rivers and atmospheric deposition. For example, data indicate that atmospheric deposition is a likely source of POPs in Belize and St. Lucia. Currently, these are the only data available on POPs contamination in fish distributed across the WCR, but will hopefully lead to future studies, increased awareness and strengthening of coastal pollution management. KEY WORDS: Aquatic pollution, coastal management, advanced chemicals, white grunt, environmental monitoring Ensamblaje de Peces de la Costa Noroeste de Yucatán Fish Assemblages from Yucatan Northeast Coast Assemblée des Poissons de la Cote Nord-ouest de Yucatán MA. EUGENIA VEGA-CENDEJAS*, SONIA PALACIOS-SÁNCHEZ, y MIRELLA HERNÁNDEZ DE S. CINVESTAV-IPN, Unidad Mérida, km. 6 Antig. Carr. Progreso Mérida, Yucatán 97310 México. *[email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]. Page 75 RESUMEN Con el objetivo de caracterizar el ensamblaje íctico de la costa noroeste de Yucatán y establecer las variables ambientales que determinan su distribución espacial, se realizaron muestreos bimensuales (24 estaciones) de enero 2002-marzo 2004. Previo a la recolecta, se registraron los parámetros hidrológicos (temperatura, oxígeno, salinidad, conductividad, transparencia y profundidad) y determinaron las concentraciones de nitritos, nitratos, fosfatos y silicatos. En cada sitio se realizaron dos arrastres (30 m de la línea de costa), utilizando un chinchorro (15 m longitud; 2.5 cm de malla). Se determinaron los parámetros ecológicos de la comunidad (riqueza, diversidad, equidad, dominancia) y el efecto de las variables ambientales sobre la estructura de los ensamblajes a través de índices multivariados (NMDS, SIMPER, ACC). Se registraron 94 especies y 44 familias, dentro de las cuales, Sciaenidae (10), Carangidae (9) y Engraulidae (5) presentaron el mayor número de especies. Dentro de las especies dominantes se encontraron Harengula jaguana, Anchoa hepsetus, A. michilli, A. lamprotaenia, Ariopsis felis y Sphoeroides testudineus. Las variables que explicaron la distribución de las especies fueron la salinidad y silicatos (p<0.05), así como nitratos (p <0.1). La composición específica así como el rango de tallas registradas, refuerzan la teoría de que los peces utilizan las áreas cercanas a la costa como zona de refugio, alimentación y forrajeo. La presente información servirá de línea de base para manejadores y evaluadores ambientales que traten de mitigar los efectos del desarrollo turístico e industrial que se proyecta para la zona costera de Yucatán en los próximos años. PALABRAS CLAVE: Fish assemblages, coastal habitat , nursery areas, coastal management, Yucatan Facilitating a Collaborative Approach to Professional Development and Peer Exchange: The 2011 UNEP-CEP/CaMPAM Training of Trainers Program in Caribbean Marine Protected Area Management Hacia un Enfoque Colaborativo del Desarrollo Profesional y el Intercambio entre Pares: La Edición 2011 del Programa del PNUMA-PAC y CaMPAM “Capacitación de Capacitadores en la Gestión de Áreas Marinas Protegidas del Caribe” Faciliter une Approche Collaborative pour un Développement Professionnel et L'échange entre Pairs: Le Programme de Formation 2011 PNUE-PEC/CaMPAM de Formateurs en Gestion des Aires Marines Protégées RICH WILSON1*, GEORGINA BUSTAMANTE2, EMMA DOYLE2, and ALESSANDRA VANZELLA-KHOURI3 Seatone Consultants. [email protected]. 2CaMPAM GCFI. [email protected]. [email protected]. 3 UNEP-CEP. [email protected]. 1 ABSTRACT The UNEP-CEP/CaMPAM Training of Trainers Course in Marine Protected Area (MPA) Management was designed as a response to common challenges and training needs facing marine resource managers across the Wider Caribbean. The 2011 course, hosted in Ambergris Caye, Belize—home of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve—provided robust introductory professional development training in all aspects of marine protected area management to a diverse array of marine resource professionals. The course allowed resource managers, fisheries officers and scientists from seven Eastern Caribbean countries participating in the Caribbean Challenge initiative to learn lessons and management strategies from the network of Belize MPAs. A collaborative approach to course facilitation fostered an environment of peer-to-peer learning, exchange of ideas, and analysis of different management models and approaches. Within this environment, participants crafted, evaluated and refined small grant proposals to conduct post-course training activities in their local MPA. In addition, intensive participatory exercises helped identify networking opportunities among peers, and bridge the gap between course learning and practical application of new knowledge and skill sets following completion of the course. This collaborative approach supports ongoing development of a functioning mentor and peer exchange network in the Wider Caribbean, where effective management models, strategies and tools can be transferred regionally among marine resource professionals, and from MPA managers to staff, resource users and local stakeholders. KEY WORDS: Marine Protected Area, management, collaboration, mentor, peer exchange BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – 64th GCFI – PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO Management of the Spiny Lobster Fishery in CARICOM Countries: Current Status and Recommendations for Conservation Gestión de la Pesquería de Langosta Espinosa los Países de CARICOM Estado Actual y Recomendaciones para la Conservación La Gestion de la Pêche de Langouste Epineuse dans les Pays de CARICOM: Statut Actuels et Recommandations pour la Conservation MARINA WINTERBOTTOM*, MILTON HAUGHTON, ERIN MUTRIE, and KAYLEIGH