Book of Abstracts
Transcripción
Book of Abstracts
5 November 2012 – 9 November 2012 Book of Abstracts Hosted by Hosted by PROGRAM OF THE 65TH ANNUAL GCFI SANTA MARTA, COLOMBIA 5 NOVEMBER 2012 – 9 NOVEMBER 2012 Monday, November 5 Opening Ceremony Program Chair: Alejandro Acosta, GCFI, Luis Duarte (Universidad del Magdalena) HONORARY GUESTS Opening Address Dr. Elizabeth Taylor Dr. Julian Botero TBA Luis Orlando Duarte Jim Franks Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible Autoridad Nacional de Acuicultura y Pesca Rector/Vice-rector Universidad de Magdalena Universidad de Magdalena GCFI Chairman Keynote Speaker Dr. Ratana Chuenpagdee How Big is Small? Understanding Small-Scale Fisheries for What They Are Coffee break Van Anrooy, Raymon Molina Sandoval, Andres Esteban Maldonado, Jorge Ramdeen, Robin Medeiros, Rodrigo Vasquez, Diana Johnson, Ayana Elizabeth Artisanal Fisheries (Moderators: Raymon Van Anrooy and Erick Castro) Securing sustainable small-scale fisheries: the development of smallscale fisheries guidelines Management alternatives for artisanal fisheries in the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Colombian Caribbean: an estuarine ecohydrological approach Resilience of artisanal fishing communities facing external events: proposal of an Index of Adaptive Capacity Reconstructed total catches by the marine fisheries of small island states in the Wider Caribbean (1950-2010) Strategies for bycatch reduction at southern Brazilian small-scale trawl fishing: prospects forfFisheries management Identifying opportunities for rights based management in artisanal fisheries: the mangrove cockle fishery of the Gulf of Fonseca Honduras Trends, current understanding, and future research priorities for i Naranjo, Helven * Valles, Henri artisanal coral reef fisheries research Effort dynamics of an artisanal underwater fishery Using parrotfish size as an indicator of fishing pressure Lunch Break Ramirez, John Gabriel Márqiez Pérez, Ana Isabel * MacLauchlin, Kari Bonilla, Sara Gonzalez, Miguel Galvão, Melina C. Bustos Montes, Diana Milena Saavedra-Díaz, Lina Maria Socio-Economic (Moderators: Silvia Salas and Patrick McConey) Socio-cultural dimension as a priority element in the evaluation and management of small-scale fisheries: case of study of Wayuu Community, East Colombian Caribbean Theoretical notes on the importance of traditional knowledge for artisanal fisheries management: a social sciences approach Permit portfolios of commercial fishermen in the U.S. South Atlantic Region Differentiating the management of artisanal fisheries using a livelihoods approach in the Gulf of Fonseca, Honduras Netting a livelihood from the sea: a transdisciplinary framework for the governance of small-scale fisheries in the Nicaraguan Caribbean coast The women’s roles in the maintenance of artisanal fishing communities livelihoods of Patos Lagoon estuary - Brazil: contributions to the management and environmental education. Economic rent of some Colombian Caribbean fisheries Colombian marine small-scale fisheries management: tragedy of the commons and an opportunity for co-management Coffee break Horsford, Ian Wielgus, Jeffrey Magras, Julian Araujo, Luciana Gomes de Chollett, Iliana Case study: a comparative analysis of different approaches to fisheries co-management in Antigua and Barbuda Cooperatives in smal-scale fisheries: collective management for achieving ecological, economic, and social goals St. Thomas Fishermen’s Association: involving fishermen in fishery management Fishers participation in coastal fisheries co-management: the case of the community of Trindade, in southeastern coast of Brazil Modelling fishers’ activity as a response to weather: first step towards building adaptive capacity under a changing climate Informal Reception & Welcome Address; Robert Glazer, Executive Director, GCFI Student Social: Students and GCFI Board of Directors Tuesday, November 6 Concurrent Sessions: Fisher forum field trip (1300-1700) Contact person: Erick Castro Surveys Design (Moderators: William Michaels and Alejandro Acosta; Sponsored by NOAA) Michaels, William Dineshbabu, A.P. Boswell, Kevin Chávez, Ernesto A. Garza Perez, Joaquin Rodrigo Molina-Ureña, Helena Manjarres Martinez, Luis Advancements in sampling technologies to improve assessment and monitoring programs of marine ecosystems The role of innovative technologies and impact of collaboration of progressive fishermen infisheries research in successful management of multi-species fishery in tropical marine ecosystem Application of high-resolution imaging sonar to evaluate fine-scale habitat utilization in intertidal and subtidal habitats by nekton Fisheries potential of the Gulf of Mexico Integral approach to coral reef assessment and monitoring DeepSee submersible expedition in Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica: state-of-theart research tool Some technological and methodological alternatives for situations of poor availability of scientific data Coffee Break Johnson, Donald Alvarez Filip, Lorenzo Bozec, Yves-Marie Dance, Michael Leon-Perez, Mariana * Wetmore, Lynne * Urvoix, Léa * Whitener, Zachary * Pina Amargós, Fabián Habitat (Moderator: Graciela Garcia-Moliner) The Sargassum invasion of the eastern Caribbean and dynamics of the equatorial North Atlantic Assessing the health and management efforts of the Mesoamerican Reef Modelling the response of reef rugosity and fish assemblages to climate change in the Caribbean Variation in movement and habitat use among sub-adult estuarine fishes within a shallow water seascape Artificial colonies of Acropora palmata as a habitat restoration technique Stable isotopes as natural markers of nursery origin for juvenile snappers occupying back-reef habitats in Belize Monitoring of coral larval recruitment on artificial settlement plates at three different depths using genetic identification of recruits (Guadeloupe Island) Effects of site and sampling time on motile cryptic invertebrate communities on fringing reefs Preliminary evaluation of goliath grouper (Lichtenstein, 1822) populations in Cuban Archipelago Lunch Break Lamilla, Julio Duarte, Luis Orlando Wells, David Nuñez, Mayra Figueredo Martín, Tamara Giresi, Melissa * Chondrichthyan Fish and Fisheries (Moderator: Luis Orlando Duarte; Sponsored by La Universidad de Magdalena) Towards a regional action plan for shark conservation in the Caribbean: overcoming diversity of governances Artisanal catches of sharks in the Colombian Caribbean Sea. characterization based on local ecological knowledge Application of chemical tags to obtain life history information of sharks Hiding shark as salted fish: Examining the market chains for salt fish from the artisanal fisheries of the coasts of Honduras Distribution of smalltooth sawfish (Latham, 1794) in Cuban archipelago Elucidating species composition of smoothhound sharks in the Gulf of Mexico iii Higgs, Jeremy * van Beek, Ingrid Coffee break Mumby, Peter J Ortiz-Sotomayor, Alida Bohannon, Todd Lewis, Kemit-Amon Lerebours, Boris Perry, Harriet D Ross, Robertson Diet of Atlantic sharpnose shark, Rhizoprionodon terraenovae, from the north-central Gulf of Mexico: initial findings The status of elasmobranchs and fisheries and conservation measures in the Dutch Caribbean Education (Moderator: Mark Peterson) Caribbean reef resilience to climate change: tools for managers Caribbean Fishery Management Council’s Outreach and Education Strategic Plan Bringing spawning aggregations into the classroom Reef Responsible: A market-driven approach to a sustainable commercial fishing industry in the United States Virgin Islands The proposed reintroduction of the Antillean Manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) in the Grand Cul de Sac Marin bay, Guadeloupe: an innovative challenge of collaboration with the fishing community Mercury and selenium in marine fishes: review of a special symposium examining issues associated with fish consumption and public health An electronic guide to the shore fishes of the Caribbean and adjacent areas Socio-economic Café POSTER SESSION with Cocktails and Snacks Hosted by GCFI Abril Howard, Omar Acero P, Arturo Acevedo, Ruben Agudelo Vianys Aldana Moreno Alejandro Ali, Fadilah Altamar, Jairo Alvarez, Sergio * Alvarez, Sergio Andrade Pico, Julio Cesar * Ardila, Gustavo Bado, Bladimir Ballesteros, Carlos Changes in the design of fishing vessels in the Island of San Andres, Colombia, traditional knowledge Associated Fishworkers Lion fish (Pterois volitans) invasion to Colombian waters: Approximation to its status by mid 2012 Evaluation of bycatch reduction devices in shrimp trawl fishery of the Caribbean Sea of Colombia Female gonadal structure of sea cucumber, Stichopus sp. El parque ecoturistico de Xel-Ha, Quintana-Roo, Mexico un lugar para la conservacion de la ictiofauna del Caribe The Lionfish Invasion in Klein Bonaire: Comparisons to Mainland Bonaire and Curacao Changing regimes of the shrimp trawl fishery lead to changes in landings composition of the artisanal fisheries in the Caribbean Sea off Colombia Compensation for anglers from the Deepwater Horizon spill Trophic portfolios for fisheries management in data limited ecosystems Do Marine Protected Areas Benefit Fisheries in Colombia? An Evaluation Based in Dynamic Modeling for Fisheries Catch composition of deep-water (200 – 600 m) in the Colombian Caribbean Sea Tecnological alternatives to face lion fish (Pterois volitans, Linnaeus 1758) invasion in the Colombian Caribean coast Genetic analysys of the spiny lobster Panulirus argus in the San Andres, Providence and Santa Catalina Archipelago, Seaflower biosphere reserve Beltran Rodriguez, Diana * Bolaños, Nacor Bustos Montes Diana Milena Bustos Montes, Diana Milena Carter, Andrew Castillo Navarro, Harold Chuenpagdee, Ratana Cornic, Maëlle Cruz Quintana, Yanis De Jesus, Alberto De Jesus, Alberto Diaz Romero, Tomas Bienvenido Diaz Vesga, Roy Espinoza, Raimundo Figueredo Martín, Tamara Forbes, Trishia Fresneda, Adriana Galvis, Nohora Garcia Gomez, Jorge Luis García Guzmán, Silvia Gomez Pardo, Humberto Gomez, Santiago Gonzalez, Juan David Gonzalez, Juan David Hendon, Read Hernandez Bello, Juan Manuel Hill, Ron Connectivity At Large (>500 Km) and Small (<250 Km) Spatial Scales in The Caribbean as Exemplified by the Yellowhead Jawfish (Opistognathus aurifrons) Phenotypic variation of the spiny lobster Panulirus argus (Decapoda: Paniluridae) in the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, Archipelago of San Andres, Old Providence and Santa Catalina, Colombia, South-Western Caribbean Interannual assessment of industrial shrimp trawl fisheries impact on marine biodiversity of Colombia Modelo Ecopath del Golfo de Morrosquillo: Impacto de la pesca de arrastre en la trama trófica The Recreational Fishery Component of Highly Migratory Species in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands Future costs of Cathorops mapale overfishing in artisanal shrimp trawl fishery of the Caribbean Sea of Colombia Too Big to Ignore: Global Partnership for Small-Scale Fisheries Research Distribution and habitat associations of tuna larvae in the Northern Gulf of Mexico Histological damages induced by parasites in Octopus Maya from the Yucatan Peninsula Distribution and Abundance of Pomacea flagellata at Bacalar Lake Preliminary Results Growth of Pomacea Flagellata in Culture Conditions under one Food Regimen Zonificación por áreas de uso, búsqueda de alternativas y Comanejo como garantía de sostenibilidad Bycatch Assessment of the Artisanal Shrimp Trawl Fishery in the Gulf of Salamanca, Colombian Caribbean Sea Toward Regional Marine Protected Area Management: Recent progress from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Preliminary Evaluation of Whale Shark (Smith, 1828) Population In Cuban Archipelago Status del Caracol Pala Strombus gigas en Áreas Remotas de la Zona Externa al Área Marina Protegida Seaflower, Colombia Identifying priority wetlands for protection of early life stages of shallow water shrimp in Colombia from a ecogenetics perspective Promotion of the participation of the fishermen community in Capurganá, Caribbean Choco, Colombia in the effective management of coral reefs Histological characterization of digestive tract of the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) Proposal for a Reef Structure Assessment Index for the Western Atlantic First Record of the Isopod Anilocra sp. in Lionfish, Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758) Traditional Ecological Knowledge Of Sawfishes (Pristiformes: Pristidae) In The Region Of Santa Marta (Magdalena – Colombia): Preliminary Results Lion fish (Scorpaenidae) as a case study of biological invasions: Biological and ecological aspects in the western Colombian Caribbean Capture-recapture of Pterois volitans by photoidentification technique Collection of lionfish (Pterois sp.) from fishery-independent sampling in the north-central Gulf of Mexico Size Structure of Lionfish (Pterois Volitans) Reefs in Santa Marta and Tayrona National Natural Park (Colombia) Observaciones sobre las conductas de los peces en la reducción de pesca v Hoffman, Anne Marie Horsford, Ian Hurtado Alarcon, Julio Cesar Julio Bautista, Gladys* Lasso-Alcalá, Oscar Lasso-Alcalá, Oscar Lopez-Rocha, Jorge Márquez Fernández, Edna Judith Martin , Charles Mata-Lara, Mariana* Matos-Caraballo, Daniel McConney, Patrick McCroy, Croy Montañez, Ana Maria* Negron-Ruiz, Geovanny Nelson, Thomas Noguez, Mariana * Olsen, David Ortegon-Aznar, Ileana Paramo, Jorge Paramo, Jorge Parrado-Cortés, Maria del Pilar Pavlowich, Tyler Pedroza, Carmen Peel, Joanne Perera-Chan, Leidy incidental mediante modificación de las artes de pesca Research as a Tool for Community Outreach in the St. Thomas East End Reserves, U.S. Virgin Islands The morphology of the queen conch (Strombus gigas) from the Island of Barbuda – implications for fisheries management Use of the 454 GS-FLX technologyfor the development of molecular markers in Mithrax spinosissimus Lamarck 1818 (Decapoda: Mithracidae) from the Colombian Caribbean Sea The Decrease in Shark Population in the Colombian Pacific Ocean by Fishing and Habitat Degradation Current status of the invasion of lionfish (Pteriois volitans) in Venezuela Ecological implications of the presence of marine and brackish fishes in the Lake Maracaibo basin, Venezuela Estimation of Dispersion Rates of the Red Octopus (Octopus maya) of Yucatan Peninsula Identification of Potentially Pathogenic Parasites and Bacteria Associated to Queen Conch Strombus gigas from Biosphere Reserve Seaflower What LIonfish Eat Local management strategies hindered by regional pressures: Akumal, Q. Roo Description of the sea cucumbers commercial fishery in Puerto Rico, 1911-12 Women in a fish market in Barbados Coral Reef Resilience and the effect of Marine Protected Areas on Bleaching, Disease and Compromise Health- Cayman Islands Economic Valuation of Marine Protected Areas in Colombia by Urban Households Presence of fungi and bacteria in the eye of Pterois volitans (Scorpaeniformes, Scorpaenidae) in Puerto Rico The whelk fishery of Saint Lucia: Description and contribution to the fisheries sector Habitat utilization of Queen conch Strombus gigas in the park of Xel Ha, Mexico Engineering Bycatch Reduction in St. Thomas Fisheries: Problem Engineering Bycatch Reduction in St. Thomas Fisheries: Problem Identification Preliminary Results Of Coral-Algae Phase Shift of Alacranes Reef National Park, Mexico: A Functional Groups Approach Abundancia y distribución de los Condrictios de aguas profundas en el Caribe colombiano Ecosystem indicators as tools for management and conservation strategies for the shallow and deep-sea crustacean fisheries in the Colombian Caribbean Sea Historical Trends of Catches of Functional Groups in A Small-Scale Fishery in The Colombian Caribbean Sea Status and local management efforts of the coral-reef fisheries of Montecristi National Park, Dominican Republic Fishery Management Problems in Coastal Yucatan and Lake Yuriria Growth, Recruitment and Mortality of the queen con Strombus gigas in a natural protected area of the Mexican Caribbean Length-weight and length-length relationships and condition factor of invasive lionfish, Pterois volitans (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae) in the Gulf of Mexico and Mexican Caribbean Sea Perez Ferro, Daniel Giovanny Plazas, Ramón Alejandro Polanco, Andrea Pomarico, Jose Luis Quijano-Puerto, Luis Ramirez, Silja Ramnaraine, Nalinie Renan, Ximena Rioja-Nieto, Rodolfo Randall, Landes Rangel Medrano, Jose David Rodriguez-Ferrer, Yamitza Rojas, Anthony Rubio-Cisneros, Nadia T. Rueda, Mario Saillant, Eric Sanchez Rubio, Luis Fernando Sanchez, Manuel Sanders, Arie Sanjuanelo Garcia, Eddie Sarmiento, Jonathan Sarmiento, Laura Shivlani, Manoj Sierra Rozo, Omar Thompson, Nikita Truelove, Nathan Valderrama, Diego Vargas-Santiago, Jose A. Vaslet, Amandine Vaslet, Amandine Velázquez-Abunader, Iván Distribución batimétrica de los crustáceos de profundidad en el Caribe colombiano Impacto de la pesca artesanal de camarón en el Caribe colombiano Management and Control Plan of the lionfish Pterois volitans in the Colombian Caribbean 2012-2014 Mullet Biology (Mugil incilis): reproductive indices Diet of the red lionfish, Pterois volitans, in the Parque Nacional Arrecife Alacranes, Southern Gulf of Mexico Campaign for the Protection of the Low Reef of King Fish, Izabal Guatemala Biometric analysis of the invasive Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans) in the Virgin Islands Age and growth of Mycteroperca bonaci from Southern Gulf of Mexico Benthic habitat beta-diversity modelling and landscape metrics for the selection of priority conservation areas Distribution and abundance of flyingfish (family Exocoetidae) larvae in the northern Gulf of Mexico Mitochondrial DNA Variation in Spiny Lobster Panulirus argus From Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina Changes in Recreational Tournament Fishing as a Result of New Regulations for Recreational Fishing in Puerto Rico Current status of queen conch populations, Strombus gigas (Linnaeus 1758), in the central Zone of Marine Protected Area SEAFLOWER, Colombia Recovery of coastal ecosystems in the Gulf of California: the need of breaking “vicious circles” in social-ecological systems Spatially-explicit distribution of marine fishing intensity in Colombia: Base of a participatory geographical fishing information system Research on larval nutrition of the red snapper Lutjanus campechanus Fish workers Inclusion in Academic and Productive Environment Characterization of the reproductive period and spawning of the snail Strombus gigas in the Park of Xel-ha, Quintana Roo, Mexico Policy Effects in a Fishery Economy in Northern Honduras: Using a Village Model Variacion acute morfometrica del Corocoro (Micropogonias furnieri) en el Caribe de Colombia y el Lago de Maracaibo en Venezuela Fungal population associated with sea cucumber Isostichopus badionotus Reproductive Biology of Lionfish Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Colombian Caribbean The effects of fishery product imports on the performance and sustainability of the Florida Keys commercial fishing industry Temporal Changes in Stocks of Snappers (Lutjanidae) In Reefs at Biosphere Reserve Seaflower, Colombian Caribbean Evaluating the abundance and size distribution of Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois spp.) in the United States Virgin Islands Genetic Connectivity of Caribbean Spiny Lobster in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef Socio-economic Dimensions of Seaweed Farming in Mexico Distribution patterns of tarpon, Megalops atlanticus, using remote detection technology of passive internal transponders at Boquerón, Puerto Rico Diets and foraging behaviours of juvenile reef fish species in mangroves and seagrass beds Importance of benthic invertebrate assemblages on the feeding behaviour of fish species from seagrass beds Use of Catchability by Size to Identify Recruitment Zones of the Octopus vii (Octopus Maya) In The Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico Chemical composition sea cucumber Tichopus badionotus Valoración Biológica y Ambiental de la Jaiba en la Laguna Estuarina Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Caribe Colombiano: Implicaciones de Manejo y Conservación Factores ambientales y antropogénicos pertinentes para la conservación y ordenación de la pesquería de la Reserva de la Biosfera Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Caribe colombiano Vergara, Wensy Viaña, Jorge Viloria, Efrain Yacomelo, Jose Impact of artisanal fishery on the elasmobrach community from the Gulf of Salamanca, Caribbean Sea of Colombia Carbon Sequestration: An Economic Approach for the Valuation of Ecosystem Services Provided by Marine Protected Areas In Colombia Zárate, Tatiana * Wednesday, November 7 MEETING OF THE GCFI MEMBERSHIP (Everyone is welcome – Learn about GCFI) Concurrent Activity: Mini-course: “ASSESSMENT OF FISHING HARVESTING STRATEGIES" (Reservation required) Marine Protected Areas (Moderator: Georgina Bustamante; Sponsored by CaMPAM) Dominguez, Elianny Cazaubon, Nadia Daugherty, Collin Harvey, Olando Jeffrey, Coddington Ecosystem-based zoning in the Bay of Samaná, Dominican Republic Using socio-economic data to inform strategies to mitigate impacts of planned developm Pitons Management Area (PMA) and Soufriere Marine Management Area (SMMA), St. L The Virgin Islands Marine Protected Area Network: A collaborative, multi-jurisdictional effective management Developing a core set of indicators for decision-making and adaptive management at th Marine Park, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Assessing the feasibility of alternative livelihood options for communities surrounding th Beauséjour Marine Protected Area, Grenada Coffee break Barrera, Camila* Pena, Maria Arias-Moreno, Ana María * Tulsie, Bishnu Pascal, Shawnaly Narozanski, Andrzej Economic valuation of Marine Protected Areas in Colombia: a study focused on specialized tourists Common socio-economic monitoring indicators for Caribbean Challenge MPAs Fish fauna of the Marine Area for Responsible Fisheries Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica: fisheryanalysis Community awareness and livelihood opportunities at the Pointe Sable Environmental P (PSEPA), St. Lucia Perceptions of changes and impacts accompanying the introduction of management pla Woburn/Clarke’s Court Bay MPA, Grenada Developing management tools to improve the efficacy of Marine Protected Area management in Honduras Rojas, Ximena Sherman, Krista Assessment of potential mangroves and seagrasses as Essential Habitat for juvenile reef fish, on Marine Protected Area of Colombian Caribbean. Tourism and coral reef health in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park Lunch Break FIELD TRIP Movie and Conversation with Dr. Yvonne Sadovy and Martin Russell. Hosted by Society for Conservation of Reef Fish Aggregations (SCRFA) Thursday, November 8 Concurrent Activity: 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 Kitchens, Larissa * Mathieu, Héloïse Merten, Wessley * Pitt, Joanna Rodriguez-Ferrer, Grisel Mateos-Molina, Daniel Soucre, Carlos Enrique * Box, Stephen Pelagics and Recreational Fisheries (Moderator: Jim Franks) Environmental influences on habitat associations of dolphinfish larvae in the Gulf of Mexico What do we know about blackfin tuna (Thunnus atlanticus)? Vertical movements of dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) in the western North Atlantic as determined by use of pop-up satellite archival transmitters Insights from a survey of the recreational fishery in Bermuda Current status of recreational fisheries in Puerto Rico Ecology and distribution of tarpons (Megalops atlanticus) at the Boquerón Wildlife Refuge, Puerto Rico Exploring the use of photographs to assess marine recreational fishing in Venezuela Using molecular techniques to assess the efficacy of current marine reserve design for the management of yellowtail snapper in Honduras Coffee break Rowell, Timothy J Appeldoorn, Richard Bertoncini, Áthila Mendez-Jimenez, Adriana * Nemeth, Rick Sadovy, Yvonne Fish Spawning Aggregations (Moderator: Martin Russell Sponsored by SCRFA ) Passive acoustics record grouper spawning activity at multi-species aggregations Measuring relative density of spawning red hind (Epinephelus guttatus) from sound production: consistency within and among sites Reeffish aggregations in Southern Brazil: Pró-Arribada and Meros do Brasil Initiatives Use of low-cost surface drifters to study the dispersal pathways of eggs of Cubera snapper, Lutjanus cyanopterus at Gladden Spit, Belize Conservation and management of grouper spawning aggregation sites: adaptive strategies based on fish movement patterns What must be done to recover a threatened commercial grouper, the Nassau, Epinephelus striatus? ix Schärer-Umpierre, Michelle Donaldson, Terry The courtship associated sounds of Nassau grouper, Epinephelus striatus (Pisces: Epinephelidae) during spawning aggregations The distribution and density of wrasse mating sites is influenced by fish feeding stations Lunch Acero P., Arturo Salazar R., María F. * Coronado Carrascal, Victor Alfonso Candelmo, Allison de Fontaubert, Charlotte Aguilar, Alfonso Mateo, Jeannette Buddo, Dayne Lionfish Biology and Management (Moderators: James Morris and Lad Akins) Lionfish (Pterois volitans) invasion to Atlantic waters: the Colombian case Some aspects about the reproduction of Pterois volitans in Chichiriviche de la Costa, Vargas state (Venezuela) Reef fish community structure in relation with the presence of the lionfish (Pterois volitans - Scorpaenidae) in Santa Marta, Colombian Caribbean Dietary preferences of lionfish from across the Cayman Islands; a reflection of differences in reef community structure Response to the introduction of an invasive species in a data-poor situation: current and recommended policy responses to the lionfish situation in the Turks and Caicos Islands Eating lionfish: an effective solution to control its invasion? Designing a plan of action for control and management of lionfish invasions in the Dominican Republic: a participatory process Capture of lionfish during during normal pot fisheries activities on the north coast of Jamaica Coffee break Akins, Lad Duque Nivia, Guillermo McCoy, Croy Morris, James Lionfish by-catch and impacts in the Florida Keys lobster fishery Habitat preferences of invasive lionfish (P. volitans) as a tool to control their populations on Isla Fuerte, Colombian Caribbean Lionfish population dynamics and the effectiveness of local community culling-Cayman Islands Invasive lionfish control and management: myths dispelled and lessons learned BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING. RECEPTION Friday, November 9 Concurrent Activity: INVEMAR: special session: "Sustainable Finance for Marine Protected Areas" (by invitation) Semmens, Brice Stevens-McGeever, Sierra Evidence of episodic mass recruitment of Nassau Grouper in the Cayman Islands Alterations in home range space use over a multi-year study of Nassau Grouper (Epinephelus striatus) Lessons learned from a Caribbean-wide population genetics study of Nassau grouper: the value of genetics data for fisheries management of aggregating reef fishes Engineering Bycatch Reduction in St. Thomas Fisheries: Development of Escape Vents for St. Thomas Fish Traps Jackson, Alexis Olsen, David Demersal Fisheries (Moderators: David Olsen and Brice Semmens) Portnoy, David Escobar Toledo, Fabian David * Finding geographic population structure in marine fish species with high gene flow Artisanal fisheries incidence on taxonomic and functional diversity of the fish community in the Caribbean Sea off Colombia Coffee break Canty, Steven Rueda, Mario Dromard, Charlotte * Lopez-Peña, Aristides Rincón, Natalia * Santos Martinez, Adriana Coronado Castro, Eva Revisiting the past; the fate of economically important fisheries Spatially-explicit distribution of marine fishing intensity in Colombia: Base of a participatory geographical fishing information system Partitioning of trophic resources allows multi-specific foraging groups of Acanthurid fishes (Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles) Towards an identification of essential habitats in tropical coastal ecosystems: the case of demersal fishes in the Colombian Caribbean Sea Ontogenetic patterns of surgeonfish (Acanthuridae) according to use of habitat in an island Caribbean seascape: Biosphere Reserve Seaflower, Colombian Caribbean SIMASPE- System of Sustainable Management of Fisheries: The Case of the Archipelago of San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina - Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, Colombian Caribbean Estimation of catch composition and quasi-rent of different fleets focused on red grouper fishery in Yucatan, Mexico Lunch Cala, Yuself R. * Diaz, Nicolas Daves, Nancy Maldonado-Rivera, Andrés Márquez Fernández, Edna Judith Noguez, Mariana Peel, Joanne Lopez-Rocha, Jorge Chasqui, Luis Conch Fisheries (Moderator: Dalila Aldana) Queen conch, Strombus gigas, in fished and unfished locations of the Caribbean sea: combined effects of a marine protected area and over-exploitation on adults Effects of the annual closure of the queen conch (Strombus gigas) fishery in Guadeloupe (FWI) CITES and fisheries authorities join forces for sustainable management of queen conch Fishing conch (Strombus gigas), one of the last fishery resources of Puerto Rico Genetic analysis of queen conch Strombus gigas from South West Caribbean Circadian activity of Queen conch Strombus gigas in the park of Xel Ha, Mexico Size related distribution and mobility of the queen conch Strombus gigas in the Xel-Há Park, Mexican Caribbean Fishing and social aspects of the New Sea Cucumber Fishery in the Yucatan Peninsula Composition, abundance and distribution of populations of commercially important gastropods in La Guajira, Colombian Caribbean Coffee break Nowlis, Joshua Burke, Lenore Amado Loaiza, Any Catherine Lobster Fisheries (Moderator: Silvia Salas) Economic determinants of fishing effort in Colombia's Caribbean spiny lobster fishery Strengthening the legal and regulatory framework for conservation and management of the spiny lobster fishery in the CARICOM states Integral environmental assessment for the spiny lobster fishery in the San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina Archipelago, Colombian Caribbean xi Lockhart, Kathy Schärer, René Alejandro Acosta Legal, ecological and political considerations in establishing closed seasons for two fisheries in the Turks and Caicos Islands: spiny lobster and queen conch Pursuing sustainability for the Brazilian lobster, Panulirus argus, fishery from the bottom-up Meeting Overview AWARDS AND CLOSING CEREMONY STUDENT AWARD PRESENTATIONS Presentation of the Ron Schmied Scholarship Presentation of the GCFI Outstanding Student Achievement Awards Closing Ceremony Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Estructura Gonadal de las Hembras del Pepino de Mar, Stichopus spp. Female Gonadal Structure of the Sea Cucumber, Stichopus spp. Structure des Gonades Femelles du Bêche-De-Mer, Stichopus Spp. KEYWORDS: histología, oocitos, pepino de mar, túbulos gonadales, Stichopus 1 Page ABSTRACT Los pepinos de mar son los equinodermos más abundantes y ampliamente distribuidos en los océanos del mundo. El rápido desarrollo de su pesca para satisfacer la creciente demanda internacional está poniendo en peligro a la mayoría de sus poblaciones en el ámbito mundial ocasionando que hayan sido incluidos en CITES. Estos organismos marinos no se pueden sobreponer rápidamente a su excesiva extracción dado que generalmente tienen una tasa de renovación poblacional lenta. Los pepinos del género Stichopus se caracterizan por tener un excelente valor en el mercado internacional, por ello, teniendo en cuenta su presencia en el Caribe colombiano y los altos volúmenes de pesca ilegal, documentados sólo en la literatura gris, se realizó este estudio con miras a profundizar en su biología para generar estrategias que a futuro sirvan como referencia para la toma de medidas de manejo y conservación de la especie. Se capturaron 20 pepinos que fueron trasladados al Laboratorio de Maricultura de la Universidad del Magdalena (sede principal), en donde se sacrificaron mediante hipotermia y se extrajeron las gónadas para el análisis macroscópico (en fresco), y tisular (histología). Las gónadas están constituidas por numerosos túbulos ramificados, de diferentes tamaños, de color blanco cremoso. La histología mostró oocitos en diferentes estadíos de desarrollo lo cual permite afirmar que son desovadores parciales por grupo y que presentan tres estadíos de desarrollo gonadal los cuales se diferencian por los cambios de la morfología estructural: Estado I (Inmaduro), Estado II (desarrollo) y Estado III (maduración). 1 VIANYS AGUDELO y ADRIANA RODRIGUEZ Universidad del Magdalena cra 32 N. 22-08 calle 7 # 9-39 Santa Marta, Colombia [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI The Role of Innovative Technologies and Impact of Collaboration of Progressive Fishermen in Fisheries Research in Successful Management of Multi-Species Fishery in Tropical Marine Ecosystem El Papel de Tecnologías e Empacto Innovadores de Colaboración de Investigación Progresiva de Infisheries de Pescadores en la Gestión Exitosa de Pesquería de Multi-especie en el Ecosystema Tropical Le rôle de Technologies et l'Impact Novatrices de Collaboration de Recherche d'Infisheries de Pêcheurs Progressive dans la direction Réussie de Pêche de Multi-Espèce dans Tropical Marin l'Écosystème DINESHBABU A.P.1, SUJITHA THOMAS1, and DINESH A.C2 Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute Mangalore.R.C P.B.No.244 Bolar Mangalore, Karnataka 575001 India [email protected] Geological Survey of IndiaGSI,Marine wing Pandeshwar Mangalore Karnataka 575001 India Page 2 ABSTRACT Fishing vessels in India has technological advancements, with state of art technologies in operating at greater depths, more endurance in sea, accurate fish finding and GPS based fishing ground identification, because of which marine fisheries which was restricted to 50 m depth in early eighties has extended to 500m. GPS, which was rare and highly expensive in earlier days became unavoidable equipment in marine fisheries sector and is being used extensively. The association of progressive fishermen with fishery scientists by sharing fishing and fishery data collected with GPS coordinates, could bring out invaluable information and database on areas and periods of heavy fishing pressure, on biodiversity depletion and threat on sustainability. Data sharing of 1,045 trawling days off west coast of India enabled the researchers to carry out GIS assisted mapping of the distribution and abundance of 237 species/groups of marine fauna and also could understand seasons of juvenile abundance of about 50 commercial species, which can form most important information base for the policy makers to suggest seasonal and spatial fishing restrictions and declaration of marine protected areas or critical fishing zone. The data base thus created is capable of mapping the distribution of all the recorded marine fauna in space and time. These information which is brought out in the form of illustrative resource maps provided transparency to the research results, thereby enabling easy implementation of fishery management plans, which was considered nearly impossible by the efforts of the government machineries alone. KEYWORDS: Fishery management, Participatory GIS, India, Conservation, Resource mapping Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Cambios en el Diseño de las Embarcaciones de Pesca en la Isla De San Andres, Colombia, Asociados Al Conocimiento Tradicional del Pescador Artesanal Changes in the Design of Fishing Vessels in the Island of San Andres, Colombia, Traditional Knowledge Associated Fishworkers Changements dans la Conception des Navires de Pêche Dans L'İle de San Andres, Colombie, les Savoirs Traditionnels Associés Pêcheurs PALABRAS CLAVES: San Andrés fishery, artisanal boat, King fiver 3 Page RESUMEN En San Andrés se desarrolla una importante pesquería artesanal dirigida a la captura de peces, langosta y caracol. Actualmente operan aproximadamente 140 embarcaciones, la mayoría propulsadas por motores fuera de borda. Cambios significativos en el diseño de las embarcaciones se han presentado en los últimos 40 años en respuesta a la incorporación de nuevas tecnologías de pesca, como el trolling, y a la necesidad del pescador de desplazarse a áreas más alejadas. Los cambios en el diseño de los botes corresponden a adaptaciones hechas a las canoas tradicionales propulsadas a vela para mejorarles su autonomía. El avance tecnológico fue alcanzado a partir del conocimiento tradicional del pescador, y está condicionado a la disponibilidad de materiales para la construcción de los cascos. Por ejemplo, en menos de 20 años la madera fue desplazada por la fibra de vidrio como el principal material de construcción. Una de las embarcaciones más usadas es el “King fiver”, modelo que arribó a la isla en los 80’s proveniente de Jamaica o Honduras, y que rápidamente se convirtió en la embarcación dominante. Su similitud con las embarcaciones tradicionales facilitó el proceso de apropiación tecnológica. El King fiver fue adaptado para mejorar su rendimiento y durabilidad, y actualmente su diseño es de forma fusiforme en V, con eslora de 28 pies, manga de 5.6 pies y calado de 3.4 pies. El King fiver, propulsado por motores de 40 o 75 H.P., tiene una autonomía entre 15 y 40 millas náuticas. 3 OMAR ABRIL-HOWARD, HUGO WILSON, ERICK CASTRO, y DOMINGO SÁNCHEZ Secretaria de Agricultura y Pesca Gobernación Departamental San Andres islas San Andres Islas, Colombia [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Invasión del Pez León (Pterois volitans) a Aguas Atlánticas: el Caso Colombiano Lionfish (Pterois volitans) Invasion to Atlantic waters: the Colombian Case Invasion du poisson lion Lionfish (Pterois volitans) aux eaux Atlantiques : le Cas Colombien Page 4 ACERO P. A.1, GARCÍA-URUEÑA R.2, SANTOS-MARTÍNEZ A.3, BETANCUR-R. R.1,4, POLANCO F. A.5, GRIJALBA-BENDECK M.6, SANJUAN-MUÑOZ A.6, GONZÁLEZ J.D.1, TORRES J.1, SARMIENTO L.6, ABRIL A.3, CORONADO V.2, GÓMEZ H.6, y HERNÁNDEZ J.M.2 1 Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Caribe, CECIMAR/INVEMAR, Santa Marta, Colombia, [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] 2 Universidad del Magdalena, Santa Marta, Colombia, [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] 3 Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Caribe, San Andrés, Colombia, [email protected], [email protected] 4 Georgetown University, Washington DC, EE. UU. 5 Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, Santa Marta, Colombia, [email protected] 6 Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano, El Rodadero, Santa Marta, Colombia, [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] RESUMEN La proliferación de Pterois volitans en aguas atlánticas se ha transformado en un fenómeno muy intenso y extendido. A partir de registros aislados que se remontan tres décadas atrás, este scorpaenido ya está ampliamente difundido en el costado occidental del océano Atlántico desde los Estados Unidos y las Bermudas hasta el arco antillano. La especie es reconocida por su elevada fecundidad y por sus hábitos altamente depredadores, que hacen del pez león una verdadera herramienta para muestrear la biodiversidad de peces y crustáceos arrecifales de una localidad. Desde junio 2009 un equipo de cinco grupos de investigación colombianos pertenecientes a cuatro instituciones visitó siete regiones arrecifales colombianas (San Andrés, Providencia, Capurganá, Islas de San Bernardo, Islas del Rosario, bajos de Cartagena, Santa Marta/Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona), caracterizadas por sus elevadas coberturas coralinas y riqueza de especies. El pez león fue observado, contado y capturado en todas esas localidades. Las principales, en términos de la abundancia del invasor, fueron San Andrés (Caribe occidental), Capurganá (límites con Panamá) y Santa Marta, pues en cada una se han recolectado más de 300 ejemplares, con abundancias para cada una que claramente llegan a miles de individuos. Por lo anterior se obtuvo la financiación de un proyecto por dos años, el cual irá hasta mediados de 2013, que busca entregar una diagnosis de la situación y proponer opciones para enfrentar a este peligroso invasor. Contribución del proyecto "Invasión del pez león (Pterois volitans) a los arrecifes colombianos: biología, ecología y origen" (Colciencias, 1361-52128271). KEYWORDS: Lion fish, Colombia, southern Caribbean, invasion, control Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Registro de un Ejemplar de Pez León (Pterois volitans) sin Vestigios de Aleta Dorsal Espinosa Report of a Specimen of Lion Fish (Pterois volitans) Lacking Traces of Spinous Dorsal Fin Registre d’un Exemplaire de Poisson Lion (Pterois volitans) sans Trace de Nageoire Dorsale Épineuse PALABRAS CLAVES: Lionfish, teratology, dorsal fin, San Andrés, pterygiophores 5 Page RESUMEN El pez león se ha convertido en una amenaza directa para la biodiversidad de los arrecifes colombianos. En la isla de San Andrés su proliferación alcanza niveles enormemente preocupantes. Sin embargo, Betancur et al. (2011), trabajando con el gen mitocondrial d-loop, demostraron que el pez león ha experimentado dos cuellos de botella en su proceso invasivo a las aguas del Caribe colombiano. La reducción en la variabilidad genética disminuye la capacidad de adaptación y por lo tanto la probabilidad de enfrentar cambios medioambientales. La aleta dorsal es sin duda el arma defensiva más formidable de esta especie. Cuenta con 13 espinas, las más largas de ellas de más de un tercio de la longitud estándar de un especimen adulto. Sin embargo, el 30 de marzo de 2012 recolectamos con arpón mecánico un ejemplar en el sitio sanandresano conocido como Nirvana, situado al suroeste de la isla, el cual carecía totalmente de aleta dorsal espinosa. El individuo fue examinado externa e internamente y sus datos merísticos y morfométricos tomados. Había ausencia total de pterygióforos en el sector donde debían estar situadas las espinas dorsales. Contribución del proyecto "Invasión del pez león (Pterois volitans) a los arrecifes colombianos: biología, ecología y origen" (Colciencias, 1361-521-28271). 5 ARTURO ACERO P, JUAN DAVID GÓNZALEZ, and JAVIER A. TORRES R. Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Caribe CECIMAR/INVEMAR, Cerro Punta Betín Santa Marta, MG Colombia [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Evaluación de Dispositivos Reductores de Fauna Acompañante en una Pesquería Arrastre Artesanal de Camarón en el Caribe de Colombia Evaluation of Bycatch Reduction Devices in the Shrimp Trawl Fishery of the Caribbean Sea of Colombia Évaluation des Dispositifs de Réduction des Prises Accidentelles dans la Pêche Artisanale Crevette au Chalut de la Mer des Caraïbes de la Colombie RUBEN ACEVEDO, FELIX CUELLO, y LUIS ORLANDO DUARTE Laboratorio de Investigaciones Pesqueras Tropica Universidad del Magdalena, Carrera 32 No. 22-08 Santa Marta, Colombia, [email protected] Page 6 RESUMEN Actualmente una de las principales líneas de investigación pesquera es la búsqueda de mecanismos para reducir la captura de organismos no deseados, especialmente en aquellas que emplean redes de arrastre de fondo como las utilizadas en la pesca de camarón; situación generalmente estudiada en el sector industrial y escasamente en el artesanal, en este trabajo se evaluó experimentalmente el efecto tres dispositivos reductores fauna acompañante-DRF (ojo de pescado, ventana de malla cuadrada y túnel con sección radial de escape) en la pesquería artesanal de arrastre de camarón en el Golfo de Salamanca, Se cuantificó la retención de la captura objetivo, incidental y los grupos taxonómicos (crustáceos, peces, moluscos, cnidarios, equinodermos, anélidos y poríferos) a partir de 15 faenas de pesca con 30 lances pareados por combinación control-DRF. Empleando dos embarcaciones semejantes pertenecientes a la flota artesanal. Abordo se pesó cada componente de la captura. Esta se estandarizó a captura por unidad de área (kg/m2). La consecuencia de cada dispositivo sobre la captura se midió empleando pruebas t pareadas para cada componente de la captura y grupo taxonómico y su efecto sobre la rentabilidad de las embarcaciones expresada como la diferencia entre la captura obtenida por la red control y con dispositivo. Se encontró que todos los dispositivos redujeron significativamente la captura de camarón y excluyeron los peces y crustáceos pero con poco efecto sobre los moluscos. A nivel económico, la reducción de los ingresos por faena no fue sustancial. Financiado por Colciencias (1117-489-25529) y Universidad del Magdalena. PALABRAS CLAVES: Camarón, Bycatch, Dispositivos Reductores de Fauna Acompañ, Porcentaje de reducción, Caribe de Colombia Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Eating Lionfish: An Effective Solution to Control its Invasion? Consumo De Pez León: ¿Solución Efectiva para Controlar su Invasión? Manger Lionfish: Une Solution Efficace pour Controler son Invasion? KEYWORDS: lionfish, gastronomic use, fishing derbies, eradication method, invasive species 7 Page ABSTRACT Biological invasions represent a serious threat to biodiversity because they cause extinctions to native species through predation, competition, and diseases, which in turns may cause economic losses. The Indo-Pacific red lionfish, Pterois volitans, was introduced, intentionally or accidentally, into the waters off Florida, USA, back in the 1980s, and now the population growth of this fish turned out to be a biological invasion that threats the coral reef biodiversity in the Western Atlantic. As an alternative for management and control of its invasion, government and conservation groups from the region are now recommending physical removal methods as a measure of eradication, including derbies, safaris and fishing tournaments. At the same time, those groups suggest the lionfish as candidate for human consumption as a gastronomic delicacy. In fact, since 2010 various fisher groups in the Bahamas, Belize and Mexico have organized lionfish degustation events where local people liked eating the fish as ceviches and fish fingers. In this work, I discuss the viability of promoting such gastronomic use which it may foster the creation of an international market that, if economically attractive to people, it may generate the opposite results to those proposed for eradicating this invasive fish. 7 ALFONSO AGUILAR Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán Km. 15.5, carretera Mérida-Xmatkuil Mérida, Yucatán 97100 México [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Lionfish By-Catch in The Florida Lobster Fishery – Significant Removals, Significant Impacts La Basura del Pez León la Basura en la Pesqueria de Langosta en los Cayos de la FloridaRetiros y Impactos Significativos Capture accessoire de Lionfish dans la Pêche de Langoustine de la Floride - Déplacements Significatifs, Impacts Significatifs LAD AKINS1, DOMINIQUE LAZZARE2, DAVID DIE2, and JAMES MORRIS3 1 REEF P O Box 370246 Key Largo, FL 33037 US, 2 RSMAS, 3 NOAA CCFHR, [email protected] Page 8 ABSTRACT Invasive Lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) were first documented in Florida Keys waters in 2009 and have shown a dramatic increase in distribution and abundance in a variety of habitats. Impacts to small-bodied reef fishes have been documented as severe in other areas of the invaded region. Local control through diver removals has been effective at minimizing populations and impacts. The lobster trap fishery in the Florida Keys is a $40,000,000/year industry. Commercial fishermen began reporting by-catch of lionfish in the deepwater lobster trap fishery in 2010. Here we examine lionfish by-catch in the lobster trap fishery in the Florida Keys including catch rates, by time, location and trap type. We provide the first evidence of impacts to the commercial fishery including lionfish as the second most common by-catch, CPUE of .25 lionfish/trap in deepwater (>150’) and a 20 % reduction in lobster catch when lionfish are present in traps. KEYWORDS: Lionfish, By-catch, Lobster, Economic impacts, Commercial fishery Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI El Parque Ecoturístico De Xel-Há, Quintana-Roo, México Un Lugar Para La Conservación de la Ictiofauna Del Caribe. The Ecotourism Park Of Xel-Ha, Quintana-Roo, Mexico A Place For The Conservation Of The Ichthyofauna Of The Caribbean. Le Parc Ecoturique De Xel-Há, Quintana-Roo, México Dans La Conservation De La Icthyofaune De La Caraibe. PALABRAS CLAVES: Ictiofauna, Xel-Há, ecoturismo, conservación, estructura comunitaria 9 Page RESUMEN Xel-há es un parque ecoturístico en concesión a una empresa privada donde su flora y fauna están protegidas. Desde 2001 estudios sobre la conservación faunística son realizados en colaboración con la academia (CINVESTAV). Este estudio abordó un análisis espacio-temporal de la estructura comunitaria de peces en diferentes sitios de Xel-Há y en horarios matutinovespertino para verano-invierno a fin de conocer el grado de conservación de la ictiofauna. La abundancia y riqueza ictiofaunística se determinó a partir de censos visuales submarinos por medio de la técnica de transecto fijo de una extención de 100*5 m. Los transectos se distribuyeron en 21 puntos de la caleta de Xel-Há. Se registraron temperatura, salinidad y oxígeno disuelto en ciclos de 24 horas a distintas estaciones del año. Se exploró el grado de asociación de variables ambientales con los descriptores comunitarios. La caracterización de las comunidades se hizo mediante descriptores como la abundancia relativa, riqueza de Margalef, equidad, diversidad de Shannon-Wienner y densidad. A escalas estacional y diurna-vespertina se caracterizaron las especies de la comunidad en: dominantes, frecuentes, comunes y raras de acuerdo a su densidad y frecuencia de ocurrencia. El grado de similitud entre sitios y estaciones se estimó mediante análisis de agrupamiento y nMDS. Las variables independiente se correlacionaran con los descriptores comunitarios de peces, por ACP.Los resultados preliminares reportan un total de 54 especies de las cuales dos (Cantigaster rostrata y Scarus croicensis) no habían sido registradas para la caleta de Xel-Há. Las familias dominates fueron: Haemulidae, Ludjanidae, Scaridae y Acanthuridae. Las especies mejor representadas de acuerdo a su abundancia y frecuencia de ocurrencia fueron: Haemulon sciurus, Ludjanus griseus, Acanthurus coeruleus, Haemulon flavolineatum yAbudefduf saxoatilis. 9 ALEJANDRO ALDANA MORENO CINVESTAV KM. 6 Carretera a Progreso Mérida, Yucatán, 97310 México [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI The Lionfish Invasion in Klein Bonaire: Comparisons to Mainland Bonaire and Curacao La Invasión del Pez León en Klein Bonaire: Las Comparaciones con Parte Continental de Bonaire y Curacao L'Invasion Lionfish a Klein Bonaire: Les Comparaisons avec Le Continent Bonaire et Curaçao FADILAH ALI University of Southampton 927 Pelican Road, Lange Park Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago [email protected] Page 10 ABSTRACT The Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans) was first confirmed in the Dutch Caribbean in late October, 2009. Since then, they have increased in size and abundance, despite an active eradication programs. A study was conducted on Klein Bonaire whereby the entire island was surveyed to determine lionfish density. A total of 17 survey dives was conducted at dusk (9) and at night (8) with at least eight divers participating in each dive. Divers were distributed throughout the water column so that a full sweep of the reef could be made from 20 – 135 feet. Attempts were made to catch all lionfish with all unsuccessful attempts being recorded for density purposes. All caught lionfish were measured, weighed and dissected to determine their sex and stomach contents. A total of 893 lionfish were caught with a higher percentage of lionfish caught at dusk having empty stomachs, whilst those caught at night had a higher percentage of prey in their stomachs. A total of 31 species of fish and 10 species of invertebrates were identified from lionfish stomach contents. This data was then compared to data collected from Bonaire and Curacao and revealed both similarities and differences in the prey composition amongst the three islands. This study represents the first in the Caribbean region to survey an entire island for lionfish and conduct at dusk versus night relationship. KEYWORDS: lionfish, diet preference, density, dusk, night Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Cambios en Los Regímenes de la Pesquería de Arrastre de Camarón Conducen a Cambios en la Composición de los Desembarcos de la Pesquería Artesanal en el Mar Caribe de Colombia Changing Regimes of the Shrimp Trawl Fishery Lead to Changes in Landings Composition of the Artisanal Fisheries in the Caribbean Sea off Colombia Changements dans les Régimes de la Pêche au Chalut À Crevettes Entraîner des Changements dans la Composition des Débarquements de la Pêche Artisanale dans la Mer des Caraïbes de la Colombie JAIRO ALTAMAR1 y KARIM ERZINI2 Universidad del Magdalena -Doctoral Program Marine and Environmental Scien Cra 32 No. 22-08 Av. Ferrocarril Santa Marta, Magdalena Colombia [email protected] 2 Universidade do Algarve-CCMAR Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologias, Campus Gambelas Faro Algarve 8005-139 Portugal PALABRAS CLAVES: capturas artesanales, estructura de tallas, red de enmalle, Lutjanus synagris, Mar Caribe de Colombia 11 Page RESUMEN Se evaluaron cambios en la composición de los desembarcos de una pesquería artesanal con red de enmalle que opera en La Guajira colombiana y cuya área de operación ha sido ocupada parcialmente tanto por la flota artesanal como por la flota industrial de arrastre de camarón. Los desembarcos pesqueros (Kg/faena) de dos periodos de muestreo fueron comparados: 1994-1998 cuando operaban las dos flotas y 2006-2009 cuando solo operaban las embarcaciones artesanales. Un análisis de escalamiento multidimensional no paramétrico usando medidas de similaridad de Bray-Curtis fue aplicado para identificar grupos con composiciones de desembarco similares temporalmente. El análisis indicó diferencias entre dos grupos que corresponden a los dos periodos de muestreo. Los valores de estrés de 0.15 indican una adecuada representación de la información en dos dimensiones. Por otro lado, curvas logísticas de la estructura de tamaños del Lutjanus synagris capturado con red de enmalle fueron ajustadas utilizando regresión no lineal y sus distribuciones de frecuencias fueron comparadas con la prueba de Kolmogorov-Smirnov. Los resultados muestran diferencias significativas entre los periodos evaluados, mostrando que la estructura de tamaños del último periodo contiene una porción importante de individuos más jóvenes. La desaparición del esfuerzo de pesca de los industriales ha contribuido claramente a los cambios observados en la composición de los desembarcos, sin embargo modificaciones en el dimensionamiento del arte han intensificado la captura de los tamaños más pequeños de L. synagris, por lo que se requiere la implementación de planes de ordenamiento que controlen la selectividad de redes de enmalle. 11 1 Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Compensation for Anglers from the Deepwater Horizon Spill Compensación para Pescadores Deportivos por el Derrame del Deepwater Horizon Indemnisation pour Pêcheurs Loisirs de la Marée Noire de Deepwater Horizon 1 SERGIO ALVAREZ1, SHERRY LARKIN1, JOHN WHITEHEAD2, and TIM HAAB3 University of Florida PO Box 110240 Gainesville, FL 32611 United States, [email protected] 2 Appalachian State University 3102 Raley Hall Boone NC 28608 United States 3 The Ohio State University 2120 Fyffe Rd Columbus OH 43210 United States Page 12 ABSTRACT At an estimated 4.9 million barrels, the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) spill is the largest oil spill in the history of the United States. During nearly three months of active discharge, oil reached the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, resulting in large scale fishery closures. Many recreational anglers who planned visits to the Gulf Coast likely canceled, rescheduled, or changed their trip location to areas not affected. The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 allows resource trustees to claim and recover losses on behalf of the public. Recoverable damages include the cost of primary restoration and interim losses that encompass passive and direct use values, such as recreation. Trustees must use funds recovered for restoration activities. In this paper, we use a series of random utility models of site choice by recreational anglers in the Southeast U.S. to examine monetary and non-monetary compensation measures for losses by anglers due to the DWH spill. The models allow us to estimate different compensation measures for anglers who fish from shore, private boats, and those who fish from charter and party boats. In particular, we examine increased catches as an avenue for compensating anglers, given that actions such as habitat improvement or stock enhancement may result in higher catches. Preliminary results indicate that monetary compensation is in the range of 110, 76, and 33 dollars, while compensation through increased catch is in the range of 0.32, 0.16 and 1.68 fish per trip for shore-based, for-hire, and private boat anglers, respectively. KEYWORDS: recreational fishing, MRIP, Deepwater Horizon, oil spill, random utility model Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Trophic Portfolios For Fisheries Management in Data Limited Ecosystems Portafolios Tróficos Para Manejo de Pesquerías en Ecosistemas con Información Limitada Portefeuilles Trophiques Pour La Gestion Des Pêches Dans Les Écosystèmes Avec Des Informations Limitées KEYWORDS: ecosystem based fishery management, portfolio, risk, West Florida Shelf, Colombian Pacific Coast 13 Page ABSTRACT Increased recognition of the effects of fishing on the habitat, predators, and prey of target species has led to a broad consensus on the need to abandon single-species focused management policies in favor of a more holistic approach to fisheries management. This approach, known as Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management (EBFM), is likely to rely on the development of data intensive models that simulate ecosystem processes such as trophic interactions and nutrient cycling. In data-limited situations the development of ecosystem models presents a real obstacle to the implementation of EBFM. Use of portfolio theory to examine strategies that weigh risk and returns for an entire ecosystem has been explored in fisheries management as a tool for EBFM. With the recognition that fish stocks are akin to market assets, biological portfolios can be constructed. The applications in fisheries management rely on the use of readily available catch and revenue time series data and the inclusion of sustainability constraints to limit maximum total allowable catches. In this paper, we create optimal fisheries management portfolios of the West Florida Shelf and the Colombian Pacific Coast. We use the longer time series available in the West Florida Shelf to examine historical performance of the fishery by comparing observed risk and returns to those of the efficient portfolio in past years. Due to the limited length of the time series obtained for the Colombian Pacific Coast, we limit our analysis to examining recent performance of the fishery, as well as indicating the composition of the efficient portfolios. 13 SERGIO ALVAREZ and SHERRY LARKIN University of Florida PO Box 110240 Gainesville, FL 32611 United States [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Evaluando El Estado De Salud Ecológica del Arrecife Mesoamericano y los Esfuerzos de Manejo a Nivel Local, Nacional y Regional Assessing the Health and Management Efforts of the Mesoamerican Reef Évaluer les Efforts de Santé et de Gestion du Récif Méso-Américain LORENZO ALVAREZ FILIP1, IANA DRYSDALE2, MARISOL RUEDA1, ROBERTO POTT3 y MELANIE MCFIELD3 1 Healthy Reefs Puerto Morelos, Mexico [email protected] 2 Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative Honduras 3 Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative Belize Page 14 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, genera Reportes bianuales de la Salud Ecológica del SAM, empleando cuatro indicadores para evaluar la condición o salud ecológica del arrecife: cobertura de coral, cobertura de macroalgas carnosas, biomasa de peces herbívoros y biomasa de peces comerciales. Los análisis realizados por HRI muestran que menos del 10% de los arrecifes de la región se encuentran en buenas condiciones, mientras que ~70% presentan valor bajos o críticos en base a los indicadores biológicos. 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 de redes de Áreas Marinas Protegidas. Se necesita tiempo para que estas medidas surtan efecto y sean cuantificables en términos de la salud del arrecife. Implementar medidas a escala global para reducir los niveles de CO2 es también fundamental para reducir los impactos del cambio climático global, como son el blanqueamiento de coral y la acidificación del océano. PALABRAS CLAVES: Arrecife Mesoamericano, Areas protegidas, manejo sustentable, salud, arrecifes Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Evaluación Ambiental Integral de la Pesquería de Langosta Espinosa en el Archipiélago de San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina, Caribe Colombiano Integral Environmental Assessment for the Spiny Lobster Fishery in the San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina Archipelago, Colombian Caribbean Évaluation Environnementale Intégrée pour la Pêche de la Langouste Épineux dans le Archipel de San Andrés, Providencia et Santa Catalina, Caraïbe Colombienne PALABRAS CLAVES: Langosta, Pesca, San Andrés, Caribe, Colombia 15 Page RESUMEN A partir de una Evaluación Ambiental Integral se estableció la situación actual de la pesquería de Langosta Espinosa del Archipiélago de San Andrés Islas. La pesquería opera industrialmente con barcos de bandera extrajera afiliados a empresas colombianas y artesanalmente con pescadores locales, casi todos de la isla Providencia; comenzó a regularse desde 1990 con talla mínima de captura, controles portuarios y cuota global. No está sobre explotada, pero si cerca del Rendimiento Máximo Sostenible. Se determinó que el manejo de esta pesquería presenta ventajas como la autonomía institucional, una cuota de extracción y un marco legal sólido. Sin embargo, hay todavía inconvenientes con la selectividad del arte de pesca (nasas), la pesca ilegal y procesos de participación comunitaria. Se plantearon alternativas para disminuir y/o controlar las presiones sobre el recurso, así como mitigar y compensar los impactos de la actividad pesquera; el análisis mostró que todavía hay factores que no permiten acceder a una ecocertificación pesquera, pero que esta pesquería se encuentra en mejores condiciones que la del Caribe Continental Colombiano, cuya situación es diferente. Se propone un escenario que describe acciones necesarias para un buen manejo, identificando criterios como: estado del recurso, impacto ecosistémico, medidas de manejo, pesca ilegal, educación y participación. Se requiere regular el esfuerzo pesquero verificando la cuota global y regulando el número de embarcaciones activas, hacer evaluaciones periódicas del recurso, implementar un programa de observadores a bordo, capacitar a pescadores, realizar mayor inversión para programas de control y vigilancia que combatan la pesca ilegal en caladeros de pesca distantes, establecer acuerdos de cooperación internacional para un manejo regional del recurso, y mantener la actividad de investigación asociada a la pesquería. 15 ANY CATHERINE AMADO LOAIZA Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas Carrera 144 A # 132 B 23 Bogotá, Bogotá D.C. Colombia [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI ¿Benefician las Áreas Marinas Protegidas a las Pesquerías de Colombia?: Una Evaluación Basada en Modelación Dinámica Do Marine Protected Areas Benefit Fisheries in Colombia? An Evaluation Based on Dynamic Modeling for Fisheries Zones Marines Protégées Beneficient Peches en la Colombie? Une Evaluation Fondee dans la Modelisation Dynamique de la Pêche JULIO ANDRADE1, RAFAEL CUERVO1, JORGE MALDONADO1, y MARIO RUEDA2 1 Universidad de los Andes Calle 19A 1-37E W814 Bogota, DC 111711 Colombia [email protected] 2 INVEMAR Cerro Punta Betín, A.A 1016 Santa Marta, Magdalena Colombia [email protected] INVEMAR Cerro Punta Betín, A.A 1016 Santa MartaMagdalena Colombia Page 16 RESUMEN Las áreas marinas protegidas son reconocidas en la actualidad como una alternativa de conservación de los ecosistemas marinos. Aunque la figura de protección reduce el área disponible para la actividad pesquera, se ha documentado que la misma puede convertirse en una fuente de recursos para la actividad en las zonas aledañas, a través del efecto de rebosamiento. El objetivo de este estudio es valorar los cambios sobre la provisión de recurso pesquero, resultado del aumento en las áreas marinas protegidas en las costas colombianas, a través de un modelo dinámico bioeconómico de producción excedente para las pesquerías del camarón (Litopenaeus occidentalis) y del pargo (Lutjanus purpureus), dos especies importantes en términos sociales y económicos, en las costas del Pacífico y del Caribe. El modelo incluye un área protegida –con disponibilidad de hábitats esenciales- y un área no protegida, así como la posibilidad de migración entre ellas. Se analizan los cambios en los niveles de biomasa, captura, esfuerzo y los beneficios económicos de la actividad pesquera a través del tiempo, ante diferentes escenarios de protección. Se concluye que a pesar de la reducción del área disponible para la pesca, las áreas protegidas generan –en el mediano plazo- un aumento en los niveles de biomasa y en los beneficios de la actividad pesquera a través del efecto de rebosamiento, lo que permite afirmar que las áreas marinas protegidas constituyen una alternativa de conservación válida, con el potencial de generar beneficios económicos. PALABRAS CLAVES: marine protected areas, fisheries, dynamic modeling, biodiversity, spillover effect Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Measuring Relative Density of Spawning Red Hind (Epinephelus guttatus) from Sound Production: Consistency within and Among Sites Usando la Producción del Sonido como Medida de las Densidades Relativas del Mero Cabrilla (Epinephelus guttatus) durante la Agregación de Desove: Consistencia Dentro y entre Los Lugares Mesure de la Densité Relative de le Vieille Rouge, (Epinephelus guttatus) d'Après les Sons: Cohérence dans et entre Emplacements KEYWORDS: red hind, spawning aggregation, sound production, relative density, 17 Page ABSTRACT Groupers are among the most important yet vulnerable fishes in the Caribbean and in tropical waters worldwide. Vulnerability comes from their habit of forming spawning aggregations predictable in space and time, yet these same factors make aggregations focal points for both management and assessment. However, in situ assessments are often difficult due to wind and wave conditions and limited resources, especially where multiple spawning sites exist. Passive acoustic recordings using benthic hydrophones offer a potential solution. Groupers are soniferous fishes, and males make specific sounds related to courtship activities (attracting females, warning off other males). These calls can be distinguished among species. For the red hind at the Abrir la Sierra (ALS) aggregation site off western Puerto Rico, the number and sound level of calls are sufficiently correlated to overall fish density to be able to use sound as a predictor of density, or relative abundance. Yet the question remains whether this relationship is consistent between locations or year to year. We address the reliability of this predictive capacity by comparing the relationship between red hind calls to density at ALS over two years and between ALS and Mona Island, which is separated from ALS by 47 km and depths of 400 to 600 m. Red hind calls were recorded using a bottom-mounted hydrophone while density was measured using diver visual census. Consistency across sites and time suggests a universally valid relationship, while consistency only within site suggests the relationship is site specific, most probably due to habitat factors. 17 RICHARD APPELDOORN, MICHELLE SCHÄRER-UMPIERRE, TIMOTHY ROWELL, and MICHAEL NEMETH Department of Marine Sciences University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez, PR 00681-9000 USA [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Fishers’ Participation in Coastal Fisheries Co-Management: The Case of the Community of Trindade, in Southeastern Coast of Brazil La Participación de los Pescadores en la Cogestión de la Pesca Costera: El Caso de la Comunidad de Trindade, en la Costa Sureste de Brasil La Participation des Pêcheurs dans la Co-Gestion des Pêches Côtières: Le Cas de la Communauté de Trindade, Côte Sud-Est du Brésil LUCIANA GOMES DE ARAUJO1 and CRISTIANA SIMÃO SEIXAS2 1 Environmental Studies and Research Centre (NEPAM , Brazil [email protected] 2 Environmental Studies and Research Centre (NEPAM), State University of Campinas Brazil Page 18 ABSTRACT The development of coastal fisheries co-management depends on numerous factors, including the effective participation of fishers and their organizations’ representative in decision-making. In Trindade, Paraty, Brazil, local fisheries are carried out along with tourism-related activities, in some cases inside a protected area. This study aims to discuss which factors contribute to effective fishers’ participation in management processes that influence Trindade’s fisheries. From 2009 to 2011, we observed 25 meetings related somehow to fisheries management. Data on fishers’ participation is based on (i) interviews, (ii) their participation in meetings/workshops and (iii) the structure and dynamics of management processes. Trindade fishers’ participation in decision making processes that influence artisanal fisheries is still a challenge concerning the legitimacy of those processes which are mainly characterized as top-down processes. Fishers often participate only by consultation and by providing information. In order to develop more collaborative management processes a greater level of involvement and commitment of fishers is required. In addition to guaranteeing well planned and facilitated meetings and workshops, one alternative to increase fishers’ participation may be through creating arenas that are open to different values, world views and types of knowledge that reflect their own cultural, social and political contexts. This may be done with the adoption of guiding principles of participatory processes that help the development of a common vision for collaborative management and hopefully learning processes as well. KEYWORDS: participation, management, artisanal fisheries, Paraty, Brazil Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Composición de las Capturas en Aguas Profundas (200 - 600m) en el Mar Caribe Colombiano Catch Composition of Deep-Water (200 – 600 M) in The Colombian Caribbean Sea La Composition Des Captures En Eaux Profondes (200 - 600m) Dans La Mer Des Caraïbes Colombien GUSTAVO ARDILA, EYNELET RODRÍGUEZ, y JORGE PARAMO Universidad del Magdalena Cra. 32 No. 22-08 Avenida del Ferrocarril Santa Marta, Magdalena 0057 Colombia [email protected] PALABRAS CLAVES: fauna asociada, pesquerías de profundidad, Caribe, Colombia 19 Page El desarrollo del sector pesquero en Colombia debe enfocarse en la búsqueda de nuevos recursos, económicamente rentables y atractivos, que a su vez no ponga en riesgo la sostenibilidad del recurso asociado a la pesca. En el presente estudio, fueron exploradas nuevas zonas de pesca en el Caribe colombiano en profundidades de 200 a 600m (con estratos de profundidad de 100m) con el objetivo de obtener información de la composición y abundancia en términos de porcentaje de las especies de peces, crustáceos e invertebrados como aporte a una nueva pesquería de aguas profundas en la región. Las muestras fueron colectadas mediante cuatro cruceros experimentales de agosto de 2009 a mayo de 2010, en un barco camaronero usando una red de arrastre de tamaño de malla en el copo de 44.5mm sobre una grilla de 87 estaciones. Los mayores porcentajes fueron obtenidos en peces con el 60%, crustáceos con 35.53% en los que se encuentran especies de importancia comercial como la gamba española (Aristaeomorpha foliacea), camarón rojo real (Pleoticus robustus) y camarón rosado manchado (Penaeopsis serrata). En los restantes porcentajes se encuentran moluscos (2.084%), cefalópodos (0.303%), condrictios (1.409%). Esta información es relevante para la iniciación de una nueva pesquería, ya que permite conocer la abundancia de la fauna asociada, para un buen manejo del recurso basado en el enfoque ecosistémico. 19 RESUMEN Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Ictiofauna del Área Marina de Pesca Responsable Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica: Análisis Independiente de Pesca Fish Fauna of the Marine Area for Responsible Fisheries Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica: FisheryIndependent Analysis Faune de Poissons de l’aire Marine de Pêche Responsable-Gictiofauna del Área Marina de Pesca Responsable Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica: Análisis Independiente De Pesca ANA MARÍA ARIAS MORENO1 y HELENA MOLINA UREÑA2 1 Posgrado en Biología Escuela de Biología Universidad de Costa Rica San José, San José 11501-2060 Costa Rica [email protected] 2 Escuela de Biología Universidad de Costa RicaCIMAR San José San José 11501-2060 Costa Rica Page 20 RESUMEN La reciente declaratoria del Golfo Dulce, un fiordo tropical y la única cuenca anóxica de la costa Pacífica Americana, como Área Marina de Pesca Responsable requiere información científica para desarrollar un Plan de Ordenamiento Pesquero que permita el uso sostenible de sus recursos marinos. Mediante un estudio sistemático independiente de pesca, se está caracterizando la variabilidad espacial y temporal de la composición taxonómica de los peces del golfo, en un ciclo anual. Se han realizado cinco muestreos, tres en temporada lluviosa (agosto y diciembre 2011 y julio 2012) y dos en época seca (febrero y abril 2012). Dieciocho sitios de muestreo, distantes ~5 km entre sí, se establecieron a lo largo de la línea costera. Cada sitio constó de dos estaciones, una cerca de arrecifes rocosos y otra al borde de la plataforma. En cada estación se tendió paralelo a la isobata un trasmallo de 120 m de longitud, constituido por seis paños de poro de malla mixto (8.7, 13.7 y 15 cm) de 20 m de longitud cada uno, con un tiempo de inmersión de 1.5 horas. La estructura de la comunidad, basada en capturas estandarizadas por unidad de esfuerzo (CPUE), se analizará con técnicas multi-variables, pruebas estadísticas paramétricas y no paramétricas, y enfoques pesqueros, según el caso. Los resultados preliminares de agosto 2011 a abril 2012, reportan >57 especies y una captura total >240 kg. Un 84% de las especies (46% de biomasa) son peces óseos, mientras 9 especies de elasmobranquios representaron 129.7 kg. Las bajas capturas posiblemente reflejan la baja productividad pesquera de este fiordo tropical. PALABRAS CLAVES: fiordo tropical, manejo pesquero, comunidad de peces, , Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Alternativas Tecnológicas para Enfrentar la Invasión del Pez León (Pterois volitans, Linnaeus 1758) al Caribe Colombiano Tecnological Alternatives to Face Lion Fish (Pterois volitans, Linnaeus 1758) Invasion in the Colombian Caribean Coast Alternatives Technologiques pour Faire Face â L`Invasion du Poisson Lion (Pterois volitans, Linnaeus 1758) sur la Côte Caraibe Colombienne PALABRAS CLAVES: Especie invasora, Alimentos, Productos pesqueros 21 Page RESUMEN El pez león constituye una amenaza al Caribe a nivel pesquero, económico y ecológico, por ser un depredador agresivo de peces y organismos arrecifales, pues al aumentar sus poblaciones ocasionaría pérdida de la biodiversidad, destruiría ecosistemas, alteraría la cadena alimenticia y la consecuente debacle económica por el deterioro del recurso pesquero. Desde que se reportó el pez león en el Caribe colombiano (2008), se ha reproducido de una manera acelerada, alcanzando tallas superiores a 42 cm y más de 1 kg de peso, esta especie se ha adaptado a distintos ecosistemas y profundidades, actualmente en Santa Marta se captura con trampas (nasas) a más de 70 metros, desplazando las especies que tradicionalmente se pescaban con este arte. Por lo anterior se hace necesario darle un valor agregado a este recurso cumpliendo así tres objetivos principales, primero: hacer esta carne menos perecedera, segundo: con nuevos productos se consigue hacerla agradable a la vista y el paladar, debido al aspecto desagradable del pez león y la fama de venenoso, y tercero: disminuir el impacto que representa la presencia de esta especie en los ecosistemas marinos del Caribe al fomentar su captura y consumo. Para esta investigación se elaboraron semiconservas con buena demanda en nuestro medio como son las butifarras y chorizos. 21 BLADIMIR BADO1, EDUARDO CABRERA2, OMAR CARREÑO2, y GERARDO CODIMA3 1 Universidad del Magdalena Asociacion de Pescadores de Taganga ciudadela universitaria calle 13 carrera 1 Santa Marta, Magdalena Colombia [email protected] 2 Universidad del Magdalena Centro de Desarrollo Pesquero y Acuícola Santa Marta, Colombia 3 Secretaría de Salud Distrital de Santa Marta, Santa Marta, Colombia Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Análisis Genético de la Langosta Espinosa Panulirus argus en el Archipiélago de San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina, Reserva de Biosfera Seaflower Genetic Analyis of the Spiny Lobster Panulirus argus in the San Andres, Providence and Santa Catalina Archipelago, Seaflower Biosphere Reserve Analyse Génétique de la Langouste Épineuse Panulirus argus dans L'Archipel de San Andrés, Providencia et Santa Catalina, Seaflower Biosphère Réserve CARLOS BALLESTEROS1, BETSABÉ LARRIVIERE1, JOSÉ DAVID RANGEL1, EDNA JUDITH MÁRQUEZ1 y ERICK CASTRO2 1 Universidad Nacional de Colombia San Andres, SAI Colombia [email protected] 2 Secretaría de Agricultura y Pesca Page 22 RESUMEN La langosta espinosa Panulirus argus es actualmente el recurso pesquero más importante en el Archipiélago de San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina, y uno de los más importantes a nivel de exportaciones en el País. Desde los comienzos de esta pesquería en la década de 1980 se han realizado estudios sobre subiología y pesquería, los cuales han dado herramientas a administradores pesqueros para implementar medidas de manejo. Con el objetivo de generar nueva información biológica por medio de la identificación de stocks en el Archipiélago, en este trabajo se estudió la variación genética de la langosta espinosa en 11 bancos coralinos del Archipiélago, con base en el análisis de nueve regiones microsatélites previamente descritas para la especie., con el fin de pretender estimar el grado de estructuración genética de las poblaciones naturales de P. argus.Se recolectaron 384 muestras de los 11 bancos de pesca para el análisis molecular, a partir de las cuales se estimaron las desviaciones del equilibrio Hardy-Weinberg y del desequilibrio de ligamiento genético y se evaluó la diferenciación genética entre los sitios geográficos. La información obtenida, además de ser pionera en el país para este recurso, complementa el conocimiento sobre los patrones de conectividad del Caribe suroccidental, donde puede ser utilizada en la implementación de políticas de manejo pesquero de la especie. PALABRAS CLAVES: Panulirus argus, Genetica, Microsatelites, Pesqueria, San Andres Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Valoración Económica del Subsistema de Áreas Marinas Protegidas en Colombia: Un Estudio Orientado a Turistas Especializados Economic Valuation of Marine Protected Areas in Colombia: A Study Focused on Specialized Tourists L'évaluation Économique Du Sous-Système des Aires Marines Protegées en Colombie: Un Étude Visant aux Touristes Spécialisés PALABRAS CLAVES: marine protected areas, specialized tourists, economic valuation, contingent valuation, willingness to pay 23 Page RESUMEN Los ecosistemas marinos y costeros son importantes por los bienes y servicios que 23alcul a la sociedad. A pesar de su importancia, estos ecosistemas están cada vez más expuestos a diferentes tipos de amenazas por prácticas humanas o fenómenos 23alculus, lo que ha causado una pérdida acelerada de ecosistemas y sus servicios. Para enfrentar este deterioro, a nivel mundial se han implementando Áreas Marinas Protegidas, figuras legales que buscan conservar, preservar y restaurar ecosistemas marinos que han sido afectados o se encuentran en peligro. Adicionalmente, la literatura ha mostrado la importancia del valor recreacional de estas zonas y el potencial de este uso directo en generar ingresos para la manutención y monitoreo de estas alculu de protección. El presente alcul estima, a través de la metodología de valoración contingente, el valor que los turistas especializados (buzos recreativos) dan a un alculus en la superficie del Sistema de Áreas Marinas Protegidas de Colombia, tendiente a cumplir los alculus es en alculus de biodiversidad. El principal resultado es que los buzos recreativos tienen una disponibilidad a pagar de US$14.4 por cada día de inmersión que practiquen en Áreas Marinas Protegidas del país, para la ampliación y consolidación del sistema, incluyendo tanto las costas Caribe como Pacífica. Los cálculos muestran que la disponibilidad a pagar agregada es de aproximadamente 12.5 millones de dólares anuales. Estos resultados son útiles para recomendaciones de política orientadas a la financiación de las Áreas Marinas Protegidas, las cuales usualmente adolecen de suficientes recursos para garantizar una protección efectiva. 23 CAMILA BARRERA-ORJUELA y JORGE MALDONADO Universidad de los Andes Calle 19A 1-37E W814 Bogota, DC 111711 Colombia [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Connectivity at Large (>500 Km) and Small (<250 Km) Spatial Scales in the Caribbean as Exemplified by the Yellowhead Jawfish (Opistognathus aurifrons). Conectividad Espacial a Pequeña (<250 Km) y Gran (>500 Km) Escala en el en Pez Béntico Opistognathus aurifrons a Trevés del Caribe Connectivite Agrande Taille (>500 Km) et Petit (<250 Km) Echelles Spatiales les Caraïbes comme le Montre Opistognathus aurifrons DIANA BELTRAN RODRIGUEZ and RICHARD S. APPELDOORN University of Puerto Rico Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico 00667 USA [email protected] Page 24 ABSTRACT Caribbean reefs are in peril, and marine protected area (MPA) networks are management strategies to ameliorate and restore these jeopardized systems. Understanding whether populations of marine organisms behave as open or close entities and the geographic scale at which open populations are connected are central to adequately design successful MPA networks. Genetic surveys are among the most useful approaches to inferred connectivity among populations. Here we use genetic data to investigate levels of connectivity at two spatial scales (23 - 250 km and 500 - 1500 km) in the benthic yellowhead jawfish (Opistognathus aurifrons). I genotypes 220 individuals at a mtDNA dloop and a nuclear gene (Atrop). At large scales populations show strong genetic subdivision. At the extremes, populations in Florida have reduced levels of variation and are fixed for local haplotypes, while in Curacao, populations have the highest genetic diversity with private haplotypes at high frequencies (>25%). At smaller scales, populations within Puerto Rico (<250 km) showed subtle genetic subdivision. This study highlights that connectivity among Caribbean populations of benthic fishes may not be connected over the species range. Even populations as close as 250 Km show signs of genetic segregation. The distance among MPAs with any network should reflect the local scales of connectivity, while multiple networks may be necessary to protect the full diversity of marine populations. KEYWORDS: MPA, Coral Reef, Connectivity, mtDNA, Caribbean Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Economic valuation of the mangroves of Bajo Yuna National Park of Sánchez, Dominican Republic Valoración económica de los manglares del Parque Nacional Bajo Yuna en Sánchez, República Dominicana L'évaluation économique des mangroves au Parc National Bajo Yuna dans Sanchez, République Dominicaine KEYWORDS: Economic valuation, Mangroves, Environmental good and services, cost-benefits, Dominican Republic 25 Page ABSTRACT This research determines the economic value of mangroves in Bajo Yuna National Park (MBY), a protected area located west of the Bay of Samaná, Dominican Republic, on the basis of their use and willingness to pay (WTP) to preserve them. Seven (7) field trips were made between October 2008 and February 2010 to the study area to conduct interviews, polls and capture fisheries’ landing surveys, determine fishery statistics and conduct cost-benefit analysis. The results show that mangroves still maintain the attributes that ensure their ecological integrity and that fishing has the highest social incidence in the study area. Also fishing reports annually around US$340,281.00 and an income per fisher of US$268.00. Moreover, the WTP was determined at US$6.41 for each fisherman that is equivalent to US$7,974.35 for the existing fishing village population of 1,244 fishermen. Thus this represents a substantial financial resource for the efficient management of this protected area. Additionally, the results showed that their WTP was strongly influenced by the variables of level of organizational groups, family, housing tenure, knowledge and dependence on the ecosystem. An integrated response from community organizations and government was recommended to transcend the objective of merely protecting the mangroves, as the livelihood of these fishermen depends directly on this ecosystem. Finally, the results of this research and Articles 43 and 45 of Law 307/04 support a proposal aimed to strengthen the fishing unit of Sanchez as a management tool to be implemented by those institutions directly involved. 25 MARCIA BELTRE1, ABEL HERNÁNDEZ2, and JEANNETTE MATEO1 1 CODOPESCA Autopista Duarte Km 6 Santo Domingo, República Dominicana [email protected] 2 Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña Av. John F. Kennedy Km 7 1/2 Santo Domingo Distrito Nacional 1423 Dominican Republic Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Reeffish Aggregations in Southern Brazil: Pró-Arribada and Meros Do Brasil Initiatives Agregaciones de Peces de Arrecife en el Sur de Brasil: Las Iniciativas de los Proyectos PróArribada y Meros Do Brasil Agrégations de Poissons de Récif dans le Sud Du Brésil: Les Initiatives du Pro-Arribada et Meros Do Brasil Projet ÁTHILA BERTONCINI1, MAÍRA BORGONHA1, LEONARDO BUENO2, MATHEUS FREITAS3, FABIANO GRECCO4, LEONARDO MACHADO4 and MAURÍCIO HOSTIMSILVA5 1 Universidade Federal Fluminense PPG-BIOMAR Tiradentes, 56 Campinas São José, SC 88102-040 Brazil [email protected] 2 Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo PPGOAM Brazil 3 Universidade Federal do Paraná PPGEC Brazil 4 Associação de Estudos Costeiros e Marinhos – ECOMAR ECOMAR Brazil 5 Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo CEUNES Brazil Page 26 ABSTRACT Pro-Arribada Project represents the first Brazilian initiative toward the study of spawning aggregations of reeffish in four focal points along the Brazilian coast. Together with the support of “Meros do Brasil Project” its main objectives were to investigate the occurrences of spawning aggregations through the investigation of data on past fisheries landings, local ecological knowledge, monitoring of biological aspects of selected species, making use of a Voluntary Monitoring Program (known as MOPE) to obtain biological samples, and surveying suspected areas of occurrence and already known areas with scientific divers to document and study spawning aggregation events. Results presented here deal specifically with the southern Brazilian focal point, where the goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) and the dusky-grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) were the focus of studies. Results report the reproductive and feeding habits of sampled dusky-grouper, as well as, a known annual aggregation of goliath groupers where circa 45 specimens were observed. Data obtained through local ecological knowledge supported survey dives, indicating areas where invariably local reeffish community composition and habitat characteristics were reported. Results provided important maps that were delivered to the Brazilian Environmental Agency (ICMBio) and the Environmental Ministry (MMA), suggesting spatial and temporal sensitive areas that should be consider for protection during spawning seasons, especially regarding future licensing processes of seismic surveys and the Oil and Gas industry. KEYWORDS: Epinephelus itajara, Epinephelus marginatus, Meros do Brasil, Conservation, South Atlantic Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Bringing Spawning Aggregations into the Classroom Llevar Agregaciones de Desove en el Aula Présentez Agrégations de Frai dans la Salle de Classe TODD BOHANNON1, CHRISTY PATTENGILL-SEMMENS1, and BRICE SEMMENS2 Reef Environmental Education Foundation PO Box 246 Key Largo, FL 33037 United States [email protected], 2 Scripps Institute of Oceanography UC San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive Mail Code 0202 La Jolla CA 92093 US KEYWORDS: Grouper Moon, Nassau Grouper, Education, REEF, Cayman Islands 27 Page ABSTRACT The Grouper Moon Project is a collaborative conservation program between Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) and Cayman Islands Department of the Environment (CIDOE) studying Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus). Since 2002, the project has conducted field research and outreach associated with spawning aggregations in the Cayman Islands.In 2011, REEF created and implemented an education program designed to integrate Grouper Moon research into K-12 school classroom activities. The program aims to highlight the ecological, cultural, and economic importance of spawning aggregations to the Caymanian community, and to help build support for the value of Nassau grouper beyond a fishery resource. Through both structured classroom activities and free-form discussions with visiting scientists, the program presents a multi-faceted view of the Nassau grouper through a series of interdisciplinary activities. The program was piloted during the 2011/2012 school year with two classrooms and it culminated live-feed Internet video sessions during which students engaged with scientists while underwater at the spawning aggregation site. These real-time interactions allowed students to experience the excitement of ongoing spawning aggregation research and witness, first hand, a large and active aggregation. To ensure the success and sustainability of the program, we developed activities that integrate with existing classroom curricula. Furthermore, we created program materials that are accessible for classroom teachers and represent a set of complete and easily implemented modules that provide context for the students. We are currently working to expand the program to additional Caymanian schools and other regions of the Caribbean. 27 1 Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Variación Fenotípica de la Langosta Espinosa Panulirus argus (Decapoda: Paniluridae) en ella Reservade Biosfera Seaflower, Archipiélago de San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina-Colombia, Caribe Sur-Occidental Phenotypic Variation of the Spiny Lobster Panulirus argus (Decapoda: Paniluridae) in the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, Archipelago of San Andrés, Old Providence and Santa Catalina, Colombia, South-Western Caribbean La Variation Phénotypique de la Langouste Panulirus argus (Decapoda: Paniluridae) dans la Réserve de Biosphère de Seaflower, Archipel de San Andrés, Providencia et Santa Catalina, la Colombie, le Sud-Ouest des Caraïbes NACOR BOLAÑOS1 y EDNA MÁRQUEZ FERNANDEZ2 1 Universidad Nacional de Colombia CORALINA Corporation for the Sustainable Develop San Luis km 26 Via San Luis San Andres Island, Archipelago COLOMBIA [email protected] 2 Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Medellin Calle 59A No 63 – 20 Bloque 19A Laboratorio 310, Medellín – Colom Medellín Antioquia COLOMBIA Page 28 RESUMEN Los patrones de variación morfométrica de una especie pueden evolucionar diferencialmente como respuesta de los individuos al polimorfismo genético, a contextos ecológicos variables, al estado de vida o al género, lo cual suele ocasionar diferencias fenotípicas. Estos patrones son desconocidos para la langosta espinosa Panulirus argus, una especie de importancia comercial pesquera en la Reserva de Biosfera Seaflower, Archipiélago de San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina. En este trabajo se utilizó la morfometría geométrica basada en puntos de referencia para determinar los patrones de variación fenotípica del cefalotórax de P. argus en 5 áreas distantes del Archipiélago. Las diferencias de tamaño entre sexos y orígenes geográficos, se compararon usando una prueba de Kruskal-Wallis y comparaciones pareadas Mann-Whitney, el efecto alométrico se estimó mediante Análisis de Regresión Multivariada, el modelo de pendientes alométricas mediante Análisis Multivariado de Covarianza y las diferencias de conformación entre sexos y origen geográfico mediante Análisis de Componentes Principales. Los resultados demuestran que la variación morfométrica del cefalotórax de la langosta espinosa varía de acuerdo al género debido a que el dimorfismo sexual fue significativo tanto en el tamaño como en la conformación. Adicionalmente, la variación morfométrica también parece explicarse por plasticidad fenotípica a contextos ecológicos variables debido a que se detectaron diferencias fenotípicas entre poblaciones genéticamente similares.La información obtenida complementa los análisis genéticos de la especie en esta región del Caribe y es potencialmente útil para apoyar la selección de medidas de manejo y control adecuadas sobre este recurso en la Reserva de Biosfera Seaflower. PALABRAS CLAVES: Morfometría geométrica, cefalotórax, plasticidad fenotípica, dimorfismo sexual, Reserva de Biosfera Seaflower Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Differentiating the Management of Artisanal Fisheries using a Livelihoods Approach in the Gulf of Fonseca, Honduras Manejo Diferenciado de Pesquerías Artesanales Basado en los Medios de Vida en el Golfo de Fonseca, Honduras Differencier la Gestion de la Peche Artisanale en Utilisant une Approche des Moyens de Subsistance dans le Golfe de Fonseca au Honduras ABSTRACT The degradation of marine ecosystems affects the sustainability of fisheries and directly impacts the welfare of the fishers who depend on them. The fishing communities along the Gulf Fonseca are vulnerable to environmental degradation that has occurred in the absence of effective management in the area. Aware of this, the governments of Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua, that share jurisdiction for the Gulf, have focused efforts to propose a regional regulatory framework that promotes the development of local communities and sustainable management for the marine resources. To predict the response of fishers to the proposed normative framework, we used the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach and a logistic regression model to determine the factors that influence the likelihood that fishermen would adopt the different management actions. We conducted a socioeconomic survey of 160 fishermen's households segregated by the type of fishing gears they employed. Despite the a priori belief that artisanal fishers were a homogenous group we found that small differences in the characteristics of the household, the availability of base assets and access to alternative employment strongly influenced their response to the new regulations, including whether the fishermen would leave the fishery. To ensure that these new policies, which include gear and season restrictions, effectively attain their goals of sustaining the environment and local livelihoods, their implementation must be specifically targeted to different fishing groups dependent on their fishing gears as well as their location in the Gulf as both these factors strongly influence their capacity to absorb the changes. KEYWORDS: Livelihoods, regulations, artisanal, sustainable, socioeconomic 29 29 SARA BONILLA1 and STEPHEN BOX2 Centro de Ecologia Marina Edificio Florencia Oficina 401-403 Tegucigalpa, FCO Honduras [email protected] 2 Smithsonian Institution Fort Pierce Marine Station Fort Pierce Florida 34949 USA Page 1 Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Application of High-Resolution Imaging Sonar to Evaluate Fine-Scale Habitat Utilization in Intertidal and Subtidal Habitats by Nekton Aplicación de Sonar de Alta Resolución de Imágenes Para Evaluar a Escala Fina de la Utilización del Hábitat en Hábitats Intermareales y Submareales por Necton Application de Sonar Haute Résolution d'Imagerie pour Évaluer l'Utilisation de l'Habitat à Échelle Fine dans des Habitats Intertidaux et Subtidaux par Necton KEVIN BOSWELL1, MATTHEW KIMBALL2, and DENNIS ALLEN3 Florida International University Marine Sciences Program 3000 NE 151st St. MSB 355 North Miami, FL 33181 USA [email protected] 2 GTM National Estuarine Research ReserveBiology Department, University of North Florida 505 Guana River Road Ponte Vedra Beach FL 32082 USA 3 Baruch Marine Field LaboratoryUniversity of South Carolina P.O. Box 1630 Georgetown SC 29440 USA 1 Page 30 ABSTRACT Fine-scale habitat use and partitioning by fishes is difficult to observe in dynamic estuarine systems and, to date, habitat utilization information is primarily inferred from direct capture of organisms. In addition, the temporal domain of nekton movement and behavior remains largely undescribed as traditional observational techniques (i.e., optical methods) are impeded by physical characteristics of estuarine ecosystems (e.g., suspended load). We report on a recent effort to integrate high-resolution multibeam imaging sonars (ARIS and DIDSON) in intertidal and subtidal creek habitats to evaluate the behavioral patterns, abundance, and size of nekton moving between these two adjacent, interconnected habitats as a function of tidal forcing over 8 complete ebb-flood cycles. Fish abundance and movement were highly coordinated with water level patterns, and suggested that nekton were cued into moving between interconnected habitats at specific water levels, and that movement was not always in the direction of water movement. This was observed during both day and night tidal cycles. Further, nekton utilized specific parcels of the water column rather than being ubiquitously distributed throughout the entire water column, suggesting that fish orient to discrete depth intervals despite the overall shallow depths (~2m). By integrating advanced survey technologies, fine-scale temporal and spatial nekton habitat use and behavior patterns can be explored, potentially providing novel insights into the value of tidally-available salt marsh habitats at scales not previously described. KEYWORDS: estuary, sonar, habitat utilization, survey, behavior Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Using Molecular Techniques to Assess the Efficacy of Current Marine Reserve Design for the Management of Yellowtail Snapper in Honduras Usando Técnicas Moleculares para Medir la Eficacia del Diseño Actual de Áreas Marinas Protegidas para el Manejo de Pargo Cola Amarillo en Honduras À L'Aide de Techniques Moléculaires pour Mesurer la Efficace de Zones Marines Protégées Actuelle pour la Gestion de la Ocyurus Chrysurus au Honduras KEYWORDS: Ocyurus chrysurus, Sustainable, Fisheries, MPA 31 Page ABSTRACT Defining the relevant spatial scales for the management of coral reef fisheries is often a complex task as it requires an understanding of the habitat requirements and movements of the target species as well as the activities and interactions of the fishermen that exploit this common resource. The current study focused on the yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus) a commercially important coral reef fish species that is a principal component of artisanal hook and line fisheries in Honduras. We sampled adult fish caught from fishing banks located between the north shore of Honduras and the Bay Islands, as well as juveniles collected from near shore sea grass areas. We used a combination of genetic analysis using microsatellite markers on tissue samples and rare earth element analysis of otoliths to map connectivity across this sea scape. We found that the ontogenetic migration of fish connected juveniles from the seagrass with coral banks up to 70 km away. Genetic results suggested that these adult banks were responsible for re-seeding these same juvenile areas. Importantly, the ontogenetic movement places the adult fish in the proximity of multiple fishing communities but beyond the boundaries of any of the existing MPAs. By contrast the juveniles are all contained within MPA zones but are too small to be targeted by fishers. MPA design in this area needs to be integrated between the islands and the north shore to protect the spawning stock biomass for yellowtail snapper as well as provide habitat conservation to their crucial nursery grounds. 31 STEPHEN BOX1, STEVE CANTY2, ILIANA CHOLLETT3, and NATHAN TRUELOVE4 1 Smithsonian Institution Fort Pierce Marine Station Fort Pierce, Florida 34949 USA [email protected] 2 Centro de Ecologia Marina Edificio Florencia Oficina 401-403 Tegucigalpa FMO Honduras 3 Marine Spatial Ecology LabUniversity of Exeter United Kingdom 4 Sustainable Consumption InstituteUniversity of Manchester United Kindgom Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Modelling the Response of Reef Rugosity and Fish Assemblages to Climate Change in the Caribbean Modelando la Respuesta de la Rugosidad del Sustrato y las Comunidades de Peces al Cambio Climático en Arrecifes Caribeños Modéliser les Effets du Changement Climatique sur la Rugosité du Substrat et les Assemblages de Poissons dans les Récifs Coralliens des Caraïbes YVES-MARIE BOZEC1, LORENZO ALVAREZ-FILIP2, and PETER MUMBY3 1 Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, University of Queens University of Exeter (UK) St. Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia , [email protected] 2 Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University Healthy Reefs Initiative (Belize) Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6 Canada 3 Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, University of QueenslandUniversity of Exeter (UK) St. Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia Page 32 ABSTRACT A striking feature of coral reef habitats is their topographical complexity which is generated by the growth and calcification of reef-building corals. Highly rugose reefs typically support abundant and diverse biological communities which in turn provide many services to the ecosystem. Yet, there is increasing concern about the effects of climate change on the quality of reef habitats in the Caribbean, through reduced accretion and increased bioerosion. We developed a model of coral reef ecosystems to predict future changes in reef rugosity and the potential response of fish assemblages in the Caribbean. Coral-algal dynamics are simulated over decades with various disturbance regimes (hurricanes and coral bleaching) following climate change scenarios. Reef rugosity is quantified at each time step by the contribution of living and dead coral colonies to the actual surface area of the reef bottom. As a result, rugosity increases with coral growth but is also reduced by the bioerosion of dead colonies. Empirical relationships linking fish to reef rugosity allow us to predict changes in reef biodiversity and important ecosystem functions supported by fish, such as grazing intensity. Simulations show how climate change may cause further declines in habitat quality on Caribbean reefs, thus affecting the persistence of critical ecosystem services. KEYWORDS: Coral rugosity, Reef fish, Mechanistic model, Future trajectories, Carbonate erosion Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI The Capture of Lionfish during Normal Pot-Fishery Activities on the North Coast of Jamaica La Captura de Peces León durante la Pesca Normales Pot-Actividades en la Costa Norte de Jamaica La Prise de Lionfish pendant les Activités de Pêche Pot sur la Côte Nord de la Jamaïque KEYWORDS: Lionfish, Pterois, Jamaica, soak time, fish pots 33 Page ABSTRACT The invasion of the lionfish, Pterois volitans in Jamaica was first documented in 2008 along the north coast. Since then, several measures aimed at control of the population have been implemented. One of the main measures is the use of SCUBA divers. However, this is not effective, efficient nor sustainable due to the high cost of this activity, the level of manpower required and the area that is able to be safely dived. Fishermen have reported that lionfish have been caught during their normal pot-fishing practices. Working along-side fishermen during these normal activities, data was collected on 338 pot deployments/retrievals during July 2011 and March 2012. From this research, 650 lionfish were caught and 1323 individuals of other species also caught. The most effective bait type for lionfish was a combination of avocado pear and breadfruit. The ideal minimum soak time was >5d and the ideal minimum depth was >21m. These results offer a potential avenue for control of the invasion with more research to now be done on trap design and deployment regime, especially to reduce or mitigate bycatch. 33 DAYNE BUDDO1, KARL AIKEN2, JAEDON LAWE1, DANIEL MCDONALD3 DENISE CHIN4, and CAMILO TRENCH1 1 Discovery Bay Marine Lab University of the West Indies Discovery Bay PO Discovery Bay St Ann, Jamaica [email protected], [email protected] 2 University of the West Indies, Department of Life Sciences, Mona, Kingston 7 St Andrew Jamaica 3 US Peace Corps Jamaica Kingston Jamaica NEPA MTIASIC Project 10-11 Caledonia Ave Kingston 5 Jamaica [email protected] 4 NEPA, MTIASIC Project, 10-11 Caledonia Ave Kingston 5, Jamaica Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Strengthening the Legal and Regulatory Framework for Conservation and Management of the Spiny Lobster Fishery in the Caricom States Fortalecimiento del Marco Legal y Regulatorio para la Conservación y Ordenación de la Pesquería de Langosta en los Estados de la Caricomren Forcer le Cadre Juridique et Réglementaire pour la Conservation et la Gestion de la Pêche la Langouste dans les États de la Caricom Page 34 LENORE BURKE and MILTON HAUGHTON CRFM CRFM Secretariat Princess Margaret Drive Belize City, Belize [email protected] ABSTRACT Throughout the CARICOM region, Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) fisheries contribute significant benefits to national economies and livelihoods of people. However, with declining landings since 1995 and full or over-exploitation in most of the CARICOM countries there is a need to strengthen the legal and regulatory framework for conservation and management of Spiny Lobster in the Caribbean. This paper provides a review of the current legal and regulatory framework for conservation and management in the CARICOM member states followed by a discussion of management gaps and the way forward to achieve long-term sustainable fisheries. KEYWORDS: Spiny Lobster, Legal Framework, Management Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Evaluación Interanual del Impacto de las Pesquerías Industriales de Arrastre de Camarón Sobre la Biodiversidad Marina de Colombia Interannual Assessment of Industrial Shrimp Trawl Fisheries Impact on Marine Biodiversity of Colombia Évaluation Annuelle de l’Impact de la Pêche des Crevettes au Chalut sur la Biodiversité de la Colombie PALABRAS CLAVES: Fauna acompañante, pesca de arrastre, biodiversidad, camarón, Colombia 35 Page RESUMEN La pesca industrial de arrastre de camarón se realiza en Colombia desde hace 40 años en el Caribe y 55 en el Pacífico, generando ingresos, alimento y empleo al sector pesquero, pero con un costo ambiental puntualmente alto. Con el fin de evaluar en el tiempo el impacto de esta pesquería, se comparó la relación fauna acompañante/captura objetivo (FA/CO) de las flotas de camarón de aguas someras (CAS) y camarón de aguas profundas (CAP), operando en ambas costas, con base en monitoreos a bordo y desembarques de los últimos 4 años. En el Caribe, las diferencias en el poder de pesca de las dos flotas existentes en aguas someras, hicieron que la relación fluctuara entre 3,4 a 12,4 por año. En el Pacífico los mayores valores se presentaron en el CAS (hasta 40,4) y los menores en el CAP (1). La fauna acompañante de las pesquerías del CAS posee un mayor número de taxones (109 a 168) que las del CAP (61 a 126); sin embargo en todos los casos el descarte es superior a la captura incidental. Los invertebrados tienen mayor representatividad en el Caribe (15% de la FA) que en el Pacífico (<5%) y en general, fracciones considerables de los descartes pertenecen a juveniles de peces que en estado adulto son captura objetivo de pesquerías artesanales, generándose externalidades tecno-ecológicas. Los resultados evidencian un alto impacto acumulado de pesca de arrastre de Colombia sobre la biodiversidad marina, lo cual implica la implementación de medidas de control de la selectividad del arte de pesca, sumado a la actual veda “económica” realizada por las flotas industriales. 35 DIANA MILENA BUSTOS MONTES, MARIO RUEDA, JORGE VIAÑA TOUS, ALFREDO RODRIGUEZ ALEXANDER GIRÓN, y LUISA GARCÍA ELKIN PARDO INVEMAR Cerro Punta Betín, A.A 1016 Santa Marta, Magdalena Colombia [email protected] INVEMAR Cerro Punta Betín, A.A 1016 Santa MartaMagdalena Colombia [email protected] ;[email protected] [email protected]; [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Renta Económica de Algunas Pesquerías del Caribe Colombiano Economic Rent of some Colombian Caribbean Fisheries La Rente Économique de Certaines Pêcheries des Caraïbes Colombiennes DIANA MILENA BUSTOS MONTES, GRIJALBA BENDECK MARCELA, CAMILA POSADA, ANGIE SANTAFE y FELIX CUELLO INVEMAR Cerro Punta Betín, A.A 1016 Santa Marta, Magdalena Colombia [email protected]; [email protected];[email protected] Page 36 RESUMEN Debido a la importancia social, cultural y financiera de la actividad pesquera en el Caribe colombiano, fue calculado el ingreso a la economía del departamento del Magdalena proveniente de la pesca artesanal marina desembarcada entre agosto de 2008 a junio de 2010, a partir de 41.180 encuestas directas a pescadores artesanales. Se estimó un ingreso de 4’195.515 USD con un promedio anual de 2’188.964 USD y mensual de 182.414 USD. Al evaluar las faenas de pesca, el boliche es el arte más relevante económicamente, seguido de la línea de mano y el chinchorro. La composición por especie ubica a la cojinua negra (Caranx crysos) como el recurso de mayor aporte económico (16,9%), y junto con cinco especies más aportan el 54,5% de los ingresos por pesca en el área. Temporalmente, los mejores ingresos se obtuvieron después del fenómeno de surgencia, probablemente por el retraso entre la producción primaria y escalón de peces carnívoros que son los que presentan los mejores precios en el mercado. En general la renta por faena en los sitios analizados muestra valores bajos al considerar que este dinero es distribuido entre los dueños de los medios de producción y posteriormente entre los pescadores. Muchas veces, el pescador tiene una dependencia económica con los intermediarios, dando lugar a que estos últimos puedan moderan los precios de compra al productor. PALABRAS CLAVES: Renta económica, Pesca artesanal, Caribe colombiano, Comercialización, Artes de pesca Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Modelo Ecopath del Golfo de Morrosquillo: Impacto de la Pesca de Arrastre en la Trama Trófica Ecopath Model of Golfo de Morrosquillo: Impact of Trawling on the Food Web Modèle Ecopath Morrosquillo Golfe: L'Impact du Chalutage cans la Chaîne Alimentaire PALABRAS CLAVES: Golfo de Morrosquillo, Ecopath, Pesca de arrastre, Caribe colombiano, Modelación 37 Page RESUMEN Con el uso del enfoque ECOPATH que evalúa la pesca dentro de un contexto ecosistémico, se evaluó el impacto de la pesca de arrastre de camarón en la trama trófica del ecosistema de fondos blandos del golfo de Morrosquillo, Colombia. Se construyó un modelo de 22 grupos funcionales, se estimó la biomasa total (24,66 t/km2), la producción primaria neta (68,6 t/km2/año) y los flujos totales (1067,1 t/km2/año). El mayor flujo de energía se da entre el nivel II y el III (51,8 %) y los niveles tróficos bajos predominaron. La baja ascendencia (20,7 %), alta capacidad de desarrollo (79,3 %) y otros atributos ecosistemicos sugieren que el Golfo de Morrosquillo es un ecosistema inmaduro en estado de desarrollo. Esta condición de inmadurez, es muy común en ecosistemas explotados por pesca, y especialmente en aquellos donde se practican arrrastres, ya que los impactos que genera esta actividad alteran los ecosistemas de tal modo que los mantienen en un constante estado de sucesión. 37 DIANA MILENA BUSTOS MONTES y GARCIA RAMIREZ CAMILO INVEMAR Cerro Punta Betín, A.A 1016 Santa Marta, Magdalena Colombia [email protected], [email protected] 2 Universidad Nacional de Colombia Ciudad Universitaria, Cra 30 #45-03 Bogotá D.C., Colombia Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Queen Conch, Strombus gigas, in Fished and Unfished Locations of the Caribbean Sea: Combined Effects of a Marine Protected Area and Over-Exploitation on Adults Strombus gigas, en un Área de Pesca y una de No Pesca en el Caribe: Efectos Combinados del Área Protegida y la Sobrexplotación en Adultos Strombus gigas, dans une Zone de Pêche et Une Zone Interdite à la Pêche dans Mer Caraïbes: Effets Combinés de la Zone Protégée et la Surexploitation dans Adultes YUSELF R. CALA1, ALBERTO DE JESUS-NAVARRETE1, FRANK A. OCANA2, and JOSE J. OLIVA-RIVERA1 1 ECOSUR Ave. Centenario km. 5.5 Chetumal, Quintana Roo 77014 Mexico [email protected] 2 CISAT ECOSUR Ave. Centenario km 5.5 Chetumal Quintana Roo 77014 Mexico Page 38 ABSTRACT Marine Protected Areas (MPA) have been implemented in several places with the hope of reversing population decreases commonly observed in many marine resources. In this study, a comparison of the total density and adult density, population structure and frequency of reproductive evidence of the commercially important gastropod Strombus gigas, was made between a fished area in Mexico and an MPA in Cuba. At each area three climatic periods were included (rainy, dry and cold front periods) during 2009 to 2010 on 9 transects into the MPA and 15 transects into fished area. The total densities were 4 times higher on the MPA than fished area. Moreover, the adult densities were 20 times higher on the MPA than fished area. Apparently, the conch population at MPA is constituted by small conchs, with a gradual increase in weight and lip thickness, turning them into "dwarf" conchs. This fact was possibly densitydependent; on the other hand, the fished area showed that adult conchs are very scarce. In addition, is possible the presence of Allee effect in the area. Reproductive evidence was observed during the whole year in MPA, which suggests the existence of an important Queen Conch reserve in the Southeastern region of Cuba and an apparently self-sufficient population for recruitment; in contrast, reproductive activity was very scarce in fished zone. Two effects were observed on this study, both important as fishery management of the conch population; consequently, both must be considered at the new revision of the management plans on each area. KEYWORDS: Strombus gigas, Allee effect, dwarf conchs, reproductive evidence Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Dietary Preferences of Lionfish from Across The Cayman Islands: A Reflection of Differences in Reef Community Structure? Preferencias Dietéticas de Pez León de Las Islas Caimán, Un Reflejo de las Diferencias en La Estructura de las Comunidades de Arrecifes? Les Préférences Alimentairesdes Poissons-Lions de Partout aux Îles Caïmans, Un Reflet de Différences dans la Structure des Communautés Récif? KEYWORDS: lionfish, prey, diet, shrimp, reef 39 Page ABSTRACT The population abundance of lionfish, Pterois volitans, has expanded rapidly since becoming established in the Cayman Islands in 2009. A better understanding of their prey for a geographic area is essential to effectively manage their impact on that ecosystem and pivotal in strategic management decisions to maintain healthy populations of ecologically and commercially important reef fish. This study examined the diet of lionfish in Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. In February and March 2012, 477 lionfish were collected with spears from 60 reef sites and stomach content was indentified to the lowest possible taxa. The top ten occuring teolost families were Pomacentridae, Labridae, Mullidae, Gobiidae, Labrisomidae/Blenniidae, Holocentridae, Scaridae, Acathuridae, Grammatidae andMonacanthidae. Lionfish collected from Grand Cayman were significantly smaller than those from Little Cayman and Cayman Brac and diets varied between islands. Grand Cayman lionfish (both small and large size classes) contained a significantly higher frequency of shrimp in their diets compared to the sister islands. Diets in Cayman Brac were dominated by larger bodied juvenile species of spotted goatfish and squirrelfish compared to Little Cayman and Grand Cayman which were dominated by smaller juvenile and adult species including, bluehead wrasse, chromis sp., surgeonfish sp., masked/glass gobies and saddled blennies. Differences observed in prey composition may reflect disparate community dynamics between the islands. Variance in behavior of lionfish between sites and seasonal differences may also influence diets. Overall lionfish are targeting ecologically important prey species that are essential for reef health including, herbivores, cleaner and nuclear species. 39 ALLISON CANDELMO1 and CROY MCCOY2 1 Department of Environment, Cayman Islands 580 North Sound road PO Box 486, KY1-1002 , KY1-1002 Cayman Islands [email protected] 2 Department of Environment, Bangor University 580 North Sound road PO Box 486 Grand Cayman KY1-1002 Cayman Islands Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Revisiting the Past; The Fate of Economically Important Fisheries Revisitar el Pasado; El Destino de Pesquerías Económicamente Importantes Re-Visiter le Passé; Le Sort des Pecheries D'Importance Economique STEVEN CANTY1 and STEPHEN BOX2 1 Centro de Ecolgía Marina Oficina 401-403 Edificio Florencia, Boulevard Suyapa, Tegucigalpa, M.D.C. – Honduras, [email protected] 2 Smithsonian Institution Fort Pierce Marine Station Fort Pierce Florida 34949 USA Page 40 ABSTRACT Artisanal fisheries have often been overlooked from national fisheries management frameworks, despite significant contributions to fisheries production and local economies. In coral reef fisheries the decline of traditional target species composed of large-bodied apex predators, including grouper and snapper, has occurred due to their vulnerability to overexploitation even under low fishing pressure. Shifts in fisheries targets continue to occur with smaller-bodied shallow reef species as well as deep shelf species of grouper and snapper filling the market demand. We assessed the current status of near shore fisheries utilizing fisheries production records from across the region. The yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus) was found to be of increasing importance to continental countries in the western and south western Caribbean, and in the Greater Antilles where near shore coral reef fisheries still persisted, yellowtail snapper remained important. The only stock assessment to have been conducted in the region, for the Southeast United States, did not find the stock to be overexploited. Specific life history traits uncommon for snapper and grouper species, may explain why yellowtail snapper remains more resilient to fishing pressure. Yellowtail snapper sexually mature at approximately 2 years (250mm fork length) and have a protracted spawning period. In fisheries where a 12” (300mm) minimum landing size has been implemented the fishery remains stable, and where no take areas have been delineated populations have shown rapid recovery. This species has the potential to be a sentinel species protecting lower trophic species from exploitation if simple management practices are put in to place. KEYWORDS: Yellowtail Snapper, Sustainable Fisheries, Fisheries Management Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI The Recreational Fishery Component of Highly Migratory Species in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands El Componente de la Pesca Recreativa de las Especies Altamente Migratorias en Puerto Rico y las Islas Vírgenes de los Estados Unidos Le Volet Pêche Récréative des Espèces Hautement Migratoires à Puerto Rico et les Îles Vierges Américaines KEYWORDS: highly migratory species, pelagic, recreational, billfish, Caribbean 41 Page ABSTRACT Highly migratory species fish stocks can be difficult to manage because pelagic fish often roam the seas unconfined by geo-political borders. Identifying the nature of the Caribbean fishery and quantifying the economic importance of highly migratory species in the Caribbean Sea, including billfish, tunas and sharks, is an essential step in improving their management. However, commercial users from outside the Caribbean region commonly use the same marine resources as local users, further complicating regional regulatory efforts. Characterizing the many, often conflicting, uses of the Caribbean highly migratory fishery depends upon the involvement, input, and consideration of all stakeholders. While commercial fishing industries have a long history of participation in domestic and international regulatory processes, those who enjoy and depend upon the recreational sportfishing industry have only recently began to garner the attention of Caribbean governments. Despite political obstacles and the regional limitations, the recreational component of the highly migratory fishery provides essential employment opportunities, vital food security, and significant prospects for economic development through eco-tourism in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Caribbean as a whole and therefore justifies further study. 41 ANDREW CARTER, ANDREW COX, PETER CHAIBONGSAI, and ELLEN PEEL The Billfish Foundation 5100 N. Federal Hwy, Suite 200 Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308 USA [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Costos Futuros de la Sobrepesca de Cathorops mapale en la Pesquería Artesanal de Arrastre de Camarón del Mar Caribe de Colombia Future Costs of Cathorops mapale Overfishing in Artisanal Shrimp Trawl Fishery of the Caribbean Sea of Colombia Les Coûts Futurs de Cathorops mapale la Surpêche dans la Pêche Artisanale Crevette au Chalut de la Mer des Caraïbes de la Colombie HAROLD CASTILLO-NAVARRO, LUIS ORLANDO DUARTE, y FÉLIX CUELLO Laboratorio de Investigaciones Pesqueras Tropica Universidad del Magdalena, Carrera 32 No. 22-08, Santa Marta,, Colombia, [email protected] Page 42 RESUMEN La extracción incidental de organismos marinos en la pesca artesanal de arrastre de camarón, es uno de los principales problemas ecológicos de esta actividad. Adicionalmente, raramente se analiza este problema desde el punto de vista del efecto económico de capturar juveniles sin permitir que el stock alcance un nivel de biomasa máximo que sustente niveles de captura rentables. Está situación se presenta en el Golfo de Salamanca donde opera una pesquería artesanal de arrastre camaronero, donde el Cathorops mapale es una de las principales especies en la pesca acompañante. Con el propósito de estimar los costos a futuro debido a la captura de juveniles de C. mapale, se calcularon las capturas por fracción de tamaño en la pesquería artesanal de camarón, a partir de datos del monitoreo mensual de desembarcos. Empleando los precios de mercado de cada rango de tamaño, se realizó una proyección de los ingresos que se obtendrían al capturar individuos cuando estos alcanzaran el tamaño que produjera el máximo nivel en biomasa en la población. C. mapale fue la especie más capturada dentro de la pesca acompañante de camarón, mayor en la época climática seca (34,88%) que en la época lluviosa (5,20%). Los resultados indican un elevado costo económico futuro debido la sobrepesca de C. mapale, sugiriendo la necesidad de que si no se internalizan las externalidades en los costos de producción, se tendrán consecuencias ecológicas y socio-económicas negativas, mucho más costosas que las ganancias actuales. Financiado por Colciencias (1117-489-25529; 1117-52129353) y la Universidad del Magdalena. PALABRAS CLAVES: Economía, Pesca artesanal, Sobrepesca, Mar Caribe, Colombia Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Using Socio-Economic Data to Inform Strategies to Mitigate Impacts of Planned Development within The Pitons Management Area (PMA) and Soufriere Marine Management Area (SMMA), St. Lucia Utilizando Los Datos Socioeconómicos para Informar a las Estrategias para Mitigar los Impactos del Desarrollo Planificado en el Área de Gestión de Los Pitones (PMA) y La Marina de Soufriere Área de Gestión (SMMA), Santa Lucía Utilisation de Données Socio-Économiques pour Éclairer les Stratégies pour Atténuer les Impacts de Développement Planifié dans la Zone de Gestion des Pitons (PMA) et Soufrière Marine Management Area (SMMA), Sainte-Lucie KEYWORDS: Socio-economic data, planned development, mitigation strategies, SMMA 43 Page ABSTRACT The Soufriere Marine Management Area (SMMA) and Pitons Management Area (PMA) are a Marine Management Area (MMA) and Environmental Protection Area (EPA), respectively, both situated on the southwest coast of St. Lucia. The SMMA was legally declared in 1995 and is approximately 22km long x 1 km wide, to a depth of 75m. It comprises nearshore coral reef plateaus that drop off rapidlyto deep depths. The PMA was awarded World Heritage Status in 2004. It extends over 29.09 km2 and includes the Pitons, the town of Soufriere, nearby coral reefs, and sulphur springs. The marine zone of the PMA is part of the SMMA. The town of Soufriere, adjacent to both the SMMA and PMA, is considered to be the tourism capital of St. Lucia. As such there is potential for development of the area as tourism has grown significantly over the past 10 years. With a number of physical developments by residents and others currently being planned, both the SMMA and PMA are threatened by coastal development. Therefore through a sub-grant from the CERMES-implemented, Socio-economic Monitoring by Caribbean Challenge MPA Managers project (CC SocMon), the SMMA and PMA conducted a socioeconomic assessment to determine perceived threats of planned development within the areas; determine the level and extent of use of the areas by residents and other users and to identify potential management solutions to address impacts identified. The data will be used to inform strategies to mitigate socio-economic impacts of such development within the SMMA and PMA. 43 NADIA CAZAUBON Soufriere Marine Management Association 3 Bay Street, P.O. Box 305 Soufriere , St. Lucia [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Composición, Abundancia y Distribución de las Poblaciones de Gasterópodos de Importancia Comercial en La Guajira, Caribe Colombiano Composition, Abundance and Distribution of Populations of Commercially Important Gastropods in La Guajira, Colombian Caribbean Composition, Abondance et Distribution des Populations de Gastéropodes Commercialement Important à La Guajira, Caraïbes Colombiennes LUIS CHASQUI1, RAMÓN NIETO1, ANGÉLICA RODRÍGUEZ1, y ERICK CASTRO DIEGO GIL2 1 Invemar Cerro Punta Betín Santa Marta, Magdalena Colombia [email protected] [email protected] 2 Secretaria de Agricultura y Pesca-Gobernación Departamento Archip Avenida Francisco Newball-Edificio Coral Palace San Andrés Isla Colombia Page 44 RESUMEN En el Caribe continental colombiano el aprovechamiento del recurso caracol y el estado de sus poblaciones han sido poco estudiados. Para evaluar el estado de ese recurso pesquero en La Guajira se determinó la composición, abundancia y densidad de los gasterópodos de importancia comercial entre los corregimientos de Camarones y el Cabo de la Vela mediante censos visuales durante septiembre-noviembre de 2009 y octubre de 2010. Se evaluaron 185 estaciones de muestreo de 400 m2 entre los 3-20 m de profundidad, para un total de 72920 m2. Además, se evaluó la composición, abundancia y tallas de las conchas vacías de gasterópodos encontradas en los depósitos de conchas de las playas. Se encontraron 9911 caracoles de 12 especies, siendo Strombus pugilis la más abundante con 1538.4 ind/ha, seguido por Vasum muricatum con 51.8 ind/ha y Turbinella angulata con 34.5 ind/ha. El índice de valor de importancia (IVI) calculado con las conchas encontradas en las playas muestran a Turbinella angulata como la especie más aprovechada por los pescadores artesanales, lo que puede deberse a su mayor tamaño (173,2 mm) y amplia distribución en el área. Los caracoles Cassis madagascariensis y Cassis tuberosa también son utilizados como recurso en la región (según registros de conchas), pero sus densidades fueron bajas (1.03 y 0.34 ind/ha, respectivamente). La abundancia del caracol pala Strombus gigas fue la más baja encontrada en el Caribe colombiano con tres individuos vivos (0.52 ind/ha), mostrando que la población de La Guajira no está en condiciones de ser explotada comercialmente. Los resultados denotan la urgencia de realizar planes de manejo pesquero para el recurso caracol en la región. PALABRAS CLAVES: Recurso caracol, Gasterópodos, La Guajira, Caribe , Colombia Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Fisheries Potential of The Gulf of Mexico Potencial Pesquero del Golfo de México Potentiel De Pêche dans Le Golfe du Mexique ERNESTO A. CHÁVEZ1 and ALEJANDRA CHÁVEZ-HIDALGO2 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] 2 CICIMAR, IPN Av. IPN s/n Col. Playa Palo de Sta. Rita La Paz Baja California Sur 23096 México KEYWORDS: Gulf of Mexico, potential fisheries production, simulation, bio-economic assessment 45 Page ABSTRACT Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico were inventoried, with the goal of exploring their potential production and to carry out stock assessment of the main stocks. A baseline of their current status for management, protection, and restoration is provided. Data shows that total harvest displays a growing trend reaching a peak in the middle seventies and the menhaden, exploited in the northern Gulf of Mexico, with more than 500,000 mt, accounts to more than 90 % of the entire Gulf catch.The stock biomass of the main stocks was evaluated with the aid of a simulation model (FISMO), where the age structure of each one was reconstructed; here, annual abundance of adults over time was evaluated, whereas the abundance of the one-year-old group was estimated by means of a stock-recruitment model. As a result of the assessment, some reference points pertinent to fisheries management are provided as output, like the current fishing intensity, the fishing intensity at the maximum sustainable yield, the potential yied as a function of the age of first catch, and the fishing mortality required for a sustainable exploitation. The model is user-friendly, needs few data as input, and is capable of providing socio-economic variables, like maximum number of fishers, maximum economic yield, maximum profits per fisher, and benefit/cost ratio under many exploitation scenarios. 45 1 Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Modelling Fishers’ Activity as a Response to Weather: First Step Towards Building Adaptive Capacity Under A Changing Climate Modelando las Actividades de Los Pescadores como Respuesta al Clima: Un Primer Paso Para Incrementar la Capacidad de Adaptación Bajo Cambio Climático Modéliser l'Activité des Pêcheurs en Réponse aux Conditions Météorologiques: Une Première Étape pour Renforcer les Capacités d'Adaptation au Changement Climatique 1 ILIANA CHOLLETT1, STEVE CANTY2, STEPHEN BOX3, and PETER J MUMBY4 University of Exeter University of Queensland Exeter, UK Brisbane, Australia Exeter, Devon EX44PS UK [email protected] 2 Centre for Marine Ecology Tegucigalpa Honduras 3 Smithsonian Institution Centre for Marine Ecology Florida, USA Tegucigalpa, Honduras 4 University of Queensland University of Exeter Brisbane, Australia Exeter, UK Page 46 ABSTRACT Assessing the vulnerability of fishing activity to changes in weather is of great importance to guarantee livelihoods in many coastal communities under a changing climate. This is particularly an issue for artisanal fisheries in the Bay Islands (Honduras) where fishermen behaviour has been related to weather. We used daily fishing records for Utila to assess how changes in weather affect fishermen access to fishing grounds. Because the fisheries around Utila are unsaturated and many times suitable weather conditions are present but fishing grounds are still not visited, we could not apply traditional modelling methods to predict fishing activity. Therefore, we borrowed an approach used in ecological and conservation applications called MaxEnt, which allows predicting fishing activity from environmental predictors using presenceonly data. As explanatory variables, we included weather (rainfall, exposure), geographical (distance to port), and behavioural aspects (day of the week and return rate of the last fished site). The model explains well the fishing activity patterns (AUC=0.8). We found that daily variations in weather accounted for fishers’ decisions, but fishers also follow a pattern of optimal foraging, where choices are biased towards returning to a fishing ground that has been profitable in the past. This model, coupled with downscaled climate change predictions for the area, will be used to assess likely changes in fishing intensity under a changing climate. The predictions would help, in turn, to build adaptive capacity to climate change in this socio-economical system. KEYWORDS: Artisanal fisheries, Weather, Optimal foraging theory, Climate change, Adaptation Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Too Big To Ignore: Global Partnership for Small-Scale Fisheries Research Que tan Grande es Pequeño? Entendiendo las Pesquerias Artesanales por lo que son Too Big To Ignore: Partenariat Mondial pour la Petite Recherche sur les Pêches KEYWORDS: small-scale fisheries, research, partnership, global, governance 47 Page ABSTRACT Fisheries support the livelihoods of about 560 million people, approximately 8% of the world’s population, and their number is growing. Of about 34 million active fishers, more than 90% are small-scale. Yet, these fisheries have been largely marginalized, ignored or dismissed as relics of the past. In many countries, this marginalization is shown by inadequate financial, institutional, and scientific support for small-scale fisheries, and an under-representation of the concerns of people working in this sector in policy discussions. ‘Too Big to Ignore’ is a new research network and knowledge mobilization partnership established to rectify the marginalization of small-scale fisheries in national and international policies, and to develop research and governance capacity toaddress global fisheries challenges. Through collaborative efforts, we will conduct research to address issues, concerns and challenges facing small-scale fisheries and will facilitate dialogue about policy and governance system that need to be designed to reflect the important contribution that small-scale fishing sector is making to the society and with the interest of small-scale fishing people in mind. 47 RATANA CHUENPAGDEE1, SILVIA SALAS2, MARIA GASALLA3, and PATRICK MCCONNEY4 1 Memorial University International Coastal Network Dept. of Geography Science Building St. John's, NL A1B3X9 Canada [email protected] 2 CINVESTAV Km 6 Antigua carretera a Progreso Xcumpich Merida Yucatan 97310 Mexico 3 University of Sao Paulo Praça do Oceanografico, 191 Cidade Universitaria Butantã - São Paulo 055080-900 Brazil 4 CERMESUniversity of West Indies Cave Hill, Campus St. Michael Barbados Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Distribution and Habitat Associations of Tuna Larvae in the Northern Gulf of Mexico Distribución de Larvas de Atúnes y su Asociación con el Habitat en el Norte Golfo de México Relation entre les Conditions Environnementales et la Répartition des Larves de Thon dans le Nord du Golf du Mexique MAËLLE CORNIC, JAIME ALVARADO BREMER, and JAY ROOKER Texas A&M University at Galveston 200 Seawolf Parkway Galveston, Texas 77553 USA [email protected] Page 48 ABSTRACT Summer ichtyoplankton surveys were conducted in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GoM) from 2007-2010, and catch data were used to characterize patterns of distribution and abundance of tuna larvae (Thunnus spp.) within this region. High resolution melting analysis was performed on a subset of samplesto determine the species composition of Thunnus larvae in our collections and four different species were observed: blackfin tuna Thunnus atlanticus (89%), yellowfin tuna T.albacares (7%), bluefin tuna T.thynnus (4%), and bigeye T. Obsesus (<1). Overall, 12,674 larvae in the genus Thunnus were collected and mean density and percent frequency of occurrence of larvae was 0.98 larvae 1000 m-3 and 78.5%, respectively. Intra- and inter-annual variability in catch numbers of tuna larvae were observed with the lowest density present in June (0.51 larvae 1000 m-3) and in 2010 (0.42 larvae 1000 m-3), the summer following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Oceanographic conditions influenced catch numbers of tuna larvae and our results indicate that mesoscale features and physicochemical characteristics of water masses affect the distribution and abundance of tuna larvae. Response plots from a generalized additive models (GAMs) indicated that densities of tuna larvae were higher near fronts of mesoscale oceanographic features (Loop Current and eddies), and in high salinity and lower temperature water masses typically found in outer shelf and slope waters of the GoM. KEYWORDS: Tuna, Larvae, Distribution, Northern Gulf of Mexico, Modeling Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Estimation of Catch Composition and Quasi-Rent of Different Fleets Focused on Red Grouper Fishery in Yucatan, Mexico Estimación de la Composición de las Capturas y la Cuasi-Renta de Diferentes Flotas Dirigidas a la Pesquería de Mero Rojo en Yucatán, México Estimationde la Compositiondes Captures et de la Cuasi-Rente des Différentesflottillesont Porté sur Mérou Rouge de la Pêche Dans le Yucatan, au Mexique KEYWORDS: red grouper, quasi-rent, fisheries fleet, cost of operation 49 Page ABSTRACT The present work provides an estimate of the catch composition and the quasi-rent (costrevenues) derived from a fleet focused on the red grouper in Yucatan, Mexico. Samples were collected at 4 ports, from February 2007 to January 2008, and commercial landings were recorded along with interviews whit ship captains. The results showed differences (P≤0.05) in the operation characteristics of the fleets. Catch analysis showed diversity in species composition in the year. The largest fleet exploited only red grouper and associated species; while for medium fleets from January to August, 70% of catch was represented by red grouper, and in September, 88% of the catch was represented only by Octopus sp. The smallest fleets had the highest diversity of catch, and from July to December exhibited an increase in catch lobster. The quasirent annual income was positive for the three fleets, with differences throughout the year (P≤0.05). Medium and smaller fleets presented the highest quasi-rent during September when catches were based on lobster/grouper and octopus, respectively (species with greater value than red groper). The largest fleet presented a negative quasi-rent in August, when catches were composed only of medium-size red grouper. We conclude that variations in quasi-rent are determined by catch volume, price of the species, and the cost of operation and may be an indicator of changes in the fishery and impact on resources. Accordingly if the target species do not outweigh the income, the effort will focus on other resources. 49 EVA CORONADO CASTRO, SILVIA SALAS, and THIERRY BRULE CINVESTAV-Merida km 6. Antigua Carretera Progreso Merida, Yucatan 97310 Mexico [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Estructura de la Comunidad de Peces Arrecifales en Relación con la Presencia del Pez León (Pterois volitans – Scorpaenidae) en Santa Marta - Caribe Colombiano Reef Fish Community Structure in Relation with the Presence of the Lionfish (Pterois volitans - Scorpaenidae) in Santa Marta, Colombian Caribbean Structure de la Communauté des Poissons de Récif en Relation avec la Presence du Poisson Lion (Pterois volitans - Scorpaenidae) à Santa Marta, Caraïbes Colombiennes VICTOR CORONADO-CARRASCAL1, ROCIO GARCÍA-URUEÑA1, y ARTURO ACERO2 1 Universidad del Magdalena Cra 32 No. 22-08 Avenida del Ferrocarril Santa Marta , Magdalena Colombia [email protected] 2 Universidad Nacional de Colombia Bogotá Cundinamarca Colombia Page 50 RESUMEN El pez león, especie exótica que ha invadido el Caribe en las últimas décadas, fue registrado en Colombia en 2008 (Providencia) y 2009 (Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona, Santa Marta). Este estudio pretende determinar abundancias y tallas de peces arrecifales de importancia comercial (Lutjanus mahogoni, Cephalopholis cruentata y Haemulon plumierii) y representantes de grupos funcionales (Abudefduf saxatilis, Chaetodon ocellatus, C. striatus, C. sedentarius y C. capistratus) en relación con presencia del pez león. La evaluación está siendo realizada en El Morro (bahía de Santa Marta), Remanso, isla Aguja y las bahías de Chengue y Cinto con la ubicación de transectos de 30x2 m, en donde se realizan censos visuales tomando abundancia y tallas (cm) de cada una de las especies. El seguimiento se ha realizado de diciembre 2011 a julio 2012. El mayor número de especímenes de pez león se ha encontrado en Chengue, promedio 3.5, y la menor abundancia en Remanso, 0.7 individuos. Las especies más abundantes han sido C. capistratus, A. saxatilis y H. plumierii, promedios 16.1, 15.2 y 7.7 individuos, respectivamente. Las mayores tallas se han hallado para H. plumierii (18 cm), L. mahogoni (16 cm) y C. striatus (16 cm). El pez león ha presentado mayores tamaños en Chengue (18.4 cm), seguido por Cinto (17.2 cm) y El Morro (16.7 cm). A pesar de la constante presencia del pez león, éste presenta bajas densidades y no ha generado desplazamiento o disminución de las especies en estudio. Contribución del proyecto "Invasión del pez león (Pterois volitans) a los arrecifes Colombianos: biología, ecología y origen" (Colciencias, 1361-521-28271). PALABRAS CLAVES: Pez León, Exótica, Abundancia, Tallas, Peces Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Daños Histológicos Ocasionados por Parásitos en Pulpo Octopus maya de la Península de Yucatán, México Histological Damages Induced by Parasites in Octopus maya from the Yucatan Peninsula Dommages Histologiques Provoquées par des Parasites dans Octopus maya de la Péninsule du Yucatan, au Mexique KEYWORDS: Pulpo, Parásitos, Octopus maya, histología, Prochrystianella sp 51 Page RESUMEN La pesquería del pulpo rojo Octopus maya, tiene un importante impacto económico y social en México. Ocupa el octavo lugar en importancia pesquera nacional y el segundo para el estado de Yucatán. La reducción en las capturas en los últimos años ha motivando el desarrollo de técnicas para su cultivo, generado interés por los patógenos que podrían amenazar tanto a poblaciones silvestres como en cultivo. Con el objetivo de evaluar el impacto de los patógenos O. maya, se examinaron un total de 126 ejemplares colectados entre mayo y junio de 2010 en cuatro localidades de la costa de la península de Yucatán (Progreso, Celestún, Dzilam de Bravo, Campeche y ria Lagartos). Tejido de masa bucal, glándulas salivales, branquias y glándula digestiva de cada organismo, fueron fijadas en formalina neutra al 10% y procesadas por técnicas histologicas convencionales. Se observó la presencia de cestodos Prochrystianella sp. en glándula salivales, microsporidios en tejido muscular, así como metacercarias de tremátodos, copépodos e Ichthyophonus sp. en tejido branquial. Las lesiones en glándulas salivales se asociaron al número de cestodos y variaron desde ligero infiltrado hemocítico con daño focal del epitelio glandular en infecciones bajas hasta la fibrosis de la glándula con pérdida del epitelio glandular en infecciones severas. En branquias se observó desde necrosis focal hasta hipertrofia. Las implicaciones de la severidad de estas lesiones para los organismos y sus poblaciones se discuten ampliamente. 51 YANIS CRUZ QUINTANA1, RAÚL SIMÁ ÁLVAREZ1, CARLOS GONZÁLEZ SALAS2, SERGIO GUILLÉN HERNÁNDEZ2 y MA. LEOPOLDINA AGUIRRE MACEDO1 1 CINVESTAV Km 6 antigua carretera a Progreso (Cordemex) Mérida, Yucatán 97310 México [email protected] 2 UADY Km 15.5 Carretera Mérida – Xmatkuil. AP 4-116 Itzimná Mérida Yucatán 97000 México Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Variation in Movement and Habitat Use among Sub-Adult Estuarine Fishes within a Shallow Water Seascape Variación de Movimiento y Uso de Habitat entre Peces Estuarinos Sub-Adultos en Aquas Marinas Someras Etude du Déplacement et de L'Utilisation de l'Habitat Chez les Poissons Sud-Adultes en Milieux Estuariens Peu Profonds MICHAEL DANCE and JAY ROOKER Texas A&M University at Galveston 200 Seawolf Pkwy OCSB Bldg. 3029 Galveston, TX 77553 United States [email protected] Page 52 ABSTRACT Acoustic telemetry was used to investigate patterns of fine-scale habitat use and home range of sub-adult (age-1 and -2) red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) and southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma). An array of acoustic receivers was deployed in Christmas Bay, TX, a semienclosed secondary bay within the larger Galveston Bay containing multiple habitats (seagrass, oyster, salt marsh, mudflat, tidal creeks). A VR2W positioning system (VPS) was used to assess movement at the habitat scale (meters), while a larger grid of passive VR2W receivers was deployed throughout the bay to examine movement at the bay scale (kilometers). Sub-adult red drum (n=14) and southern flounder (n=8) were fitted with Vemco V9 acoustic transmitters and released into the VPS array in January 2012. Fine-scale movement data from the VPS was collected for one month, while fish remained at large for 3 months to collect bay scale movement data. A total of 9,214 fish positions were estimated from the VPS, and Euclidean Distance-based Analysis (EDA) indicated that habitat use was non-random. Both species used a variety of habitats; however, the pattern and suite of preferred habitats differed between species. Minimum convex polygons and kernel use densities were also constructed in a GIS from over 71,500 fish detections collected from the Christmas Bay grid to assess larger-scale movement and home range size. Observed patterns differed markedly between the two species, with red drum exhibiting greater displacement rates and inhabiting larger activity spaces. KEYWORDS: Acoustic telemetry, VPS, red drum, southern flounder, Gulf of Mexico Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI The Virgin Islands Marine Protected Area Network: A Collaborative, Multi-Jurisdictional Approach to Effective Management La Red De Áreas Marinas Protegidas de la Islas Vírgenes Estadounidenses: Un Enfoque Multi-Jurisdiccional para una Gestión Eficaz Le Réseau d'Aires Marines Protégées des Îles Vierges des États-Unis: Une Approche MultiJuridictionnelle à une Gestion Efficace KEYWORDS: Marine Protected Areas, US Virgin Islands, coral reef management, comanagement, multi-jurisdictional 53 Page ABSTRACT The quality of life in the US Virgin Islands (USVI) depends directly on the coastlines, keys, and coral reefs that provide the territory with beautiful natural areas and plentiful natural resources. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) apply enhanced protection to many sites to safeguard and restore marine resources that provide seemingly limitless economic and cultural benefits to the territory’s residents and visitors. MPA management in the USVI is divided across a variety of local and federal natural resource agencies and include coral reef monuments, parks, marine reserves and wildlife sanctuaries, areas of particular concern, and fisheries managed areas. Of these designations, six sites managed by the National Park Service and the USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources are members of the US National System of Marine Protected Areas. With funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Nature Conservancy, managers of these MPAs formed the Virgin Islands Marine Protected Area Network (VIMPAN). The VIMPAN protects over 80,452 acres of the local waters and coastal habitats that provide the territory with socioeconomic benefits through tourism, recreation, and aesthetic value. The leveraging of resources, information sharing, and collective environmental planning and response, are just some of the common needs being addressed by the network’s interagency relationships. The different management agencies have coalesced under VIMPAN to cooperatively conserve and restore the USVI’s marine resources and exemplify successful multijurisdictional MPA management. 53 COLLIN DAUGHERTY, JEANNE BROWN, and ANNE MARIE HOFFMAN The Nature Conservancy 3052 Estate Little Princess Christiansted, VIRGIN ISLAN 00820 USA [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI CITES and Fisheries Authorities Join Forces for Sustainable Management of Queen Conch Autoridades de CITES y Pesqueras unen sus Esfuerzas para la Manejo Sostenible de Caracol Rosado CITES et les Autorités des Pêches Unissent leurs Forces pour une Gestion Durable des Lambis NANCY DAVES NOAA Fisheries Office of International Affairs 1315 East-West Highway Room 12609 Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA [email protected] Page 54 ABSTRACT Since the 1980s, concern has been expressed about the status of queen conch (Strombus gigas) populations in the Wider Caribbean region. In 1992, the species was listed in Annex III (which contains species "that may be utilized on a rational and sustainable basis") of the Protocol for Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife of the Cartagena Convention for the Protection and Conservation of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region. It was subsequently listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) as a species which although not necessarily threatened worth extinction, may become so if it is not subject to regulation. In 1996, the First International Queen Conch Initiative (IQCI) Conference was convened, bringing together fisheries and CITES authorities to collaborate to make recommendations for managing fisheries for the species, incorporating ways to regulate its international trade. At least seven additional regional or sub-regional workshops have been convened since then to continue this regional collaboration. The work of IQCI will be continued in October, 2012, by a joint workshop of the Caribbean Fishery Management Council, the Conch Working Group of the Western and Central Atlantic Fisheries Commission, the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanismmand OSPESCA, the organization of the fishing and aquaculture sector in Central America. The meeting will considerate recommendations of a group of Strombus gigas experts concerning regional management practices and the development of a common, transparent methodology for indicators to measure sustainability of the fisheries and will make recommendations for the way forward. KEYWORDS: queen conch, caracol rosado, caracol pala, sustainable management, CITES Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Response to the Introduction of an Invasive Species in a Data-Poor Situation: Current and Recommended Policy Responses to the Lionfish Situation in the Turks and Caicos Islands Respuesta a la Introducción de una Especie Invasora en una Situación Escasa de Datos: Políticas Actuales y Recomendaciones a la Situación del Pez León en las Islas Turk y Caicos Reponse à l'Invasion d'une Espèce Exotique Envahissante en l'Absence de Données Suffisantes: Actions Mises en Place et Recommendées en Réponse à l'Invasion de Poissons Scorpions dans les Iles Turks and Caicos KEYWORDS: lionfish, policy, Turks and Caicos 55 Page ABSTRACT Despite the wealth of information available on the invasion of lionfish (Pterois volitans) in the Wider Caribbean, government response has generally been limited. This is particularly true for small island nations, like the Turks and Caicos Islands, often limited by financial resources. Data collected by the School for Field Studies documents the extent and dynamics of the population around South Caicos, but more research is needed to determine the extent of the role that this new species plays in the local ecosystem. Whilst some policy options have been identified, they have not yet been implemented. From an economics standpoint, targeting lionfish is not yet beneficial for the local fishermen, other species fetch a higher price and fishing for lionfish can present a direct physical risk. The TCI government, working with a local NGO, has preliminarily agreed to try and bring the existing population of lionfish under control but new market mechanisms are needed to ensure that the targeting of the species becomes economically feasible, and even beneficial for local fishermen. This paper reviews the preliminary steps taken to date and offers recommendations to change the local market dynamics in order to provide real and direct incentives for the taking of lionfish in the Turks and Caicos Islands. 55 CHARLOTTE DE FONTAUBERT1, KATHY LOCKHART2, HEIDI HERTLER2, and CHRISSY LAMENDOLA2 1 Center for Marine Resource Studies School for Field Studies PO Box 007 Cockburn Harbour South Caicos, British West Turks and Caicos Islands [email protected] 2 School for Field StudiesCenter for Marine Resource Studies PO Box 007 South Caicos Cockburn Harbour Turks and Caicos Islands Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Distribucion y Abundancia de Pomacea Flagelata en la Laguna de Bacalar: Resultados Preliminares Distribution and Abundance of Pomacea Flagellata at Bacalar Lake: Preliminary Results Distribution et Abondance de Pomacea Flagellata dans la Lacune de Bacalar: Des Résultats Preliinares ALBERTO DE JESUS1, JOSÉ JUAN OLIVA RIVERA2, FRANK OCAÑA BORREGO2, ABEL VARGAS2 y ROSA MARÍA DE JESUS CARRILLO2 1 ECOSUR Av. Centenario km 5.5 Chetumal, Q. Roo 79000 Mexico [email protected] 2 El Colegio de la Frontera Sur Av. Centenario km 5.5 Chetumal Quintana Roo 79000 Mexico Page 56 RESUMEN Se presentan los resultados de la distribución y abundancia del caracol “chivita” Pomacea flagellata en la Laguna de Bacalar. Doce estaciones de muestreo se ubicaron en los dos extremos de la laguna, denominados zona A y zona B. En cada zona se ubicaron tres transectos de cien metros de área. Los caracoles encontrados en los transectos fueron contados, medidos con un vernier al mm más cercano, pesados con una balanza electrónica de 0.5 g de precisión. En cada uno de los sitios, se contaron las masas de huevo en la vegetación costera adyacente, en un transecto lineal de 20 m de longitud. La densidad varío de 0 ind.m2 en la estación BA4 y un máximo de 0.55 ind.m2 en la estación BA6. La densidad de masas de huevo tuvo un máximo de 2.6 huevas.m2 en la estación BA4. Las estaciones con mayor abundancia fueron BA6, BA5, BA7, BA9 y BA 11. Esta es la primera evaluación de la densidad del caracol en la laguna de Bacalar, y esperamos que estos resultados sean útiles en la generación de medidas de manejo del recurso. PALABRAS CLAVES: mollusc, fresh water, fishery Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Crecimiento del Caracol Pomacea flagellata en Condiciones de Cultivo Bajo un Solo Regimen Alimenticio Growth of Pomacea flagellata in Culture Conditions under One Food Régimen Croissance de l'Escargot Pomacea flagellata dans des Conditions de Basse Culture un Seul un Régime Alimentaire PALABRAS CLAVES: mollusk, culture, juveniles 57 Page RESUMEN Se evaluó el crecimiento del caracol Pomacea flagellata bajo condiciones de cultivo estático bajo un solo régimen de alimentación. Los juveniles eclosionaron de masas de huevo, generadas por caracoles cultivados en peceras de 50 x 30 x 30 cm, que se alimentaron con chaya fresca (Cnidosculos chayamansa) una vez al día y equivalente a un diez por ciento de la biomasa de los caracoles. Una vez puesta la masa de huevo, generalmente a diez centímetros del nivel del agua, eclosionaron en un promedio de diez días. La tasa de crecimiento fue de 0.12 mm al día. La mortalidad de los juveniles en las peceras fue de 8.3 %, lo que se considera bajo y adecuado para el cultivo de la especie. El experimento muestra que es factible el manejo y cultivo del caracol Pomacea flagellata en laboratorio. 57 ALBERTO DE JESUS1, ROSA MARÍA DE JESUS CARRILLO2, y JOSÉ JUAN OLIVA RIVERA2 1 ECOSUR Av. Centenario km 5.5 Chetumal, Q. Roo 79000 Mexico [email protected] 2 El Colegio de la Frontera Sur Av. Centenario km. 5.5 Chetumal Quintana Roo 79000 Mexico Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Effects of the Annual Closure of the Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) Fishery in Guadeloupe (FWI) Efectos del Cierre Anual de la Pesquería del Caracol Rosado (Strombus gigas) en el Recurso, en Guadalupe (FWI) Effets de la Fermeture Annuelle de la Pêche au Lambis (Strombus gigas) Sur la Ressource, en Guadeloupe (FWI) NICOLAS DIAZ, WIDGY SAHA, CHARLY VINCENT, and MARION PATIN CRPMEM Guadeloupe 2 bis rue Schoelcher Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe 97110 France [email protected] Page 58 ABSTRACT In Guadeloupe (FWI), only the professional fishermen are allowed to fish the queen conch by the regulation in force. They must respect minimum lengths, legal fishing techniques and gears and an 8 month annual closure season for this fishery (from February 1st to September 30th). Strombus gigas densities were monitored on the main fishing grounds of Guadeloupe archipelago by video transects, between 2008 and 2012. To assess the effects of this closure period on the resource, density assessments were realized at the beginning and end of the period of annual fishery closure, and compared. In March 2011 (beginning of the closure), average recorded densities were 1.72 mature queen conch per hectare and 50,52 juveniles. In September 2011 (end of the closure season), average observed densities reach 50,23 mature individuals per hectare and 55,30 juvenile. In March 2012 (after the fishing season) this average density decays again to 8.08 adults per hectare and 70 juveniles. The adult queen conch density increase observed during the fishing ban periods can be explained by the growth of sub-adults, or by a migration of individuals from surrounding or deeper areas, less exploited. These early assessments appear to highlight the beneficial effect on the resource of the 8 months annual ban on fishing in force. However, observed densities remain modest, and the reconstitution of a sustainable resource requires the maintenance of these pre and post season density assessments, additional regulatory measures, and a regional harmonization of regulations measures. KEYWORDS: Strombus gigas, fisheries, Guadeloupe, closure season Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Zonificación por áreas de uso, búsqueda de alternativas y Comanejo como garantía de sostenibilidad Zonification by areas of use, search for alternatives and co-management as guaranty for sustainability RESUMEN Utilizamos la planificación eco- sistémica en la bahía de Samaná, como una herramienta de organización, gestión, concertación social y fortalecimiento organizacional tanto del sector pesquero como de los actores gubernamentales que institucionalizan su gobernanza. Esta herramienta es el mecanismo que implementamos para alcanzar la Prosperidad económica, la Sostenibilidad ambiental y el Bienestar social del sector pesquero, tanto en la Bahía de Samaná, como en la Republica Dominicana. PALABRAS CLAVES: Prosperidad, Sostenibilidad, Bienestar, Concertación, Gobernanza 59 Page TOMAS BIENVENIDO DIAZ ROMERO CEBSE Tiro al Blanco Santo Domingo, Samana 32000 [email protected] 59 Zonification par Domaine d'Emploi, Recherche d'Alternatives et de Co-Gestion comme Garantie de la Durabilité Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Evaluación de la Pesca Acompañante en la Pesquería Artesanal de Arrastre de Camarón del Golfo de Salamanca, Caribe de Colombia Bycatch Assessment of the Artisanal Shrimp Trawl Fishery in the Gulf of Salamanca, Colombian Caribbean Sea Evaluation de la Capture le Pêche au Chalut des Crevettes le Golfe de Salamanca, Dans Les Caraïbes en Colombie ROY DIAZ VESGA, RUBEN ACEVEDO, FELIX CUELLO, y LUIS ORLANDO DUARTE Laboratorio de Investigaciones Pesqueras Tropica Carrera 32 No. 22-08 Santa Marta, Colombia [email protected] Page 60 ABSTRACT Las pesquerías de arrastre de fondo se han caracterizado por afectar las poblaciones de especies no objetivo y los ecosistemas en que operan. En el Golfo de Salamanca, recientemente opera una flota artesanal de arrastre de camarón, cuya pesca acompañante es evaluada por primera vez en el presente estudio, a fin de analizar efectos ecológicos de la actividad. Se muestreó a bordo 90 lances en el periodo de mayor pluviosidad (noviembre 2010) y 86 en la época con menor precipitación (abril 2011). En la época de mayor pluviosidad, los descartes representaron el 66.46% de la captura total, mientras que para el segundo periodo representaron el 84.16% de la captura total. En la época de más lluvia, la relación entre pesca acompañante y camarón se estimo en 2.693 (2.366 - 3.208; IC 95%), entre descarte y camarón en 2.454 (2.182 - 2.922; IC 95%) y entre pesca incidental y camarón en 0.240 (0.165 - 0.395; IC 95%). Para la época de menor pluviosidad, la relación entre pesca acompañante y camarón se estimó en 6.370 (5.097 8.240; IC 95%), entre descarte y camarón en 6.322 (5.103 - 8.130; IC 95%) y entre pesca incidental y camarón en 0.048 (0.034 - 0.068; IC 95%). Los resultados evidencian considerables cantidades de pesca acompañante en esta pesquería, que urgen la implementación de medidas para mitigar el impacto de la pesca de arrastre artesanal sobre las comunidades marinas y el ecosistema estuarino en el cual operan. Estudio auspiciado por Colciencias (Proyecto 1117-48925529), Universidad del Magdalena. KEYWORDS: Golfo de Salamanca, pesquería artesanal, Mar Caribe de Colombia Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI 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 pour La Bahie du Samaná, Republic Dominicaine 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 socioeconomic and conservation goals when conducting marine spatial planning. KEYWORDS: zoning, fisheries, mpa, Samana, Dominican Republic 61 61 ELIANNY DOMINGUEZ1 and BIENVENIDO DIAZ2 The Nature Conservancy Cll. Mayen Guerra #235 Arroyo Hondo Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic [email protected] 2 CEBSE Santa Barbara de Samana Dominican Republic Page 1 Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI The Distribution and Density of Wrasse Mating Sites is Influenced by Fish Feeding Stations La Distribucion y Densidad de Los Sitios de Reprodución de los Loros esta Influenciada por las Estaciones de Alimentación de Peces La Répartition et la Densité des Sites d'Accouplement Wrasse est Influencé par les Stations d'Alimentation des Poissons TERRY DONALDSON, MARYLOU HILDEBRAND, and CATY TURNER University of Guam Marine Laboratory UOG Station Mangilao, Guam 96923 USA [email protected] ABSTRACT Page 62 Various species of wrasses (Labridae) utilize specific sites for courtship and spawning, either in an haremic mating system or temporary, resident spawning aggregations. These sites are usually distributed in discrete locations. At Apra Harbor, Guam, haremic mating sites are distributed along the edge of a reef slope at discrete intervals, are defended by terminal-phase males, and the mating group consists typically of 2-6 females for most species. At Finger Reef, a protrusion into the harbor at the western end of the reef slope, a spawning aggregation site exists for thirteen species of wrasses. Some species, such as Cheilinus trilobatus, Cheilio inermis, Epibulus insidiator, Hemigymnus melapterus, Novaculichthys taeniourus, Oxycheilinus unifasciatus, and Thalassoma trilobatum, court and spawn in relatively low numbers, either as pairs or small haremic groups. This site is also popular with groups of scuba divers that frequently feed fishes at this site. Our data indicate that the numbers of terminal-phase males, and initial-phase males and females of a number of species, but especially Thalassoma hardwicke and Gomphosus varius, are significantly higher than in non-feeding areas of the reef. In addition, there is a marked increase in both male-male territorial interactions in a lek-like system and also in sneaking during spawning events. The increased abundance of fishes and corresponding behavioral interactions are likely the result of fish-feeding at this spawning aggregation site. KEYWORDS: Courtship, Lekking, Reef fishes, Spawning aggregation, Territorial behavior Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Partitioning of Trophic Resources Allows Multi-Specific Foraging Groups of Acanthurid Fishes (Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles) La Partición de los Recursos Tróficos Permite la Formación de Grupos Multi-Específicos de Acanthuridae (Guadeloupe, Antillas Menores) Le Partage des Ressources Trophiques Permet la Formation de Groupes Multi-Spécifiques d’Acanthuridae (Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles) KEYWORDS: Acanthuridae, Stomach contents analysis, Stable isotopes analysis, Trophic niche, Caribbean reefs 63 Page ABSTRACT Herbivorous fishes control the algal dynamic on coral reefs and are widely exploited by Caribbean fisheries. Among this guild, Acanthurids are routinely seen in multi-specific foraging groups and are globally considered as a same homogenous functional group. In fact, the different species can display various diet patterns. In this study, we stated the hypothesis that the formation of such multi-specific groups can be explained by a difference of trophic niche between the different Acanthurids. To investigate this fact, a study was conducted on three species of Acanthurids (Acanthurus coeruleus, A. chirurgus and A. bahianus), abundant on the reefs of Guadeloupe. Stomach content analyses were coupled with stable isotope analyses (13C/12C and 15N/14N ratios) to determine their trophic niches. Contributions of sources in the fish diet were estimated using a mixing model. Nutritional quality of sources was measured to better understand the choice of food by the fish. Among the three species, A. coeruleus showed the most diversified diet and was the only species to ingest benthic Invertebrates. Food items were assimilated proportionally to the quantity ingested. A. chirurgus ingested an important amount of calcareous macroalgae. However, its food assimilation was similar to that of A. bahianus. The three Acanthurids can coexist in the same foraging group because they ingest the food items in different proportions and they do not assimilate them in the same way. They so avoid competitive interactions. 63 CHARLOTTE DROMARD1, YOLANDE BOUCHON-NAVARO1, MIREILLE HARMELINVIVIEN2, and CLAUDE BOUCHON1 1 DYNECAR Université des Antilles et de la Guyane Laboratoire de Biologie Marine Campus de Fouillole Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe 97159 France [email protected] 2 Institut méditerranéen d'océanologieAix-Marseille Université Campus de Luminy Case 901 Marseille Cedex 9 13288 France 1 Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Artisanal Catches of Sharks in the Colombian Caribbean Sea. Characterization Based on Local Ecological Knowledge Capturas Artesanales de Tiburón en el Mar Caribe de Colombia. Caracterización Basada en el Conocimiento Ecologico Local Pêche Artisanale de Requin dans la Mer des Caraïbes de la Colombie. Caractérisation Basée sur les Savoirs Écologiques Locales LUIS ORLANDO DUARTE1, SANTIAGO GÓMEZ1, LUIS MANJARRÉS1, ANDRÉS GONZÁLEZ RAFAEL ANGUILA1, JENNY LEAL BRYAN ARANGO2, JOSÉ FELIPE ROA LEONEL FERNANDEZ1 and GINA PUENTES3 1 Universidad del Magdalena Laboratorio de Investigaciones Pesqueras Tropicales, Cra 32 # 2208 Santa Marta, Colombia [email protected] 2 Universidad de Antioquia Corporación Académica Ambiental, Calle 67 No. 53-108, Bloque 22 Medellín Colombia Universidad del Magdalena Laboratorio de Investigaciones Pesqueras Tropicales, Cra 32 # 22- Santa Marta Colombia 3 Fundación Ecosfera Calle 10 No. 12-82 Riohacha Colombia Page 64 ABSTRACT The shark catch in the Caribbean Sea of Colombia have been marginally studied. During the last years, Colombian academic, governmental and non-governmental institutions have increased their attention to this group of fishes, encouraged by the National Plan of Action for the Shark Conservation and Management. With the aim of conducting a rapid appraisal of the historical and current artisanal shark catches in the study area, semi-structured interviews were carried out with fishers in selected landing sites by following a “snow ball” sampling design. Sharks are usually caught as by-catch of artisanal fisheries in the region, using long line and hook and line. However, some long line and gillnet artisanal fleets target sharks and rays in crucial areas for the life cycle of populations or essential habitats (e.g. estuaries) and during vulnerable periods (e.g. migrations). Most captured species were detected and perceptions of fishers about temporal trends of the sharks and rays abundance were analyzed. Economic value and use of caught individuals were explored in order to determine if they are used integrally (meal, jaws, skin) or are total or partially discarded (finning). The results support the construction and setting of appropriate management strategies for the conservation of these fishes in the region. Study sponsored by Colciencias (1117-521-29352), Universidad del Magdalena, Fundación Ecosfera, Gobernación de San Andrés and Universidad Nacional de Colombia. KEYWORDS: Chondrichthyans, artisanal fisheries, Local Ecological Knowledge, Caribbean Sea, Colombia Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Preferencias de Hábitat del Invasor Pez León (P. volitans) Como Herramienta para el Control de su Poblaciones en Isla Fuerte, Caribe Colombiano Habitat Preferences of Invasive Lionfish (P. volitans) as a Tool to Control their Populations on Isla Fuerte, Colombian Caribbean Préférences d'Habitat des Poissons-Lions Invasive (P. volitans) comme un Outil pour Contrôler leurs Populations sur l'Île de Fort, Caraïbes Colombiennes PALABRAS CLAVES: P. volitans, preferencia de habitad, control de poblaciones 65 Page RESUMEN El invasor Pez León (P. volitans), que se ha dispersado a lo largo del Caribe colombiano es un depredador voraz, que representa una gran amenaza a múltiples ecosistemas al ser ponzoñoso, euritolerante y con pocos depredadores. En diferentes partes de Colombia se han dirigido múltiples investigaciones con el fin de estudiar este invasor, sin embargo esta es la primera en Isla Fuerte. Isla Fuerte es una isla ubicada a 11 km de la línea de costa con área emergida de 3.25 km, cuenta con manglares, pastos marinos, playas, litorales y arrecifes, estos últimos con una extensión total de 32.5 km2 y una extensión de cobertura coralina viva de 16.6 km2. Con el propósito de contribuir al manejo de la invasión del Pez León, esta investigación tuvo como objetivo determinar la preferencia de hábitat del Pez León según su estado de madurez sexual, relacionando profundidad y tipo de sustrato con su estado gonadal, talla y abundancia. En el desarrollo de esta investigación se realizaron muestreos usando la técnica de buceo errante en tres sitios con características diferentes, en tres rangos de profundidades (0-10m, 10-20m y 2030m), registrando la profundidad y tipo de sustrato en cada captura; los individuos capturados fueron medidos, pesados, se determino su sexo y estado gonadal. Dentro de los resultados obtenidos se destaca que los individuos jóvenes se encuentran asociados principalmente a aguas someras y que los individuos adultos tienen preferencia por los arrecifes de coral como lugar de habitad, siendo los sitios someros de los ecosistemas lugares clave para el direccionamiento de esfuerzos encaminados al control de las poblaciones de Pez León. 65 GUILLERMO DUQUE NIVIA1, ANDRES ESTEBAN MOLINA SANDOVAL1, y ARTURO ACERO PIZARRO2 1 Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Sede Palmira Carrera 32 No 12 - 00 Chapinero, Vía Candelaria Palmira, Valle del Ca Colombia [email protected] 2 Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Sede Caribe Cerro Punta Betín - Sta Marta, Colombia Santa Marta Magdalena Colombia Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Incidencia de la Pesca Artesanal Sobre la Diversidad Taxonómica y Funcional de la Comunidad De Peces en el Mar Caribe de Colombia Artisanal Fisheries Incidence on Taxonomic and Functional Diversity of the Fish Community in the Caribbean Sea off Colombia L'Impact de la Pêche sur la Diversité Taxonomique et Fonctionnelle de la Communauté de Poissons dans la Mer des Caraïbes de la Colombie FABIAN DAVID ESCOBAR TOLEDO1, MARÍA DEL PILAR PARRADO-CORTÉS2, LUIS ORLANDO DUARTE2, y MANUEL ZETINA-REJÓN1 1 CICIMAR - Instituto Politécnico Nacional Av. IPN s/n Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita CP 23096 La Paz B.C.S. - México La Paz, Baja Califor 23096 México [email protected] 2 Universidad del Magdalena Carrera 32 # 22-08 Santa Marta Magdalena Colombia Page 66 RESUMEN A nivel mundial, especialmente en Latinoamérica, la pesca artesanal genera altos niveles de captura y es una de las principales actividades productivas de las zonas costeras tropicales. Sin embargo, la fuerte presión generada por esta actividad puede atentar contra la sustentabilidad de los recursos pesqueros limitando el normal desarrollo de los procesos en el ecosistema. Aproximaciones que evidencien la incidencia de la flota sobre la diversidad taxonómica y funcional de la comunidad de peces aún no se han realizado en el mar Caribe de Colombia. Se pretende, entonces, determinar la incidencia de la pesca artesanal en tres ecoregiones del área de estudio (Golfo de Salamanca, Tayrona, Palomino) entre 1994 y 1998 y en los años 2000 y 2008. Se registraron las capturas diarias realizadas con los artes de pesca de palangre, red enmalle y red de tiro en la zona. El análisis se realizó con las capturas estandarizadas (kg/faena). La diversidad taxonómica y funcional se analizó a través del índice de distinción taxonómica y funcional respectivamente. Se registraron 195 especies para el área durante los años de muestreo. La relación de los índices respecto a los años no fue significativa. No obstante, el índice de distinción taxonómica presentó una tendencia a disminuir (t = 2.035; p = 0.111), mientras que el índice de distinción funcional mostró una tendencia al aumento (t = -2.172; p = 0.096) a lo largo del tiempo. Asimismo, fue evidente el aumento en el índice de distinción taxonómica a lo largo de un gradiente en dirección norte-sur. El análisis de la distinción funcional permitió identificar a la ecoregión Palomino como la de mayor semejanza funcional en las capturas entre años. PALABRAS CLAVES: Diversidad taxonómica, Diversidad funcional, Pesca artesanal, Mar Caribe, Colombia Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Toward Regional Marine Protected Area Management: Recent Progress from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Hacia Manejo Regional de Áreas Marinas Protegidas: Avances Recientes de la Commonwealth de Puerto Rico Vers Une Gestion Régionale des Aires Marines Protégées: Progrès Récents dans le Commonwealth de Porto Rico KEYWORDS: Marine Protected Areas, Puerto Rico, coral reef management, regional conservation, ocean planning 67 Page ABSTRACT As an overseas territory, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has traditionally had limited access to multi-lateral agreements. In many instances, Puerto Rico’s political status has inhibited its ability to fully engage with neighboring Caribbean islands in regional conservation initiatives. Over the last two years, The Nature Conservancy has leveraged regional partnerships and relationships with Puerto Rico’s Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) to ensure such conservation initiatives are amenable to the participation of overseas territories. Through the leadership of the DNER, Puerto Rico has demonstrated tremendous political will and alacrity to bolster regional conservation initiatives and enhance domestic marine protected area management. In 2012, Puerto Rico became a participating member of the Caribbean Challenge, a region-wide initiative targeting 20% protection of marine and coastal habitat by the year 2020. In addition, Puerto Rico recently joined the Caribbean Biological Corridor and formally established the Regional Ocean Partnership with the US Virgin Islands. The Nature Conservancy is collaborating with partners at the municipal, commonwealth, and federal levels in Puerto Rico to support the management and monitoring of new and existing marine protected areas for the restoration and stewardship of coral reef and fisheries resources. Apart from uniquely representing the US Caribbean, Puerto Rico is trailblazing for other overseas territories aspiring to participate in regional conservation initiatives and, with the support of The Nature Conservancy, showing leadership on ocean planning and marine protected area management in the Caribbean region. 67 RAIMUNDO ESPINOZA The Nature Conservancy 3052 Estate Little Princess Christiansted, US VIRGIN ISLANDS 00820 USA [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Distribution of Smalltooth Sawfish (Latham, 1794) in Cuban Archipelago Distribución del Pez Sierra (Latham, 1794) en el Archipiélago Cubano Distribución del Pez Sierra (Latham, 1794) en el Archipiélago Cubano TAMARA FIGUEREDO MARTÍN CIEC Cayo Coco Cayo Coco, Ciego de Ávi 69400 Cuba [email protected] Page 68 ABSTRACT Smalltooth Sawfish (Pristis pectinata Latham, 1794) is catalogued as Critically Endangered Species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In the last years, there have been very few reports of the species in its area of distribution (Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea). Much attention has been dedicated to the Sawfish in the world in the last decade, but not in Cuba. The aim of this study is to determine whether there still are any specimens of Sawfish in Cuban waters. To accomplish this objective structured interviews were applied. The sample was set as at least five interviews per fishery enterprise. Cartographic schemes of each particular region were used as a support material, just to assist the localization of the sites. ArGis 9.3 software was used for the cartographic representations. Of the 16 Cuban regions (15 provinces and 1 special municipality), information were gathered from 9, totaling 91 interviews. Twentyseven percent of interviewed people have heard about Sawfish or observed it. Sawfish has been fished or sighted in 18 sites since 1960s. Eighty-nine percent of the reported individuals have been fished. It is highlighted that 35 % of the reports are from the last decade. That stands out the high likelihood of Sawfish presence in Cuban waters. It is recommended to extend sample effort to the other regions and to prepare research proposals about Sawfish in Cuba KEYWORDS: Smalltooth Sawfish, Critically Endangered species, interviews, traditional knowledge Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Preliminary Evaluation of Whale Shark (Smith, 1828) Population in the Cuban Archipelago Evaluación Preliminar ee las Poblaciones de Damero (Smith, 1828) en el Archipiélago Cubano Evaluación Preliminar de las Poblaciones de Damero (Smith, 1828) en el Archipiélago Cubano TAMARA FIGUEREDO MARTÍN CIEC Cayo Coco Cayo Coco, Ciego de Ávi 69400 Cuba [email protected] KEYWORDS: Whale shark, Vulnerable species, interviews, traditional knowledge 69 Page Whale shark (Rhincodon typus, Smith, 1828) is catalogued as a vulnerable species by IUCN. Much attention has been dedicated to the Whale shark in the world in the last decades, but not in Cuba. The aim of this study is to preliminarily assess Whale shark status in Cuban waters through anecdotal information and cartographic representations. Of the 16 Cuban regions, information was gathered from 9, totaling 114 interviews on experienced users (83 fishermen and 31 dive masters) in 2009 and 2010. Response rate was 88 %. Whale shark sightings are more frequent in western Cuba (Pinar del Río province), southwestern Cuba (Isla de la Juventud and surroundings) and south-central Cuba (Jardines de la Reina archipelago). Most of Whale shark sightings are of solitary individuals although 2-3 individuals are often seen together. Most of Whale sharks observed are medium-large size individuals (more than 5 m of length). Interviewers state that whale shark feed on plankton and herrings-anchovies mostly in verticalmotionless position. Whale sharks are associated with small tuna species and sharks. Whale sharks are spotted by fishermen and divers using terns flying above them and associated fish species. There is no tourism activity focus on Whale shark in Cuba. There were sporadic catches of Whale shark in Cuban waters around 20 years ago. Interviewers state that abundance and size of Whale shark are similar now when compared with decades ago. It is recommended to extend sample effort to the other regions and to prepare research proposals about Whale shark in Cuba 69 ABSTRACT Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Status del Caracol Pala Strombus gigas en Areas Remotas de la Zona Externa al Area Marina Protegida Seaflower, Colombia Queen Conch Strombus gigas Status in Remote Areas of the Outer Zone of the Marine Protected Area Seaflower, Colombia Le Lambis Strombus gigas Situation dans les Régions Éloignées de la Zone Externe de la Zone de Protection Marine Seaflower, Colombie TRISHA FORBES1, ERICK CASTRO2, y MARTHA PRADA3 Secretaria de Agricultura y Pesca-Gobernación De Avenida Francisco Newball-Edificio Coral Palace San Andres Isla, Colombia [email protected] 2 Secretaria de Agricultura y Pesca-Gobernación Departamento Archip Avenida Francisco Newball-Edificio Coral Palace San Andrés Isla Colombia 3 Corporación para el Desarrollo Sostenible del Archipiélago CORALINA Vía San Luis Km 26 San Andres Colombia 1 Page 70 RESUMEN En marco de la expedición científica “Global Reef Expedition” realizada en abril de 2012 se hicieron observaciones de distribución y abundancia del caracol pala mediante censos visuales con buceo autónomo (scuba) a lo largo de transectos de banda en tres atolones distantes y remotos (Serranilla, Bajo Alicia y Bajo Nuevo). Las densidades registradas en Cayo Serranilla fueron de 12.5 ind.ha-1 para adultos y 7.9 ind.ha-1 para juveniles, en Bajo Alicia 47.6 ind.ha-1 y 129.9 ind.ha-1, y en Bajo Nuevo de 28.5 ind.ha-1 y 37.5 ind.ha-1 respectivamente. Las bajas densidades de adultos encontradas (< 50 ind.ha-1), podrían sugerir que en el área se puede estar presentado el efecto Allee que afecta la capacidad reproductiva de la especie disminuyendo la probabilidad de encuentros entre machos y hembras, por lo que se recomienda mantener cerrada la pesquería en estas áreas. No obstante, se destaca que respecto a evaluaciones realizadas en 2010 se encontró que las densidades presentan tendencias positivas aumentando en Serranilla los adultos un 45% y los juveniles un 59%, en Bajo Alicia los juveniles un 72% y en Bajo Nuevo un 41% en adultos y 78% en juveniles. Esto podría ser un indicio de una posible recuperación en el futuro de las poblaciones naturales del caracol pala en estas áreas, por lo que es importante contrarrestar la pesca ilegal con mayores ajustes de control y vigilancia y acuerdos bi-nacionales o regionales. PALABRAS CLAVES: Strombus gigas, densidad, AMP Seaflower, Colombia Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Identificación de Humedales Prioritarios para la Protección de los Estadíos Tempranos de Vida del Camarón de Aguas Someras en Colombia desde una Perspectiva Ecogenética Identifying Priority Wetlands for Protection of Early Life Stages of Shallow Water Shrimp in Colombia from an Ecogenetics Perspective Identification des Zones Humides Prioritaires pour la Protection des Premiers Stades de Vie de la Crevette dans des Eaux Peu Profondes des Colombie à Partir d’une Perspective Ecogénétique RESUMEN Las poblaciones naturales del langostino blanco Litopenaeus schmitti en Colombia están siendo amenazadas por la pesca intensiva a nivel artesanal e industrial y por la destrucción de los humedales costeros, donde desarrollan parte de su ciclo de vida; estas presiones podrían llevar a una pérdida de variabilidad genética de sus poblaciones. El conocimiento de la estructura poblacional de la especie es un insumo importante para su manejo adecuado. Usando marcadores moleculares microsatélites con cebadores específicos para L. schmitti y heterólogos de L. setiferus y L. vannamei se evalúo la estructura genética de la especie. Los resultados indican la existencia de una baja conectividad a lo largo de la costa Caribe colombiana, al detectarse una diferenciación genética en la especie. Al parecer L. schmitti presenta una estructura poblacional (ΦPT = 0.023; p = 0.001) formada por tres stocks: Bahía de Cispatá, Bahía de BarbacoasCiénaga Grande de Santa Marta y Laguna de Navío Quebrado. No se encontró evidencia de aislamiento por distancia. Los factores que pueden estar determinando esa diferenciación parecen estar relacionados con diferencias en los hábitats, ciclo de vida y dinámicas de corrientes locales. La identificación de estructuración en la población de langostino blanco del Caribe debe tenerse en cuenta al momento de realizar medidas de manejo para su conservación. PALABRAS CLAVES: Microsatélites, Litopenaeus schmitti, estructura genética poblacional 71 71 ADRIANA FRESNEDA1, LUIS CHASQUI2, y DAVID ALONSO2 INVEMAR Sociedad Portuaria, Cerro Punta Betín Santa Marta, Colombia [email protected] 2 Invemar Sociedad Portuaria Cerro Punta Bentín Santa Marta Colombia Page 1 Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI The Women’s Roles in the Maintenance Of Artisanal Fishing Communities Livelihoods of Patos Lagoon Estuary - Brazil: Contributions to the Management and Environmental Education Roles de la Mujer en el Mantenimiento de Medios de Vida de las Comunidades de Pesca Artesanal del Estuario de la Laguna de los Patos - Brasil: Contribuciones a la Gestión y Educación Ambiental Rôles des Femmes dans le Moyens d'Existence de Communautés de Pêche Artisanale de l'Estuaire de la Lagune de Patos - Brésil: Contribution à la Gestion et l'Education à l'Environnementale MELINA C. GALVÃO, FRANCISCO Q. VERAS NETO1, and RODRIGO P. MEDEIROS Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG) Av. Itália, s/n Km 8 Rio Grande, RS Brazil [email protected] Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) Avenida Beira Mar s/n Pontal do Sul Paraná Brazil Page 72 ABSTRACT Women develop productive and reproductive roles of fundamental importance to sustain the livelihoods of fishing families. These roles can be important to face situations of uncertainty and the crisis for which fisheries has been going through. This paper aims to present the preliminary results of a master research along communities of Patos Lagoon estuary, that has the main goal of understanding which are the roles of women in families and fishing communities of Patos Lagoon estuary and how they contribute to the maintenance of the adaptive capacity face of the current fishing crisis. The methodology used was a gender analysis of secondary data and also from livelihoods interviews with fishermen and fisherwomen in four fishing localities, besides filming and photographs. The preliminary results show that there is a important gender division of work in these fisheries, and the roles of women focus on pre-and post-harvest activities; especially shrimp, crab and fish informal processing. This activity represents an important adaptive strategy for fishing livelihoods. There are gender asymmetries of power, property rights, access to resources and benefits, participation in representation and decision-making spaces. Fisheries management and policies have been shown to be incongruent with the characteristics and specificities of the gender relations in these communities. Gender-focused research has a important contribution to promove co-management processes toward a sustainable, equitable and fair management of natural resources, with fewer inequalities between men and women. KEYWORDS: artisanal fisheries, gender, livelihoods, management, Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Promotion of the Participation of the Fishermen Community in Capurganá, Caribbean Choco, Colombia in the Effective Management of Coral Reefs Fomento a la Participación de la Comunidad de Pescadores en Capurganá, Choco Caribeño, Colombia en el Manejo Efectivo de los Arrecifes Coralinos Promotion de la Participation de la Communauté de Pêcheurs en Colombie Capurganá, Caribbean Choco, dans la Gestion Efficace des Récifs Coralliens Fomento a la Participación de Comunidad de Pescadores en Capurganá, Choco Caribeño, Colombia KEYWORDS: Effective Managemenr, Coral Reefs, Lion Fish, Parrot Fish, Community Participation 73 Page ABSTRACT During an environmental education campaign sponsored by UNEP-PAC, the SPAW-CAR, CaMPAM that was held between the month of August to October in Capurganá, the community was involved in educative meetings between the community (artisanal fishermen, boatmen, dive operators, teachers and students in school, managers of restaurants and hotels) and sociologists, ecologists and economists from the Foundation ICRI Colombia. The multidisciplinary methodologies applied included: techniques from the social sciences such as analysis of actors, DOFA, planning objective methodologies and strategic through recreational activities involves the community in the identification of what they consider their environmental problems and possible solutions. Methodologies of ecological sciences such as censuses were also applied by underwater fish counts, and monitoring the health of corals. The economic valuation of the lion fish fisheries was calculated as the first effort to present as a justification before the community of the relevance to catch the invasive species. Also the experts team performed assessments of CPUE in situ and surveys to fishermen as well as the review of fishery statistics of the fishermen's Association of Capurganá, Choco, Caribbean of Colombia. 73 NOHORA GALVIS Fundación ICRI Colombia en Pro de los Arrecifes Calle 97A No. 60D-88 Bogota, Colombia [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Caracterización Histológica del Tracto Digestivo del Pulpo Común (Octopus vulgaris) Histological Characterization of Digestive Tract of the Common Octopus (Octopus vulgaris) Caractérisation Histologique du Tube Digestif de la Pieuvre Commune (Octopus vulgaris). JORGE LUIS GARCÍA GÓMEZ y ADRIANA RODRÍGUEZ FORERO Universidad del Magdalena Grupo de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico Cr 32 No. 22-08 Hangar D Santa Marta, Magdalena Colombia [email protected] Page 74 RESUMEN Desde hace más de una década se ha suscitado un interés mundial por desarrollar una acuicultura a escala comercial de diversos cefalópodos debido a que son especies con un gran interés comercial, lo cual se manifiesta en las abundantes capturas soportadas por las flotas artesanales o industriales, que muestran cifras de aproximadamente 2.5 millones de toneladas capturadas/año. De manera particular, los pulpos han sido objeto de múltiples estudios tendientes a superar el complejo desarrollo paralarval en algunas especies y la escasa aceptación de dietas artificiales en condiciones de cautiverio. Con el fin de aportar elementos de apoyo que aclaren este último aspecto, se pretende caracterizar histológicamente segmentos de tracto digestivo del pulpo común (Octopus vulgaris (americanus)) capturado en el litoral marino del Departamento del Magdalena. Para ello se capturaron 20 ejemplares en el área de Santa Marta (11°07′10.74″N, 74°13′50.33″O), los cuales fueron sometidos a una sobredosificación de anestésico para su sacrificio y posterior disección. Luego de esto, se extrajo su sistema digestivo, el cual fue analizado macroscópica y microscópicamente mediante técnicas convencionales. Se presentan resultados de caracterización morfológica de esta especie encontrándose las glándulas salivares anteriores y posteriores, esófago, glándula digestiva de gran tamaño y de color castaño y ciegos en forma de espiral de color blanco cremoso donde se efectúa la digestión y absorción. Histológicamente se presentan cortes de los ciegos y de la glándula digestiva. Los hallazgos aportan elementos de utilidad para incrementar el conocimiento de las características biológicas de una especie nativa del Caribe colombiano. PALABRAS CLAVES: histology, Octopus vulgaris (americanus), common octopus, digestive tract, Santa Marta Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Propuesta De Un Índice Para Evaluar La Estructura Arrecifal En El Atlántico Noroccidental Proposal for a Reef Structure Assessment Index for the Western Atlantic. Proposition D'un Indice D'évaluation De La Structure Récifal Pour L’atlantique Ouest PALABRAS CLAVES: Rugosity, Habitat Complexity, Topographic complexity, Reef Assessment, Integral Indicator 75 Page RESUMEN La evaluación de arrecifes coralinos involucra el empleo de diversos indicadores, que aportan información básica sobre los organismos bentónicos presentes en el arrecife y proveen información acerca del estado de condición del mismo. Una problemática que se ha detectado por la complejidad del uso de estos indicadores es la necesidad de personal altamente calificado para el análisis de esta información. En la actualidad no existe un índice que integre adecuadamente los distintos indicadores usados tradicionalmente en la evaluación de arrecifes, y que además tenga una aplicabilidad directa como herramienta de manejo. La propuesta de éste Índice de Estructura Arrecifal (IEA) incorpora 3 indicadores de estructura coralina a) Cobertura Coralina, b) Complejidad Topográfica o Rugosidad y c) Índice Potencial de Preservación de Estructura Coralina -IPPEC- (desarrollado a partir de la ponderación de las características morfológicas de cada especie coralina presente). El índice refleja adecuadamente en una sola cifra las diferencias en la composición de la comunidad coralina arrecifal y en la distribución de tallas, densidad de colonias y cobertura. Para su validación el IEA fue aplicado en los arrecifes de Akumal, y Mahahual, Q. Roo, en México y contrastado con el arrecife de Montecristi, en la República Dominicana. Por su fácil y práctica aplicación el IEA puede ser utilizado como base para monitoreo espacial y temporal y como herramienta para el apoyo a la toma de decisiones de manejo en arrecifes coralinos del Atlántico Noroccidental. 75 SILVIA GARCÍA GUZMÁN y JOAQUÍN RODRIGO GARZA-PÉREZ PIESACOM, UMDI-Sisal F.Ciencias, UNAM Puerto de Abrigo S/N Sisal, Yucatan 97355 Mexico [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Integral Approach to Coral Reef Assessment and Monitoring Enfoque Integral para la Evaluación y Monitoreo de Arrecifes Coralinos Approche Intégrée pour l'Évaluation et Surveillance des Récifs Coralliens JOAQUIN RODRIGO GARZA PEREZ PIESACOM, UMDI-Sisal, Facultad de Ciencas, U.N.A Puerto de Abrigo S/N Sisal, Yucatan 97355 Mexico [email protected] Page 76 ABSTRACT Baseline characterization and assessment of coral reefs, combined with long-term monitoring programs are keystone for the implementation of coastal and reef resources management policies, and they are essential for assessment of management effectiveness in MPAs. An integral approach to this task has been refined over the last decade incorporating advances in knowledge and technology, implementing a set of tools that builds geographic information on: What is where? How much there is? What is its condition? And when enough monitoring data is available it adds: What are the temporal trends? These tools have ben developed to be time and cost effective incorporating information from field surveys (fish census, benthic communities videotransects, acoustic depth-surveys, water quality sampling) and high-resolution remotely sensed imagery, coupled with spatial predictive modeling and Geographic Information Systems. A digital platform (RealReefs) has also been developed to aid in the training of personnel to conduct field surveys and its products are available for free on the internet in the form of a web portal with manuals and tutorials and a mobile application to aid in the videotransect analysis. KEYWORDS: Coral Reefs, Remote Sensing, GIS, Spatial Prediction, Management Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Elucidating Species Composition of Smoothhound Sharks in the Gulf of Mexico Decifrando la Composicion de Especies de Smoothhound Tiburones en el Golfo de Mexico En Déterminant la Composition des Differentes Espèces de Requins Smoothhound dans le Golf de Mexico KEYWORDS: Mustelus sharks, morphology, microsatellites, mitochondrial, distributions 77 Page ABSTRACT Extensive overlap in external morphology among species of smoothhound sharks (Genus Mustelus) makes identification of individual species difficult. Consequently, verifying the distribution of individual species in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, as well as articulating strategies for their management and conservation, remains problematic. We have employed both nuclear-encoded microsatellites and sequences of the mitochondrially-encoded NADH-2 gene to identify unequivocally different species of smoothhound sharks in the Gulf of Mexico. Assignment tests, utilizing microsatellite genotypes, and comparisons of ND-2 sequences corroborate the presence of at least three species of Mustelus (M .canis, M. norrisi, and M. sinusmexicanus) in the Gulf of Mexico. When adult specimens (both sexes) were separated based on genetic characteristics, we discovered differences in external morphology that will permit reliable species identification in the field. In addition to creating a diagnostic key to distinguish among smoothhound sharks in the Gulf of Mexico, results of our study indicate that M. sinusmexicanus and M. norrisi are far more widely distributed in the Gulf of Mexico than previously thought. Results of this study can be used in management planning and conservation of smoothhound shark resources in the Gulf of Mexico. 77 MELISSA GIRESI Texas A&M University 800 Marion Pugh Drive Apt 2814 College Station, TX 77840 United States [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Traditional Ecological Knowledge of Sawfishes (Pristiformes: Pristidae) in the Region of Santa Marta (Magdalena – Colombia): Preliminary Results Conocimiento Ecologico Tradicional de los Peces Sierra (Pristiformes: Pristidae) en la Región de Santa Marta (Magdalena – Colombia): Resultados Preliminares Savoirs Écologique Traditionnel du Poisson Scie (Pristiformes: Pristidae) dans la Région de Santa Marta (Magdalena - Colombie): Résultats Préliminaires SANTIAGO GOMEZ1, MARÍA ANGELICA MARTINEZ SILVA2, JUAN PABLO CALDAS ARISTIZABAL3, PAOLA SAENZ OKUYAMA2, and JOSÉ FELIPE ROA4 1 Fundación Siemma Universidad del Magdalena Cra 6 No 11B-127 Colombia, Santa Marta, [email protected] 2 Fundación SieMma Cra 6 No 11B-127 Colombia Santa Marta 3 Ministerio Del Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo Territorial Colombia Bogota D.C, Fundación SieMma Colombia Santa Marta, 4 Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano Colombia Santa Marta, [email protected] Page 78 ABSTRACT In the Caribbean Sea of Colombia the last record of Pristis genus was in 1989, for this reason is considered that the status of this genus is disturbing. Currently the project “Evaluation of the status of sawfishes (Pristiformes: Pristidae) in the Caribbean Sea of Colombia” aim to assess the status of traditional knowledge and perception from artisanal fishing communities, about the species of the Pristis genus. At the time we collected 50 interviews in the region of Santa Marta (Magdalena, Colombia) about the existence, habitats, the fisheries and the utilization of their rostrum, skin, and flesh of the sawfishes. The preliminary results show that 74.47% of experimented fisherman captured or were present in a capture. In this region the Pristis spp was known with different names, the most common was “sword-fish” (80.43%) followed by sawfish (13.43%). The occurrence was between October to December. The 60.87% of fisherman recognized the presence of P. pristis, and the 15.22% P. pectinata. On the other hand the common fishing gear was net gill (54.05%) and line gear (32.43%). The fallowing is making the interviews in others areas of the Caribbean Sea of Colombia and be able to identify and define areas with the presence of live individuals of the Pristis species and promote their conservation through activities with the communities of fishermen. This project are sponsored by The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund and accomplished with Grupo de Investigación Evaluación y Ecología Pesquera – GIEEP from Universidad del Magdalena. KEYWORDS: Pristis genus, sawfish, traditional knowledge, Santa Marta, Artisanal fishing Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Primer Registro del Isópodo Anilocra sp. en el Pez León, Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758) First Record of the Isopod Anilocra sp. in Lionfish, Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758) Premier Enregistrement du Isopode Anilocra sp. dans la Rascasse Volante, Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758) KEYWORDS: Anilocra, Isópoda, Pez León, Parasito, Colombia 79 Page RESUMEN Se registra por primera vez la presencia de isópodos parásitos de la especie invasora Pterois volitans en el Caribe colombiano.En febrero de 2012 fue encontrado un ejemplar del género Anilocra sp. (Crustácea: Isópoda - Cymothoidae), el cual presentó 1.50 cm de longitud. 0.61 cm de ancho y 0.27 g de peso. Este individuo fue hallado en el interior de la boca en la porción media de un pez león macho (17.5 cm de longitud total y 52.0 g de peso), el cual fue capturado en la bahía de Chengue en el Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona. El segundo ejemplar fue encontrado en marzo de 2012 y tuvo 0.66 cm de longitud, 0.31 cm de ancho y 0.03 g de peso. Este individuo también fue encontrado en el interior de la boca en la porción media de un pez león macho (30,4 cm de longitud total y 321 g de peso), el cual fue capturado en Islas de San Bernardo. 79 HUMBERTO GÓMEZ PARDO, ADOLFO SANJUAN MUÑOZ, y MARCELA GRIJALBA BENDECK Universidad de Bogota Jorge Tadeo Lozano Cra 2 N° 11 - 68 Edificio Mundo Marino, Santa Marta Colombia Santa Marta, Colombia [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Captura-Recaptura de Pterois volitans con la Técnica de Fotoidentificación Capture-Recapture of Pterois volitans by Photoidentification Technique Capture-Recapture de Pterois volitans avec la Technique de Photo-Identification JUAN DAVID GONZALEZ1, ARTURO ACERO P2, y ROCÍO GARCIA-URUEÑA2 1 Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Caribe CECIMAR/INVEMAR, Cerro Punta Betín Santa Marta, MG Colombia [email protected] 2 Universidad del Magdalena Santa Marta Magdalena 54321 Colombia Page 80 RESUMEN Cada individuo de una especie tiene rasgos únicos que lo diferencian de sus congéneres a manera de huella digital. El patrón de ornamentación de rayas del pez león Pterois volitans le da una identidad a cada individuo de la población. La foto-identificación es una técnica no invasiva, económica, que permite identificar a los individuos por sus marcas naturales a través de la fotografía y es ampliamente usada en diversos taxa (ballenas, cebras, tigres).Se trabajó en la isla de San Andrés (Caribe occidental colombiano) desde agosto 2011 hasta la fecha, tendiendo cuatro transectos de 100 X 4 m. Uno en el sector nororiental de la isla en Bajo Bonito, ubicado entre 20 y 30 m de profundidad, y tres estaciones en el costado occidental (flanco protegido) en los sitios Villa Erika, Nirvana y West Point entre 10 y 15 m.Se fotografió cada individuo para lograr su posterior recaptura mediante fotoidentificación.En los cuatro transectosse han fotografiado 83 individuos para un total de 342 imágenes las cuales están siendo analizadas por colaboradores de la Universidad de Illinois (EE.UU.) del Departamento de Ciencias de la Computación a través de un software para identificación animal. Se espera validar la técnica y comprobar la fidelidad de los individuos a un determinado lugar, ya que se ha observado que una vez se asientan se mueven relativamente poco, así como estimar la tasa de crecimiento individual.Contribución del proyecto "Invasión del pez león (Pterois volitans) a los arrecifes colombianos: biología, ecología y origen" (Colciencias, 1361-521-28271). PALABRAS CLAVES: Recapture, Lion fish, photoidentification, western Caribbean, Colombia Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI El Pez León (Scorpaenidae) como Estudio de Caso de Invasiones Biológicas: Aspectos Biológicos y Ecológicos en el Caribe Occidental Insular Colombiano Lionfish (Scorpaenidae) as a Case Study of Biological Invasions: Biological and Ecological Aspects in the Western Colombian Caribbean Pterois volitans (Scorpaenidae) comme Étude de Cas D'invasions Biologiques: Aspects Biologiques et Écologiques du Ouest Insulaire Caraïbes Colombiennes PALABRAS CLAVES: Case study, Lion fish invasion, Biological aspects, Ecological aspects, San Andrés 81 Page RESUMEN Dado que la invasión de Pterois volitans al Caribe occidental colombiano es reciente, se constituye en un experimento natural para entender cómo se comporta una población cuando coloniza un nuevo lugar. Por esto, conocer la abundancia, estructura de tallas y la ocupación del sustrato arrecifal en el archipiélago sanandresano, así como la composición y abundancia de la ictiofauna acompañante, permitirán estimar el potencial efecto deletéreo sobre la comunidad arrecifal nativa, además de brindar información importante acerca de algunos aspectos de la población invasora y hacer aproximaciones válidas a estrategias que mitiguen el efecto deletéreo del pez león. Se realizaron cuatro transectos de 100 X 4 m: Bajo Bonito (20-30 m) y Villa Erika, Nirvana y West Point (10-15 m). En cada transecto se contaron todos los individuos encontrados, registrando las tallas usando una vara graduada cada 5 mm; se estimaron las abundancias relativas de la comunidad íctica arrecifal. Las densidades estimadas son: Bajo Bonito 200 ind/Ha; Villa Erika 300; Nirvana 267 y West Point 350 ind/Ha. Se encontraron especies ícticas de importancia ecológica y comercial de las familias Labridae (Halichoeres spp, Clepticus parrae y Thalassoma bifasciatum), Scaridae (Sparisoma spp. y Scarus spp.), Haemulidae (Haemulon spp.), Lutjanidae (Lutjanus spp.), Serranidae (Cephalopholis spp. y Epinephelus spp), Pomacentridae (Stegastes spp. y Microspathodon chrysurus) Contribución del proyecto "Invasión del pez león (Pterois volitans) a los arrecifes colombianos: biología, ecología y origen" (Colciencias, 1361-521-28271). 81 JUAN DAVID GONZALEZ1, ARTURO ACERO2, y ROCÍO GARCIA-URUEÑA2 1 Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Caribe CECIMAR/INVEMAR, Cerro Punta Betín Santa Marta, MG Colombia [email protected] 2 Universidad del Magdalena Santa Marta Magdalena 54321 Colombia Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Netting a Livelihood from the Sea: A Transdisciplinary Framework for the Governance of Small-Scale Fisheries in the Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast Procurando un Medio de Vida en el Mar: Un Enfoque Interdisciplinario para la Gobernanza de la Pesca Artesanal en la Costa Caribe de Nicaragua Filets Subsistance de la Mer: Un Cadre Transdisciplinaire pour la Gouvernance de la Pêche Artisanale dans la Côte des Caraïbes du Nicaragua MIGUEL GONZALEZ York University 41 Hilton Avenue Toronto, ON M5R 3E5 Canada [email protected] Page 82 ABSTRACT My current research seeks to address three interrelated challenges in current small-scale fisheries (SSF) governance: i) the need for assessment criteria to manage the complex nature and diversity of artisanal fisheries; ii) the importance of understanding the conditions under which access rules, harvest regulations, and conservation measures can both ensure compliance while at the same time sustain the livelihoods of the poor, in particular for indigenous / aboriginal communities; and iii) to appreciate the contribution of SSF to poverty reduction, sustainable livelihoods, and to national economic development. The research is focus on three key fisheries (lobster / shrimp, sea turtle, and fish) on the Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast, which are characterized by a broad array of governance challenges. For the GCFI Conference I will present the progress being done in my study, in particular on aspects related to governance of small-scale fisheries. My work draws critical lessons that can be learned from the Nicaraguan case study in order to attune governance principles and approaches for sustaining livelihoods and communities in local contexts, and how they can be applied more broadly. KEYWORDS: artisinal fisheries, governance, Nicaragua, sustainable livelihoods, indigenous peoples Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Developing a Core set of Indicators for Decision-Making and Adaptive Management at the Tobago Cays Marine Park, St.Vincent and the Grenadines El Desarrollo de un Conjunto Básico de Indicadores para la Toma de Decisiones y el Manejo Adaptativo en el Tobago Cays Marine Park, de San Vicente y Las Granadinas Développer un Ensemble d'Indicateurs de Base pour la Prise de Décision et de Gestion Adaptative à l'Tobago Cays Marine Park, Saint-Vincent-et-les Grenadines KEYWORDS: Socio-economic indicators, decision-making, adaptive management, TCMP 83 Page ABSTRACT The Tobago Cays in St. Vincent and the Grenadines was declared a marine park in 1997. The Tobago Cays Marine Park (TCMP) is a 66km2, non-extractive, Marine Protected Area (MPA). It is the only legislated marine park in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Since its re-launch in December 2006, a management plan has been developed and implemented and user fees are being collected. Limited socio-economic assessments have been conducted at the TCMP, usually as components of implemented projects, but have not been part of any on-going monitoring programme. The SocMon Caribbean methodology for socio-economic monitoring has been used to carry out surveys but due to limited capacity, the TCMP has been unable to carry out further assessments or initiate sustained monitoring. Therefore regular socio-economic monitoring is not being conducted to assist with management decision-making and adaptive management at the site. As such, through a sub-grant from the CERMES-implemented, Socio-economic Monitoring by Caribbean Challenge MPA Managers project (CC SocMon), information has been collected that will help in the development of a core set of socio-economic indicators that may be used to guide and inform decision-making and management. Core indicators relevant to stakeholder perceptions of changes in conditions of marine resources; level of stakeholder participation and satisfaction in management; and stakeholder perceptions on the level of enforcement, compliance and protection within the MPA have been identified as the most important to the TCMP at this time. The 2006 re-launch date has been used as a reference point for current monitoring. 83 OLANDO HARVEY, KENNETH WILLIAMS, and ALTHEA NANTON Tobago Cays Marine Park Clifton, Union Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Collection of Lionfish (Pterois sp.) from Fishery-Independent Sampling in the NorthCentral Gulf of Mexico Colección Del Pez León (Pterois sp.) en el Golfo de México Norte-Central usando Muestras Independiente del Pescadores Collection de Poisson-Lion (Genre Pterois) Provenant d'Échantillonnages Indépendants de La Pêcherie dans la Partie Centrale Nord du Golfe du Mexique J. READ HENDON and NANCY J. BROWN-PETERSON University of Southern Mississippi Center for Fisheries Research and Development 703 East Beach Dr Ocean Springs, MS 39564 USA [email protected] Page 84 ABSTRACT The invasive Indo Pacific lionfish (Pterois sp.) was first documented in the western Atlantic approximately 20 years ago and has since rapidly spread into Caribbean and eastern U.S. coastal waters. The first confirmed sightings of lionfish in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) occurred as recently as 2010. To date there have been over 600 reported lionfish sightings in the GOM, although little biological data exist. During a Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (SEAMAP) groundfish survey in May 2012, a total of four lionfish were collected with a 13-m otter trawl at two sample sites in nearshore GOM waters off Alabama. Two lionfish were collected at each of the two sites, which had water depths of 35 meters and bottom salinities of 35.7 ppt. Bottom water temperatures and dissolved oxygen at the two sites were 21.8oC and 5.9 mg/L and 22.9oC and 7.2 mg/L, respectively. The four specimens ranged in size from 102 to 161 mm SL. Histological examination of gonadal tissue confirmed the largest fish was a female in the spawning capable reproductive phase, while a 137 mm SL female was in the developing phase. The smallest fish was an immature female; sex was indeterminable on a 118 mm SL sample. These results suggest lionfish are reproductively active in the GOM at relatively small sizes, which has strong consequences for successful invasion and establishment. Research should be directed to assess population dynamics of the species and potential ecosystem-level consequences of the range extension. KEYWORDS: lionfish, Gulf of Mexico, reproduction Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Estructura de Tallas del Pez León (Pterois volitans) en los Arrecifes de Santa Marta y el Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona (Colombia) Size Structure of Lionfish (Pterois volitans) Reefs in Santa Marta and Tayrona National Natural Park (Colombia) Structure de Mesures des Poissons Lions (Pterois volitans) sur les Récifs de Santa Marta et du Parc National Naturel Tayrona (Colombie) PALABRAS CLAVES: estructura, talla, pez león, censos, categorias 85 Page RESUMEN La incursión y establecimiento del pez león es reciente en el Caribe.Para determinar la estructura de tallas en Santa Marta se seleccionaron cinco sitios de muestreo, tres en áreas no protegidas o de baja protección (El Morro, Remanso e Isla Aguja) y dos en áreas protegidas del Parque Tayrona (bahías de Chengue y Cinto). El seguimiento se realiza desde febrero 2012, utilizando el método de transecto con censos visuales en un área de 30 x 5 m. Las tallas se hanagrupado en cinco categorías de a 10 cm. Laabundancia ha variado de uno a seis individuos, con tallas máximas hasta categoría 3 (21-30 cm), siendo 2 la más abundante (11-20 cm). Al montaje del estudio, Remanso presentó mayor número de individuos, pero sólo hasta julio se volvió a encontrar algún ejemplar en esa localidad. Mensualmente, Chengue ha presentado el mayor número de individuos, así como varias categorías de tallas y reclutas, observándolos al inicio del estudio, en abril, mayo y julio. En febrero las temperaturas bajan con el fenómeno de surgencia, lo cual podría ser factor importante en control de su distribución, por cuanto no se observaron individuos hasta 15 m de profundidad en ninguno de los sitios de estudio. Aunque hay control de captura constante por buzos y pescadores, se ha observado desde abril la adición de nuevascohortes (categoría 1), lo cual puede indicar el éxito de la especie. Contribución del proyecto "Invasión del pez león (Pterois volitans) a los arrecifes colombianos: biología, ecología y origen" (Colciencias, 1361-521-28271). 85 JUAN MANUEL HERNANDEZ ABELLO1, ROCIO DEL PILAR GARCÍA URUEÑA1, y ARTURO ACERO2 1 Universidad del Magdalena Universidad Nacional de Colombia carrera 16 A # 6-83 betania manzana 17 casa 3 el parque Santa Marta, Magdalena Colombia [email protected] 2 Universidad Nacional de Colombia Bogotá Cundinamarca Colombia Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Diet of Atlantic Sharpnose Shark, Rhizoprionodon terraenovae, from the North-Central Gulf of Mexico: Initial Findings Estudios Preliminares de la Dieta del Cazón Picudo Atlántico, Rhizoprionodon terraenovae, de la Región Central del Norte del Golfo de Méjico Régime Alimentaire du Requin Rhizoprionodon terraenovae dans la Partie Centre-Nord du Golfe du Mexique: Résultats Préliminaires JEREMY HIGGS1, ERIC HOFFMAYER2, JILL HENDON1 and CHRISTOPHER BUTLER1 1 Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, University of Southern Mississippi, 703 East Beach Dr. Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39564 USA [email protected] 2 National Marine Fisheries Service,Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 3209 Frederic Street Pascagoula Mississippi 39567 USA Page 86 ABSTRACT Knowledge of the diet of the Atlantic sharpnose shark, Rhizoprionodon terraenovae, in the north-central Gulf of Mexico (ncGOM) is critical for understanding the predator-prey interaction in nearshore fish communities. Atlantic sharpnose interact with a variety of fishes that are sought in the ncGOM recreational fishery, and, consequently, are also caught by the region’s coastal anglers. Stomach contents from 709 sharpnose sharks caught during research investigations, including sport fish studies, conducted between 2004 – 2010 were analyzed to quantitatively describe the diet, including frequency of occurrence (%F) and index of relative importance (%IRI) of prey. Stomachs from 245 specimens (35%) contained prey items, while 464 stomachs (65%) were empty. Cumulative prey curve (CPC) analysis indicated the sample size was sufficient to describe the diet. Atlantic sharpnose sharks with prey in their stomachs ranged in size from 387 to 1047 mm STL and 0.03 to 8.05 kg TW and were comprised of 174 males and 52 females. Prey items consisted primarily of teleost fishes (69.7%F), along with crustaceans (22.6%F) and cephalopods (6.2%F). Atlantic croaker, Micropogonias undulatus, was the predominate prey, and along with white trout, Cynoscion arenarius, speckled trout, Cynoscion nebulosus, southernkingfish, Menticirrhus americanus, and red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus, represented a significant portion of the diet (22.09%IRI). Continuing studies of food habits of Atlantic sharpnose from the ncGOM (~800 additional stomachs to be processed) will better define its role in the region’s trophic ecology and provide a more detailed description of predator-prey relationships between sharpnose sharks and other recreational fishes. KEYWORDS: Atlantic sharpnose shark, recreational fishery, Gulf of Mexico, food habits, Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Engineering Bycatch Reduction in St. Thomas Fisheries: Behavioral Observations around Fish Traps Observaciones Sobre las Conductas de los Peces en la Reducción de Pesca Incidental Mediante Modificación de las Artes de Pesca Recherches sur la Réduction des Captures Accessoires par les Pêcheries de St Thomas: Observations Comportementales ABSTRACT Fishery managers have long speculated that escape vents could be beneficial in reducing bycatch from trap fisheries but studies have not been definitive. As part of a multifaceted approach, by NMFS and STFA, underwater video and diving observations were used to guide experimental choices in evaluations of escape vents to release bycatch from fish traps. Observations of fish behavior in traps suggested likely locations for escape vents and choice-experiments tested fish escapement. While working with commercial fishermen, diving researchers also helped to assess vent performance. For this phase, traps, equipped with different sizes of escape vents, were stocked with reef fish, marked with fin clips. Divers conducted visual surveys of trap contents prior to hauling and contents were compared following trap hauls, looking at species composition, size, and retention by vent size. Traps were hauled at intervals between 1 and 7 days to provide a better understanding of how soak time affects vent and trap performance. KEYWORDS: Fish Traps, Behavior, Bycatch, Virgin Islands 87 87 RON HILL1, DAVID OLSEN2, and DARYL BRYAN2 NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center Galveston Texas, USA [email protected] 2 St. Thomas Fishermen’s Association Page 1 Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Research as a Tool for Community Outreach in the St. Thomas East End Reserves, U.S. Virgin Islands Investigación como Instrumento para Mejorar la Participación Comunitaria en las Reservas Naturales del Este de St Thomas, Islas Vírgenes Estadounidenses Recherche Comme un Outil de Approche Communautaire à Des Réserves Naturelles du Cet de St Thomas, Îles Vierges Américaines ANNE MARIE HOFFMAN The Nature Conservancy 6501 Red Hook Plaza Suite 201 St. Thomas, VI 00802 USA [email protected] Page 88 ABSTRACT The St. Thomas East End Reserves, a MPA referred to as STEER in the U.S. Virgin Islands, received little to no attention until partners including the community, Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR), University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) combined efforts in 2008 to establish an informal co-management structure and develop a Management Plan. Research and monitoring activities in the STEER Management Plan are identified as critical priorities to inform management of the area. A variety of partners including TNC, UVI and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have initiated biological monitoring, contaminant sampling, coastal use mapping and watershed assessments to establish a comprehensive understanding of the coral reef communities, seagrass, mangrove and fisheries viability within STEER, as well as quantify threats to them including contaminant loading, leaking septic and erosion concerns. This presentation will highlight important aspects of the research and monitoring in STEER, some preliminary results, and the incorporation of these results into the management decision making process. Additionally, the process of engaging the public to understand and inform the research and monitoring has been successful in bringing new stakeholders to the table and garnering support for STEER. This community engagement has bolstered long-term commitment from STEER stakeholders and increased momentum for sustainable management of STEER. KEYWORDS: marine protected area, US Virgin Islands, coral reef management, comanagement, outreach Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI The Morphology of the Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) from the Island of Barbuda – Implications for Fisheries Management La Morfología del Caracol Rosa (Strombus gigas) de La Isla de Barbuda – Implicaciones Para la Gestión de la Pesca La Morphologie du Lambi (Strombus gigas) De l'Île de Barbuda – Implications pour la Gestion des Pêches KEYWORDS: queen conch, Barbuda, fisheries management, morphology, Antigua 89 Page ABSTRACT A morphometric study was conducted on queen conch (Strombus gigas) taken from the Barbuda portion of the Antigua and Barbuda shelf. The objectives were to: 1) determine if there were spatial variability in regards to morphology; 2) examine length-weight relationships for various maturation stages (juvenile, sub adult, adult and old adult); 3) improve national-derived conversion factors for different levels of processed conch meat; and 4) appraise current management regimes (e.g., minimum size / weight). Shell length and shell lip thickness (an indicator of the age of conch) both differed significantly (p < 0.01) along the coast of Barbuda. Differences in lip thickness or conch age were attributed to variation in the level of exploitation (i.e., traditional fishing areas versus recent fishing areas), proximity to fishing grounds and type of habitat (sea-grass bed, rock and sand, etc). In terms of size, sexual dimorphism was detected, with females being significantly larger than males (p < 0.01). This difference in size favoured the harvesting of females, based on the sex ratio of the samples collected, p < 0.05. Conversion factors differed significantly among maturation stages (p < 0.01); this was consistent with conversion factors derived from conch collected from the Antigua portion of the Antigua and Barbuda shelf. These results reaffirm an earlier study that a multifaceted management approach (minimum size, limited access, close season, protected areas, etc) was required to ensure that the conch fishery was sustainable, given the variation in morphology. 89 IAN HORSFORD1, HILROY SIMON1, MITSUHIRO ISHIDA2, MARK ARCHIBALD1, JOHN WEBBER1, TREVOR JOSEPH1 and ALEXANDER DESOUZA3 1 Fisheries Division Point Wharf Fisheries Complex St. John's, Antigua [email protected] 2 Japan International Cooperation Agency Point Wharf Fisheries Complex St. John's Antigua 3 Barbuda Fisheries Barbuda Fisheries Complex Codrington Barbuda [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Case Study: A Comparative Analysis of Different Approaches to Fisheries Co-Management in Antigua and Barbuda Caso de Estudio: Un Análisis Comparativo de los Diferentes Enfoques de la Gestión Pesquera Cooperación en Antigua y Barbuda Étude de Cas: Une Analyse Comparative des Différentes Approches de la Cogestion des Pêches à Antigua et Barbuda 1 IAN HORSFORD1 and MITCHELL LAY2 Fisheries Division Point Wharf Fisheries Complex St. John's, Antigua [email protected] 2 Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Organisation Coordinating Unit Point Wharf Fisheries Complex St. John's Antigua Page 90 ABSTRACT Over the past decades there have been gradual shifts in fisheries governance in the Caribbean from one that is “top-down” and centralised to one that is “participatory” and devolved. This shift in governance comes from recognition of the potential benefits to be gained from greater involvement of stakeholders in the decision-making and management regime. This study examines three approaches to fisheries co-management or participatory management in Antigua and Barbuda, from the perspective of a fisheries manager and a fisherfolk leader. The approaches identified with respect to co-management were: consultative (where government consult but have the final decision), collaborative (where government and stakeholders share decisions) and delegated co-management (where government delegate powers to stakeholders to make decisions). Case studies were used to: 1) identify the most appropriate governance approach based on the nature of the fishery; 2) identify the necessary conditions for successful implementation of a co-management system; and 3) examine the effectiveness and cost efficiency (where possible) of the various approaches. Some of the main lessons learned were: 1) the absence of strong fisherfolk cooperatives or associations makes it difficult for the central management authority to devolve its power; 2) general decline in community structure and institutions of local governance (e.g., village councils) create serious challenges to the implementation of a co-management system; and 3) the size of a community has implications for cost efficiency and effectiveness (in terms of compliance with management decisions), in the implementation of a delegated co-management system. KEYWORDS: co-management, participatory, Antigua and Barbuda, fisherfolk, governance Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Use of the 454 GS-FLX Technology for the Development of Molecular Markers in Mithrax spinosissimus Lamarck 1818 (Decapoda: Mithracidae) from the Colombian Caribbean Sea Uso de la Tecnología 454 GS-FLX para el Desarrollo de Marcadores Moleculares en Mithrax spinosissimus Lamarck 1818 (Decapoda: Mithracidae) del Mar Caribe Colombiano L’Usage de la Technologie 454 GS-FLX pour le Développement de Marqueurs Moléculaires en Mithrax spinosissimus Lamarck 1818 (Decapoda: Mithracidae) de la Mer Caraïbean dans la Colombie JULIO CÉSAR HURTADO-ALARCÓN1, NESTOR HERNANDO CAMPOS-CAMPOS2, and EDNA JUDITH MÁRQUEZ-FERNÁNDEZ1 1 Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Medellin Calle 59 A # 63-20 Bloque 19A-310, Laboratorio de Biología Molecular y Celular Medellin, Antioquia 0500100 Colombia [email protected] 2 Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Caribe CECIMAR, Cerro Punta Betín Santa Marta Magdalena 470001 Colombia KEYWORDS: Conservation, Food security, Mithrax spinosissimus, Molecular markers, Pyrosequencing 91 Page In this work we introduce the initial data necessary for the development of molecular markers that could be used for microevolutionary and population genetics analyses of Mithrax spinosissimus (Decapoda: Mithracidae), the Caribbean king crab, an endangered and overexploited species from Colombia. Collections of tissue from three males were performed in October 2011 at Rosario Islands, Colombia. At the National Center for Genomic Sequencing – CNSG, we extracted its DNA and we obtained partial genomic libraries by using the 454 GSFLX pyrosequencing technology. Then, the sequences were assembled with the MIRA3 software. In the first assembly we found 394 Mbp of sequences in 238.317 reads from which 23.959 had sizes greater than 500bp finding a contig with a size of 16.436 bp possibly related to the mitochondrial genome of M. spinosissimus. In the second assembly we obtained 525 Mbp with 950.000 total loci from which 47% consisted of potentially amplified loci that carried tandem repeated sequences or possibly microsatellite DNA. In this repetition motifs we chose tri and tetranucleotide repetition motifs in reads between 150-350bp to design primers with the PRIMER3 software. By using a virtual PCR we obtained a preliminary list of 40 reads that will be evaluated to detect polymorphic loci in Colombian populations of M. spinosissimus. We expect to carry out a population genetic analysis in this species in order to generate new insights for conservation and sustainable use of this crab in artisanal fisheries for Colombia and the Caribbean Sea. 91 ABSTRACT Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Lessons Learned from a Caribbean-Wide Population Genetics Study of Nassau Grouper: The Value of Genetics Data for Fisheries Management of Aggregating Reef Fishes Las Lecciones Aprendidas de un Estudio de Conectividad Genética de Cherna Criolla: El Valor de los Datos de la Genética Para la Gestión de las Pesquerías de Peces de Arrecife de Agregación Les Leçons Tirées de l'Étude de la Connectivité Génétique Mérou Rayé: La Valeur des Données de Génétique pour la Gestion des Pêches de Poissons de Récifs Agrégation ALEXIS JACKSON University of California Santa Cruz 100 Shaffer Road Santa Cruz, CA 95060 USA [email protected] Page 92 ABSTRACT Genetic data has proven useful for fisheries management of commercial species for the past few decades. Analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear markers allow us to uncover the demographic history as well as ecological and evolutionary processes that have impacted species over time. Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) have experienced significant population declines over the past few decades throughout the Caribbean. Using mitochondrial and nuclear markers I investigated the population structure, effective population sizes and investigated sink and source dynamics between populations. I acquired tissue samples from 18 populations around Mexico, Belize, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands. Samples were genotyped for 2 mitochondrial markers and 9 microsatellite loci. A power analysis was performed to ensure that markers were variable enough to recover a signature of population structure if it were present. I then investigated the relationship between census population size of spawning aggregations from monitoring data and effective population size. Results suggested that Nassau grouper exhibit weak but statistically significant population structure across the Caribbean Sea. Furthermore a six-fold to fifteen-fold difference was seen between census population size and effective population, potentially reflecting differences in fishing pressure and/or conservation efforts between regions. The aforementioned results combined with sink-source dynamics uncovered in this study should strongly influence all future management and conservation decisions made for Nassau grouper. KEYWORDS: Nassau grouper, fisheries management, genetic connectivity, spawning aggregations Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Assessing the Feasibility of Alternative Livelihood Options for Communities Surrounding The Molinière-Beauséjour Marine Protected Area, Grenada La Evaluación de la Viabilidad de las Opciones Alternativas de Sustento para las Comunidades Que Rodean el Molinière-Beauséjour Áreas Marinas Protegidas, Granada Évaluer la Faisabilité des Options Alternatives de Subsistance pour les Communautés Qui Entourent la Molinière-Beauséjour Zone de Protection Marine, de la Grenade KEYWORDS: Socio-economic monitoring, Caribbean Challenge, alternative livelihoods, MBMPA 93 Page ABSTRACT During the late 1980s the Molinière-Beauséjour area was identified as a priority area for inclusion in a System of National Parks and Protected Areas for Grenada. This 60 hectare area was considered to contain the healthiest reefs in Grenada. While pristine in condition and attracting many visitors and divers, the reefs and their associated resources were threatened by intense fishing worsened by ease of accessibility. The open access nature of different uses of the area led to significant user conflicts among fishermen, and between fishermen and tourism users. Therefore the Molinière-Beauséjour Marine Protected Area (MBMPA) was legally declared in 2001 with the primary purpose of “providing a management framework to reduce user conflicts as well as protect coral reefs and associated resources.” As a result of the declining importance of fishing livelihoods to MPA communities due to continued resource degradation and heavy fishing pressure; knowledge that some people feel that benefits generated by the existence of the MPA are mostly for tourists; and people’s high expectations of MPA-related tourism development; the importance of identifying options for alternative livelihoods in the six communities surrounding the MBMPA was targeted for focus in the CERMES-implemented, Socio-economic Monitoring by Caribbean Challenge MPA Managers project (CC SocMon). This paper reports on monitoring conducted to: assess MPA impacts on communities’ livelihoods; strengthen community participation in MPA management and ownership by examining potential linkages between resource protection and livelihoods; and identify socioeconomic conditions enabling alternative livelihood options. 93 CODDINGTON JEFFREY Molinière-Beauséjour Marine Protected Area St. George's, Grenada [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Trends, Current Understanding, and Future Research Priorities for Artisanal Coral Reef Fisheries Research Las Tendencias, la Comprensión Actual, y el Futuro Investigan las Prioridades para la Investigación Pesquera Artesanal del Arrecife de Coralles Tendances, La Compréhension Actuelle, et l'Avenir Recherchent des Priorités pour la Recherche de Pêche Artisanale de Récif AYANA ELIZABETH JOHNSON Waitt Foundation 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Fl. 3 Washington, DC 20039 United States [email protected] Page 94 ABSTRACT Artisanal coral reef fisheries provide food and employment to hundreds of millions of people in developing countries, making their sustainability a high priority. However, many of these fisheries are degraded and not yielding their maximum socioeconomic returns. We present a literature review that evaluates foci and trends in research effort on coral reef fisheries. We describe the types of data and categories of management recommendations presented in the 464 peer-reviewed articles returned. Identified trends include a decline in articles reporting timeseries data, fish catch biomass and catch-per-unit effort, and an increase in articles containing bycatch and stakeholder interview data. Management implications were discussed in 80% of articles, with increasing frequency over time, but only 22% of articles made management recommendations based on the research presented in the article, as opposed to more general recommendations. Key future research priorities, which we deem underrepresented in the literature at present, are: (i) effectiveness of management approaches, (ii) ecological thresholds, trade-offs and sustainable levels of extraction, (iii) effects of climate change, (iv) food security, (v) the role of aquaculture, (vi) access to and control of fishery resources, (vii) relationships between economic development and fishery exploitation, (viii) alternative livelihoods and (ix) integration of ecological and socioeconomic research. KEYWORDS: artisanal fishing, coral reef fisheries, research priorities, small-scale fisheries, sustainable management Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI The Sargassum Invasion of the Eastern Caribbean and Dynamics of the Equatorial North Atlantic Invasión de Sargazo en el Caribe Oriental y la Dinámica en la Zona Ecuatorial del Atlántico Norte L'Invasion de Sargasse dans les Caraïbes Orientales et leur Dynamique dans la Partie Nord de l'Atlantique Ėquatorial KEYWORDS: sargassum, invasion, equatorial, climate 95 Page ABSTRACT In the spring and summer of 2011, unprecedented quantities of pelagic sargassum came ashore on many islands of the eastern Caribbean, seriously affecting fishery and tourism industries. Pelagic sargassum also washed ashore in massive amounts along western Africa (Sierra Leone and Benin) and was spotted off northern Brazil. Two species were identified in the invasion: Sargassum natans and Sargassum fluitans, both of which coexist throughout the North Atlantic with large populations in the Sargasso Sea and in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Back-tracking from where landfalls were reported with model current data suggests that sargassum may have been in the north equatorial recirculation region (NERR) by the spring/summer of 2010 where it flourished under high ocean temperatures and high nutrient inputs. The NERR region extends from the equator to the seasonally forming North Equatorial Counter Current at about 5-10oN, and from Brazil to Africa. Satellite images show that this region is influenced by nutrients from the Amazon, Orinoco and Congo Rivers, and by equatorial upwelling as well as by African dust. Ocean dynamics here are strongly affected by the location and intensity of the atmospheric Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone, modulated by global scale climate oscillations. The Atlantic Meridional Mode (AMM), the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the North Tropical Atlantic (NTA) index all showed 60-year peaks in 2010. The unusual nature of this event and the coincidental relationship with global climate indices suggest that it may be coupled to larger swings in regional ecosystem dynamics due to global temperature increases. 95 DONALD JOHNSON1, DONG S. KO2, JAMES S. FRANKS1, PAULA MORENO1 and GUILLERMO SANCHEZ-RUBIO1 1 USM 703 E. Beach Dr Ocean Springs, MS 39564 USA [email protected] 2 Ocean Dynamics and Prediction Branch, Naval Research Lab Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 USA Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Reducción de las Poblaciones de Tiburones del Pacífico Colombiano por Actividades Pesqueras y Deterioro de Hábitat The Decrease in Shark Population in the Colombian Pacific Ocean by Fishing and Habitat Degradation Rédution des Populations de Requins de l’Océan Pacifique Colombien par des Activités de Peche et Duterioro de une l’Habitat GLADYS JULIO BAUTISTA y MARTHA CECILIA VERGEL VERJEL Universidad Francisco ded Paula Santander Ocaña Sede Algodonal Via Acolsure (Ocaña, Norte De Santander) Ocaña, Colombia [email protected] Page 96 RESUMEN Las especies de tiburones presentes en aguas del Pacífico Colombiano, están siendo afectadas por diferentes actividades pesqueras directas e indirectas (accidental), generando gran impacto sobre el tamaño poblacional de los mismos. Por otra parte, las actividades de producción generan vertimientos y residuos que de una u otra manera terminan en aguas oceánicas, al igual que los vertimientos dómesticos, debido a la ausencia de redes de alcantarillado en estas comunidades, contaminando el hábitat de dichas especies, además, muchas de las actividades se realizan de manera ilícita (minería) las cuales hasta el momento no han sido controladas. La presión sobre el recurso tiburón aumenta debido a la gran demanda de aletas por el mercado asiático, existen graves reportes como en 2003, donde 13 toneladas de aleta de tiburón exportadas a Hong Kong, equivalentes a 67.000 tiburones, además existe un promedio de 350 barcos extranjeros pescando actualmente en las aguas de Colombia, principalmente de Japón, Taiwán, Ecuador, México y Costa Rica. Los esfuerzos para la conservación de estas especies, muchas veces resultan nulos debido al temor de la población, pues estos son considerados “asesinos de hombres”, se hace necesario un gran trabajo interdiciplinar para lograr evitar la desaparición de los tiburones, donde la sensibilización de la comunidades y el aprovechamiento sostenible del recurso, garantice su permanencia para las futuras generaciones, teniendo en cuenta que los tiburones juegan un papel fundamental en el equilibrio ecosistemico marino, manteniendo el control poblacional y de esta manera salvaguardar la “salud” del mar. PALABRAS CLAVES: fishing, demand, pollution, sensitizacion, balance Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Environmental Influences on Habitat Associations of Dolphinfish Larvae in the Gulf of Mexico Influencias Ambientales en Asociaciones de Hábitat de las Larvas de Dorado en el Golfo De México Influences Des Caractéristiques Environnementales Sur La Distribution de Larves Coryphènes Dans Le Golf Du Mexique KEYWORDS: dolphinfish, Gulf of Mexico, fish larvae, distribution, generalized additive models 97 Page ABSTRACT Common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) and pompano dolphinfish (C. equiselis) are pelagic species of considerable economic value to commercial and recreational fisheries worldwide; however, knowledge of their ecology and habitat use during early life is limited. The aim of this study is to determine the distribution and abundance of dolphinfish larvae in the northern Gulf of Mexico (NGoM) and to identify conditions that characterize productive nursery grounds. Dolphinfish larvae were collected during eight ichthyoplankton surveys in the NGoM (26 – 28° N 86 - 93° W) during June and July over four years (2007-2010). Dolphinfish larvae were relatively common in our sampling area (frequency of occurrence 59%) and of the 1,145 larvae collected during this study, 87% were C. hippurus. Generalized Additive Models were used to evaluate the effect of environmental conditions on 1) presence/absence and 2) density of C. hippurus larvae. The final presence/absence model showed that the presence of larvae was significantly influenced by several oceanographic (sea surface height anomaly, salinity, distance to a sea surface temperature front, and distance to an eddy), temporal (time of day), and biological (C. equiselis presence and chlorophyll a concentration) parameters. The density model revealed additional significant effects of sea surface temperature, geostrophic current strength, date, and Sargassum biomass on larval abundance. Results of this study indicate that the NGoM may represent important spawning and/or nursery habitat of dolphinfishes and that mesoscale features and physicochemical conditions drive the distribution and abundance patterns of C. hippurus larvae in the region. 97 LARISSA KITCHENS and JAY ROOKER Texas A&M University at Galveston 200 Seawolf Parkway OCSB Bldg 3029 Galveston, Texas 77553 United States [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Hacia un Plan de Accion Regional de Conservación de Tiburones del Caribe: Superando la Diversidad de Gobernanzas Towards A Regional Action Plan for Shark Conservation in The Caribbean: Overcoming Diversity of Governances Vers Un Plan d'Action Régional pour la Conservation de Requin dans Les Caraïbes: La Diversité de Vaincre Gouvernances JULIO LAMILLA Universidad Austral de Chile Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas. Casilla 567 Valdivia, Chile [email protected] Page 98 RESUMEN Los condrictios son un grupo que evolucionó hace 400 millones de años y han sido funcionalmente exitosos en diversos ecosistemas acuáticos. Muchas especies están amenazadas por la sobrexplotación como resultado de sus características de historia de vida y también por las actividades humanas. El Caribe comprende 38 estados soberanos, incluyendo México, los países centroamericanos, muchos estados caribeños, Colombia y Venezuela. En esta región se reportan 151 especies de condrictios de 35 familias (20 familias de tiburones en 85 especies; 13 familias de batoideos en 62 especies y 2 familias de quimeras en 4 especies). Las pesquerías de elasmobranquios caribeñas se caracterizan por información limitada sobre captura-esfuerzo y desembarque, más a nivel de género o especie. Las amenazas principales son la sobreexplotación, el excesivo descarte (bycatch) y la degradación de hábitats que perjudican áreas de desove y crianza. Numerosos autores sugieren una disminución en la abundancia y tamaño de las especies, cambios de distribución y extinción local, como los peces sierra. La sobreexplotación del tiburón martillo gigante, tiburón toro y tiburón limón en aguas costeras ha cambiado su distribución, mientras que tiburones punta negra y cazones pequeños han poblado los nichos desocupados y representan actualmente la mayoría de las capturas en aguas costeras. Un Plan de Acción Regional de Tiburones para el Caribe, debe ser capaz de superar la diversidad de gobernanzas y de medidas que proporcionan variables grados de manejo de condrictios; debe tener como objetivo principal evaluar las poblaciones de tiburones y hacer sostenibles las pesquerías, lo que requerirá de acciones conjuntas y concertadas a través de la investigación, formulación de políticas de conservación y de su ejecución por las comunidades. PALABRAS CLAVES: Plan de Acción Regional, pesquería, tiburones, rayas, gobernanza Current Status of the Invasion of Lionfish (Pteriois volitans) in Venezuela Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Estado Actual de la Invasión del Pez León (Pteriois volitans) en Venezuela Situation Actuelle de l'Invasion de Lionfish (Pteriois volitans) au Venezuela KEYWORDS: Pterois volitans, invasion, Western Atlantic, Southeastern Caribbean Sea, Venezuela 99 Page ABSTRACT The lionfish (Pterois volitans) is an ornamental species native from the Indian and Pacific oceans, which has been extensively traded. On the coast of Florida (USA) its first observation in the Atlantic occurred in 1985 and since 1999 it began an accelerated process of invasion thoughout the U.S. Atlantic coast, islands of Bermuda, Bahamas, Gulf of Mexico and the northern, western and southern Caribbean. In November 2009 we began to receive the first observations in Venezuela. These records were stored in a database on the website of the Biodiversity Centre of the University Simon Bolivar monitoring the invasion. With these observations, and the capture and examination of specimens in museums until the end of July 2012, we report a total of 426 records, 195 locations on the coast and islands of the western, central and eastern Venezuela, from the Paraguaná Peninsula (East), to the Archipelago of Los Frailes (west) and Aves Island (North). This species constitutes an ecological, economic and public health problem, as it is a voracious predator of juvenile fish and invertebrates of commercial and ecological importance, and has a series of spines associated with venom glands that can be inoculated by accident in the users of our coasts. Urgent research is recommended about the impact of this invader on native species, and promote its fishing, consumption and trade as a mean to minimize its impact on coastal marine ecosystem of Venezuela. 99 OSCAR LASSO-ALCALÁ1, JUAN POSADA2, EDUARDO KLEIN2, and JULIO CASTILLO2 1 Fundación La Salle de Ciencias Naturales Fundación Costa de Venezuela Av. Boyacá, con Maripérez La Florida Caracas, DC 1930 Venezuela [email protected] 2 Universidad Simón BolívarDepartamento de Biología de Organismos Valle de Sartenejas Caracas Miranda Venezuela Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Ecological Implications of the Presence of Marine and Brackish Fishes in the Lake Maracaibo Basin, Venezuela Implicaciones Ecológicas de la Presencia de Especies de Peces Marinos y Estuarinos en la Cuenca del Lago de Maracaibo, Venezuela Les Implications Écologiques de la Présence de Poissons Marins et d'Eau Saumâtre dans le Bassin du Lac Maracaibo, au Venezuela OSCAR LASSO-ALCALÁ1, GLENYS ANDRADE2, and CARLOS LASSO3 1 Fundación La Salle de Ciencias Naturales Fundación Costa de Venezuela Av. Boyacá, con Maripérez La Florida Caracas, DC 1930 Venezuela [email protected] 2 Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrícolas Maracaibo Venezuela 3 Instituto de Investigación Alexander von Humboldt Bogotá Colombia Page 100 ABSTRACT According to our recent research, 125 fish species (109 native, two transferred from freshwater and 14 marine and brackish) living in the Colombian-Venezuelan Catatumbo basin (southern Maracaibo Lake). This is the most fish-diverse system in the Lake Maracaibo basin (LMb); 181 species have been recorded. In this work we record 14 marine and estuarine species. Of these Dasyatis guttata and Microphis lineatus are new to the Catatumbo and the Lake Maracaibo (LM), respectively. The presence of these marine and brackish species is due to the increasing salinization process of LM (mostly freshwater) during the last 60 years as a result of human intervention, through three causes: 1) the construction and dredging of a navigation channel-inlet in the LM of large oil tankers and merchant, 2) modifying the flow of rivers flowing into the LM, the product of direct extraction of water from natural streams and subterranean sources, and the realization of large reservoirs for industrial, agricultural and human use, 3) extensive deforestation. These interventions cause: 1) increasing seawater into LM, 2) great debts in the runoff from watersheds and 3) major changes in natural seasonality of runoff regime, now tending to concentrate only for short spaces of time during greatest annual rainfall.Comprehensive inventories in the areas of flood or mouths of various tributaries of the LM, highlight the presence of marine and brackish fish fauna and thus increase the diversity of species so far known. KEYWORDS: Biodiversity, new records, marine and brackish species, Catatumbo river basin, Lake Maracaibo Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Colonias Artificiales de Acropora palmata Como una Técnica de Restauración del Hábitat Artificial Colonies of Acropora palmata as a Habitat Restoration Technique Colonies Artificiels de Acropora palmata comme une Technique de Restauration de l'Habitat MARIANA LEON-PEREZ1, JORGE GARCIA-SAIS1, and ANTONIO ORTIZ-PROSPER2 Universidad de Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Department of Marine Sciences, UPRM, PO Box 9000 Mayaguez, Puerto Rico 00681 Puerto Rico [email protected] 2 Universidad de Puerto Rico, Aguadilla Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, UPRA, PO Box 6150 Aguadilla Puerto Rico 00604-6150 Puerto Rico PALABRAS CLAVES: restoration, Acropora palmata, habitat, reef fish, reef topography 101 Page RESUMEN Elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata, was the dominant coral species of shallow reefs in the Caribbean, but has suffered widespread mortality since the 1980s. The reef topography provided by live and dead elkhorn coral colonies is an important factor influencing fish community structure on A. palmata reefs. Thus, the overall reduction of topographic relief has caused loss of critical habitat for reef fishes, including commercially important species and associated fauna and flora. This aims to examine the feasibility of using structures simulating elkhorn's coral three-dimensional complexity as a reef restoration alternative. Three treatments will be tested against one control: live coral, dead coral and the artificial structures. A mixture of cement and crushed recycled PVC will be used for the production of artificial structures. Time-series surveys of fish, motile megabenthic invertebrates and percent cover by sessile-benthic biota will be performed monthly during one year. Multivariate statistics will be used to analyze variations of fish and invertebrates species assemblages within each treatment. The main research hypothesis is that artificial elkhorn coral structures provide a recruitment and protective habitat for the reef community similar to that provided by standing dead coral structures. This initiative may represent new habitat restoration technique that will be fast to construct and more durable than standing dead colonies. 101 1 Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI The Proposed Reintroduction of the Antillean Manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) in the Grand Cul de Sac Marin Bay, Guadeloupe: An Innovative Challenge of Collaboration With the Fishing Community El Proyecto de Reintroducción del Manatí Antillano (Trichechus manatus manatus) en la Bahía del Grand Cul ee Sac Marin, Guadalupe: Un Desafío Innovador de Colaboración con la Comunidad Pesquera Le Projet de Réintroduction du Lamantin des Antilles (Trichechus manatus manatus) Dans La Baie du Grand Cul-De-Sac Marin en Guadeloupe : Un Défi Innovant de Collaboration avec le Monde de la Pêche BORIS LEREBOURS National Park of Guadeloupe habitation montéran Saint Claude, Guadeloupe 97120 France [email protected] Page 102 ABSTRACT With support from the French Department of Ecology, the National Park of Guadeloupe has taken careful steps to assess the feasibility of reintroducing manatees to the waters of the Grand Cul-de-Sac-Marin bay (GCSM) a large protected area of 15 000 ha. Although manatees were extirpated from Guadeloupe several decades ago, the waters of the GCSM bay are well protected, including enforced no-entry zones, and have relatively little boat traffic or other threats to manatees. A number of meetings have been organized in recent yearsto involve and inform the project’s stakeholders, including but not limited to fishermen, boaters, tourism operators, environmental non-governmental organizations and community leaders. Formal agreements with local fishing organizations and excellent relationships with communities (including “Lamentin” - French for manatee) are attempting to secure local support of a reintroduction effort. Special attention has been paid to developing a dialog with local fishing groups. The National Park of Guadeloupe (PNG) and the Fisheries Committee of Guadeloupe(CRPM) have jointly decided to conduct a study to assess the potential impact of the presence of manatees on fishing activities and vice versa. This effort lies within the framework of a wider cooperative agreement promulgated and formally initiated in February 2011 between the PNG and the CRPM. Furthermore, representatives of the fishing communities in Guadeloupe met with their counterparts in Puerto Rico in September 2011to discuss the experience that the latter group has had involving interactions between manatees and fishing activities, and the possible effects on fishing. KEYWORDS: Antillean manatee, reintroduction, Guadeloupe, artisanal fisheries, Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Reef Responsible: A Market-Driven Approach to a Sustainable Commercial Fishing Industry in the United States Virgin Islands Arrecife Responsible: Un Enfoque Orientado al Mercado de la Pesca Sostenible en las Islas Vírgenes Récif Responsable: Une Approche Axée Sur le Marché de la Pêche Respectueux de L'Environnement dans les Îles Vierges Américaines KEYWORDS: Resilience, Sustainable, Fisheries, US Virgin Islands, Coral Reefs 103 Page ABSTRACT Global climate change, over-fishing and harmful fishing practices, and land-based sources of pollution have been identified as the top three stressors of coral reefs throughout the Caribbean, leading to dramatic declines in coral abundance, distribution, health, and resilience. In an effort to better manage and conserve coral reefs in the US Virgin Islands, the Virgin Islands Reef Resilience Program (VIRRP) was created through partnership with local and federal coral reef managers as well as scientists from academia and NGOs. The Reef Resilience Program provides for a multi-faceted approach to conserving coral reefs through research, the reduction of anthropogenic stressors, coral reef restoration, and education and awareness programs. In an effort to reduce the stress of over-fishing and harmful fishing practices, the launch of a sustainable seafood campaign is currently being developed through the VIRRP. There are three main strategies to the sustainable seafood campaign: 1. To develop a list of sustainably harvested food fishes and invertebrates of the US Virgin Islands; highlighting better alternatives to important coral reef fishes. 2. To foster the buy-in of commercial fishers through education and engagement. 3. To develop an awareness and engagement “Reef Responsible” campaign for restaurants, hotels, and individuals that empowers them to support the local commercial fishing industry and sustainably harvested seafood. By engaging multiple stakeholders, promoting reef responsible alternatives (i.e. lionfish), and highlighting the benefits to people and reefs, this campaign has the promise to reduce fishery-related stressors, helping to build resiliency of USVI coral reefs. 103 KEMIT-AMON LEWIS The Nature Conservancy 3052 Estate Little Princess Christiansted, VI 00820 United States [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Legal, Ecological and Political Considerations in Establishing Closed Seasons For Two Fisheries in The Turks and Caicos Islands: Spiny Lobster and Queen Conch Consideraciones Legales, Ecológicas y Políticas en el Establecimiento de las Cierras de Estaciones para dos Pesquerías en las Islas Turks and Caicos: Langosta Espinosa y Caracol Rosado Considération Legales, Ecologiques et Politiques pour la Fermeture des Peches pour Deux Pecheries des Iles Turks et Caicos: Langouste et Strombe Géant KATHY LOCKHART, CHARLOTTE DE FONTAUBERT, HEIDI HERTLER, and AMANDA GREENSTEIN Center for Marine Resource Studies School for Field Studies PO Box 007 Cockburn Harbour South Caicos, British West Turks and Caicos Islands [email protected] Page 104 ABSTRACT The economy of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) is crucially dependent on two separate but complementary fishieres, conch (Strombus gigas) and spiny lobster (Panulirus argus). This dependency is greatest on the island of South Caicos, where most of the fisheries operate and a significant portion of the population is overwhelmingly and almost exclusively dependent on these marine resources. TCI conch fisheries currently operate under the Convention of International Trade of Endanger Species (CITES), which includes an approved quota system and a closed season. The lobster fishery is not subject to a quota but operates under a closed season that protects the reproductive months and limits the taking of berried females throughout the year to enhance the target stock. Balancing the two closed seasons is increasingly arduous as pressure on the stocks increases and fishermen’s revenues steadily decline. Enforcement is difficult and fishers seize legal opportunities to continue commercial extraction through the loopholes in closure regulations. Initially, decision makers focused on limiting the period when both fisheries were closed, and thus the amount of time when fishers revenue was nil. By basing future decisions on data, we increase the potential for sustainable fisheries in this area. This paper reviews the decision-making process that has guided the opening and closing of the seasons for both fisheries, the impact these decisions have on fishers’ income and overall compliance, and overlays these considerations with landing data and health of the stocks. KEYWORDS: Spiny lobster, Queen conch, Turks and Caicos, Closed season, Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Towards An Identification of Essential Habitats in Tropical Coastal Ecosystems: The Case of Demersal Fishes in the Colombian Caribbean Sea Hacia Una Identificación de Hábitats Esenciales en Ecosistemas Costeros Tropicales: El Caso de los Peces Demersales del Mar Caribe de Colombia Vers Une Identification d'Habitats Essentiels en Ecosistemas Côtiers Tropicaux: Le Cas de Demersal Poissons en le Colombien Caribbean Mar KEYWORDS: essential habitats, Colombian Caribbean Sea, Generalized Additive Models, Lutjanus synagris, Balistes capriscus 105 Page ABSTRACT Several species of demersal fishes are exploited mainly by artisanal fisheries, while ecosystems have been degraded in the Colombian Caribbean Sea. However few attempts have been made to identify habitat requirements of such species in order to protect essential areas and ensure longterm viability of populations. Spatial distribution patterns and association with environmental variables (depth, distance to the nearest mouth of rivers, geographic position) of the body size structure were explored for two dominant demersal species (Lutjanus synagris, Balistes capriscus), based on data registered in 15 scientific cruises carried out between 1995 and 1998 in the Gulf of Salamanca. A Geographic Information System was employed to explore spatial distribution patterns of body size, whereas associations between environmental variables and abundance were estimated using Generalized Additive Models. A total of 2065 individuals of L. synagris and 2028 individuals of B. capriscus were sampled. A statistical (inverse) association was detected between distance to the nearest mouth of river and abundance of juveniles of L. synagris (P<0.01). Abundance of juveniles of B. capriscus were not associated with the analyzed environmental variables (P>0.05). Abundance of adults of both species increases with depth (P<0.05). Results suggest contrasting strategies in the life cycles of fish species and prompt the need of management actions to protect shallow and estuarine zones in the Gulf as essential habitats to assure the natural renewal of fish populations. Studyfundedby Colciencias (Young Researchers and 1117-521-29353), Universidad del Magdalena, Universidad Nacional, Gobernación de San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina, UAESPNN. 105 ARISTIDES LÓPEZ-PEÑA and LUÍS ORLANDO DUARTE Laboratorio de Investigaciones Pesqueras Tropica Universidad del Magdalena Carrera 32 # 2208 Santa Marta, Magdalena Colombia [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Estimation of Dispersion Rates of the Red Octopus (Octopus maya) of the Yucatan Peninsula Estimación de Tasas de Dispersión del Pulpo Rojo (Octopus maya) de la Península de Yucatán Estimation des Taux de Dispersion de la Pieuvre Rouge (Octopus maya) de Peninsule du Yucatan JORGE LOPEZ-ROCHA Unidad Multidisciplinaria de Docencia e Investig Puerto de abrigo s/n Sisal, Yucatan 97356 Mexico [email protected] Page 106 ABSTRACT The red octopus Octopus maya sustains with O. vulgaris the most important fishery in the Yucatan Peninsula. The pattern of population movements has a great effect on the distribution and abundance of the resource, is therefore closely related to the fishery exploitation and the management measures, especially those based on spatial considerations. Dispersion rates of the red octopus were estimated in order to characterize and quantify this type of movement. The estimates were made by population sector (juveniles and adults) using a dynamic model of spatial distribution which uses the net differences in the relative abundance in adjacent areas and in successive time units. Additionally, the model considers catchability variable with size, time and space. The information came from surveys of fishing trips of the small-scale fleet of Sisal, Yucatan from August to December 2011. A total of 92 fishing trips were sampling whose operating in a depth range from 4 to 22 m. Total catch was 4.097 O. maya individuals. With respect to the distribution, a pattern of increase of the mantle length with increasing depth was observed. The catchability increased with size up to ~ 13 cm of mantle length and then descends in larger sizes. Differentiated dispersion movements by population sector were detected and related to the depth. We discuss the implication of the results in the management measures such as reserve areas and programs of artificial shelters. KEYWORDS: Cephalopod, population movements, spatial dynamics, catchability, reserve areas Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Fishing and Social Aspects of the New Sea Cucumber Fishery in the Yucatan Peninsula Aspectos Pesqueros y Sociales de la Nueva Pesquería de Pepino de Mar en la Península de Yucatán Aspects de Pêche et Social de la Neva Peche Concombre de Mer Dans la Peninsule du Yucatan KEYWORDS: Holoturidae, Isostichopus badionotus, fishery, social, management 107 Page ABSTRACT The extraction of sea cucumber in the Yucatan Peninsula is a new fishery. In 2013 will be declared officially as commercial fishing, so it is important to generate knowledge both fisheriesbiological and socio-economic which will be based management measures for sustainable exploitation. Here, we present the results of the evaluations of the three fishing seasons (2010 2012) at the port of Sisal, Yucatan. We estimated the distribution and abundance of the main species exploited Isostichopus badionotus, analyzed the fishing vulnerability with a depletion model and monitored the catch and effort in the harbor. In the social field, we applied surveys to the fishermen to identify and describe their way of life, organization, customs and beliefs; also it was analyzed nine indicators of marginalization. The results show that the density (number of organisms / m2) has decreased significantly, the fishing area has increased as a result of the search for new fishing zones and depletion models indicate a rapid decline in abundance. The marginalization indicators highlight the percentage of people living in crowded and people working with incomes below 2 minimum wages. However 76% of the fishermen agreed with their profits in the fishery. Although there are management measures (e. g. overall catch quota, catch quotas per vessel, fishing permits, fishing gear and methods allowed, number of fishing days and ban) in general the fishery is conducted in a disorderly manner in which any of the management measures are met completely, that is a serious risk to the fishery sustainability. 107 JORGE LOPEZ-ROCHA, HÉCTOR CISNEROS-REYES, and FRANCISCO ARREGUÍNSÁNCHEZ Unidad Multidisciplinaria de Docencia e Investig Puerto de abrigo s/n Sisal, Yucatan 97356 Mexico [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Permit Portfolios of Commercial Fishermen in the U.S. South Atlantic Region Portafolios de Permisos de Pescadores Comerciales en la Region del Atlantico Sur de los Estados Unidos Portefeuilles de Permis de Pêcheurs Commerciaux dans la Région l'Atlantique Sud des Etats-Unis KARI MACLAUCHLIN South Atlantic Fishery Management Council 4055 Faber Place Dr Suite 201 North Charleston, SC 29405 USA [email protected] Page 108 ABSTRACT As in most areas in the Gulf and Caribbean, many commercial fishermen along the U.S. South Atlantic coast and Florida Keys hold a ‘portfolio’ of permits and harvest different species throughout the year or in different years. This characteristic of small-scale commercial fisheries presents a challenge in analysis of social and economic impacts of potential regulations, specifically how fishermen switch target species when harvest is limited or prohibited. Although a fisherman may not actively harvest under a permit on a regular basis, it is common to maintain a valid status in order to keep the opportunity to fish under the permit if needed. This is similar to financial portfolio theory in that diversity in a fisherman’s options for participation would be expected to maximize benefits and minimize risk. Effects on permit portfolios are important considerations for regulators and management but are seldom addressed specifically in impact assessments for U.S. fisheries regulations. This project uses permit records and two-mode network analysis to examine typical portfolios and groups of fishermen with similar portfolios. The results suggest five common combinations of permits held by commercial fishermen, and multiple groups of permit holders who share common portfolios. The results of this initial analysis will be incorporated into a larger project to examine social, economic, geographic and fishery-based factors that correspond with similarities in fishing patterns. The information will be useful in understanding impacts of regulations on fishing behavior and help guide management decisions based on the system of portfolios and multi-fishery participation. KEYWORDS: portfolio, social impacts, fishing permits, network analysis, fishing behavior Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI St. Thomas Fishermen’s Association: Involving Fishermen in Fishery Management Asociación Pescadores de St. Thomas: Involucrando a los Pescadores en la Administración Pesquera L'Association des Pécheurs de St Thomas: Impliquer les Pécheurs dans la Gestion des Pêcheries KEYWORDS: Fishermen, Management, Virgin Islands 109 Page ABSTRACT The St. Thomas Fishermen’s Association (STFA) was formed in 2004 when fishery management authorities proposed to close significant areas of St. Thomas shelf to fishing. The STFA was able negotiate seasonal closures as a substitute for the proposed areal closures. STFA members catch around 80% of the fish trap catch and 95% of the spiny lobster catch in St. Thomas. Since its formation STFA members have been appointed to the Scientific and Advisory panels of the Caribbean Fishery Management Council, the Territorial Fishery Advisory Committee and testified twice to the United States Congress on fishery management issues. In addition, in collaboration with NOAA agencies and through direct grants, the STFA has carried out scientific studies in support of fishery management. STFA members are now well informed, involved and participating in management of their fisheries. 109 JULIAN MAGRAS and DAVID OLSEN St. Thomas Fishermen's Association 8168 Crown Bay Marina Ste. 310 St. Thomas, VI 00802 USA [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Resiliencia de las Comunidades de Pescadores Artesanales a Eventos Externos: Propuesta de Indice de Capacidad Adaptativa Resilience of Artisanal Fishing Communities Facing External Events: Proposal of an Index of Adaptive Capacity Resilience Descommunautes de Peche Artisanale Confrontes des Evenements Exterieurs: Proposition d'un Indice de la Capacite d'Adaptation 1 JORGE MALDONADO1 y ROCIO MORENO SANCHEZ2 Universidad de los Andes Carrera 1E 18A-10 Bloque A Of 306 Bogota, 111711 Colombia [email protected] 2 Conservation Strategy Fund Cr 26 45A43 Bogotá DC 111711 Colombia Page 110 RESUMEN Las comunidades locales de pescadores son actores fundamentales en los sistemas socioecológicos marinos y costeros: por un lado, afectan el equilibrio de los sistemas ecológicos y por otro, sus medios de vida dependen estrechamente del estado de los ecosistemas y los servicios que proveen. Para entender la capacidad de adaptación de las comunidades locales a eventos externos –naturales o humanos- y aproximar una medida de su resiliencia, en este estudio se propone un índice que mide la capacidad de adaptación de las comunidades de pescadores locales. Para hacerlo, este índice se basa en tres componentes: socio-ecológico, socioeconómico e institucional. Los componentes se construyen a partir de siete indicadores: comprensión del entorno natural, pobreza, diversidad ocupacional, estilo material de vida, seguridad alimentaria, capital social y gobernabilidad. Para calcularlo, se proponen encuestas a hogares en comunidades de pescadores costeras. Los resultados aplicados a una comunidad localizada en la zona de influencia de dos áreas marinas protegidas en el Pacífico Colombiano, muestran que aunque se observan fortalezas gracias a los altos niveles de capital social y conocimiento ecológico local, las condiciones socioeconómicas de pobreza, estilo material de vida y seguridad alimentaria, se convierten en la principal amenaza para su adaptabilidad a perturbaciones externas. PALABRAS CLAVES: socio-ecological systems, resilience, adaptive capacity, Colombia, local communities Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI La Pesca del Carrucho (Strombus gigas), uno de los Últimos Recursos Pesqueros de Puerto Rico Fishing Conch (Strombus gigas), One of the Last Fishery Resources of Puerto Rico La Pêche Delambi(Strombus gigas), L'Un des Dernières Ressources Halieutiques de Porto Rico PALABRAS CLAVES: carrucho, Puerto Rico, Cabo Rojo, pesquerías, Co-manejo 111 Page RESUMEN La pesca del carrucho se comenzó a practicar activamente en Puerto Rico durante la década del ochenta. Con la popularización entre los pescadores comerciales del equipo SCUBA, el carrucho, en aguas profundas, se hizo disponible. Profundidades que antes no podían accederse comenzaron a explotarse aceleradamente. Este escrito testimonia la experiencia de vida de un carruchero del oeste de Puerto Rico. A través de su práctica conoceremos los comienzos de esta pesca en Puerto Rico, el fortalecimiento de este sector, los riesgos que asumen los pescadores en la faena diaria, sus inquietudes y las alternativas que estos ofrecen para mejorar el manejo de los recursos pesqueros. El conocimiento tradicional local (TEK) de los carrucheros puede ofrecer información empírica sobre el estado actual de la especie y sobre las posibilidades de su rentabilidad y sostenibilidad a largo plazo. El manejo de las pesquerías arrecifales en diferentes áreas tropicales del mundo ofrece distintos ejemplos de experiencias de co-manejo exitosas. La búsqueda de un mejor aprovechamiento de los recursos está estrechamente ligada a unas mejores condiciones de trabajo y de participación de los grupos interesados en la protección y en el uso de éstos. Sin embargo, ¿no deberíamos esperar que el gobierno proteja a los pescadores comerciales, promoviendo la formalización y el fortalecimiento de este sector de la economía? ¿Existe la voluntad para ofrecer oportunidades reales de participación que deriven en políticas públicas claras y justas, que permitan el aprovechamiento sustentable de la especie? Este testimonio contesta estas preguntas, desde la perspectiva de los pescadores. 111 ANDRÉS MALDONADO-RIVERA1, ARELIS I. AROCHO-MONTES2, y MANUEL VALDÉS-PIZZINI3 1 Pescador Comercial, Combate PR Representante de los Pescadores Comerciales en e HC-02 Box 2204 Boquerón, PR 00622-9335 Puerto Rico [email protected] 2 Universidad de Puerto Rico-Río Piedras Universidad de Puerto Rico-Río Piedras Dept. Ciencias Ambientales PO Box 70377 San Juan Puerto Rico 00936-8377 Puerto Rico 3 Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de MayagüezUPR Sea Grant Call Box 9000 Mayagüez Puerto Rico 00681-9000 Puerto Rico Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Algunas Alternativas Tecnológicas y Metodológicas Para Situaciones de Escasa Disponibilidad de Datos Científicos Some Technological and Methodological Alternatives For Situations Of Poor Availability Of Scientific Data Certaines Solutions Technologiques Et Méthodologiques Dans Des Situations De Faible Disponibilité De Données Scientifiques LUIS MANJARRES MARTINEZ Universidad del Magdalena Calle 21A 22-52 Casa 30 Santa Marta, Magdalena Colombia [email protected] Page 112 RESUMEN Una situación frecuente en el área del Caribe es la carencia de la información necesaria para la conservación y el manejo de los recursos marinos vivos. En la mayoría de los casos este problema está asociado a un insuficiente financiamiento para la investigación. En otros casos la dificultad estriba en la dificultad para acceder a alternativas tecnológicas novedosas para obtener dicha información, en situaciones donde no es factible el uso de técnicas de muestreo tradicionales. Atendiendo a esta realidad, es pertinente analizar este tema en términos de su relevancia y proyección. También resulta relevante contextualizarlo mediante algunos estudios de caso que ilustran la aplicación de enfoques metodológicos tendientes a maximizar la utilidad de datos escasos o disímiles o a usar fuentes no convencionales de información, como es el caso del conocimiento ecológico local (CEL) de las comunidades pesqueras. En este orden de ideas, además de destacar la importancia de concretar acciones de cooperación que hagan factible un uso más generalizado de tecnologías innovadas para el monitoreo de los recursos marinos vivos y sus hábitats esenciales, se presenta un ejemplo de comparación de datos históricos registrados en un número relativamente bajo de cruceros de evaluación de recursos demersales efectuados en el Mar Caribe de Colombia, obtenidos mediante redes de arrastre de fondo de diferentes características. Adicionalmente, se ilustra