GRIEVE Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism, CRFM Secretariat, PO Box 642, Princess Margaret Drive, Belize City, Belize. *[email protected]. miltonhaughton@hotmail,com. [email protected]. [email protected]. ABSTRACT The Caribbean Spiny lobster fishery is in decline, indicating that it is fully or overexploited in most or all of its range. Declining stocks coupled with high demand for the luxury seafood item have added to the pressure on the stock as well as on those 250, 000 individuals who rely on the fishery for their livelihood. This paper compiles data and research undertaken in CARICOM Countries regarding the current state of the lobster fishery. The findings reveal that the open-access nature of the fishery; lack of control, monitoring and enforcement of existing regulations; large-scale illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing; lack of harmonization of regulations among the countries involved; insufficient financial resources and human capacity are all obstacles that need to be overcome. Four recommendations are made to improve conservation and management of the species throughout its range: improved data collection and regional standardization of data types; harmonized regulations at the sub-regional level; review and reform governance systems at local, national and sub-regional levels; and assess and control the illegal, unreported and unregulated lobster fishery. KEY WORDS: Spiny Lobster, management, CARICOM, Caribbean, conservation Caracterización Biológica y Económica del Recurso Caracol en Seybaplaya, Campeche Biological and Economic Characteristics Resources Snail Shell in Seybaplaya, Campeche Caractérisation Biologique et Économiques des Resources Coquille dans les Seybaplaya, Campeche PALABRAS CLAVE: Pesquería, biología, económico, Busycon sp., Strombus costatus, Turbinella angulata , Seybaplaya, Campeche. Riqueza Específica de Peces en Caladeros de Pesca de Langosta Espinosa en la Costa Central de Yucatán, México Fish Specific Richness in Spiny Lobster Fishing Grounds in the Central Coast of Yucatan, Mexico Richesse de Poissons dans les Zones de Pêche de la Langouste de la Côte Centrale du Yucatán, au Mexique KARLA ZETINA RÍOS1*, VERÓNICA RÍOS LARA2, RIGOBERTO MORENO MENDOZA3, JUAN CARLOS ESPINOZA MENDEZ2, y CARLOS ZETINA MOGUEL3 1 ITESO. Universidad Jesuita de Guadalajara Periférico, Sur Manuel Gómez Morín No. 8585, Col ITESO Tlaquepaque, Jalisco 456042 México. [email protected]. 2Instituto Nacional de Pesca, Av. Pescador s/n Yucalpetén Progreso, Yucatán 97320 México. [email protected]. 3Escuela de Biología. Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Carretera S Xmatkuil Km. 15.5, Mérida, Yucatán 97315 México. [email protected] 3 Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Av. Industrias no Contaminantes por Periférico Norte, Mérida, Yucatán, México. [email protected]. RESUMEN La pesquería de langosta espinosa es una actividad económica de gran importancia para las comunidades de pescadores de las costas de Yucatán. La captura de langosta se realiza por buceo libre o semiautónomo (hookah) y durante las operaciones de pesca, además de las langostas se capturan algunas especies de peces de alto valor comercial. Algunas de las especies de peces son utilizadas por los buzos como guías para la localización de las concentraciones de langostas. Como parte de las investigaciones de esta pesquería en las costas de Yucatán, se realizaron observaciones no destructivas durante la época de veda, en dos años consecutivos en caladeros situados en las cercanías del Puerto de Dzilam de Bravo Yucatán. Se observaron un total de 29 especies de peces, 10 de las cuales son consideradas de importancia comercial. En este trabajo se describen las especies encontradas y los registros fotográficos y se construyen curvas de acumulación área-especie utilizando métodos de remuestreo intensivo y el ajuste de las curvas se hace a través de regresión no lineal. PALABRAS CLAVE: Riqueza específica, peces, langosta, Yucatan Page RESUMEN El recurso caracol en el estado de Campeche se desembarca en cinco puertos, siendo la localidad de Champotón la más importante con el 73 % de volumen total de captura, del cual Seybaplaya representa el 40 %, el puerto de Campeche, Isla arena e Isla aguada conforma el 20 % restante. El caracol se pesca de forma artesanal mediante buceo libre, esta se practica por pescadores activos que utilizan embarcaciones de fibra de vidrio de 20-25 pies de eslora, con motor fuera de borda. La captura total durante la temporada de captura (marzo-julio) 2010 está compuesta por cuatro especies: Busycon perversum (n=207), Turbinella angulata (n=107), Strombus costatus (n=52)y Pleuroploca gigantea (n=29). Las tallas medias de las diferentes especies capturadas fluctúan entre 17.44 y 300.54 mm de longitud sifonal. Los pesos húmedos totales de las especies capturadas fluctúan entre 133.80 y 968.45 g. La proporción de hembras fue mayor a la de machos para Busycon perversum, Turbinella angulata y Strombus costatus a diferencia de Pleuroploca gigantea que presentó una proporción de sexos 1:1. La mayor presencia de masas ovígeras, la presentó Busycon perversum, con un pico en mayo-junio. La captura por Unidad de Esfuerzo demostró que los rendimientos obtenidos en buzos oscilo entre 6-15 kg/buzo y por lancha varió de 30-120 kg/lancha. Por lo que es necesario adecuar la normativa de esta pesquería a su abundancia, y a sus atributos biológicos pesqueros que ayuden a una explotación y manejo sustentable. 76 AURELIA ZAPATA* y DALILA ALDANA ARANDA CINVESTAV, antigua carretera a progreso km 6, Mèrida, Yucatán 97310 México. [email protected]. [email protected]. THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK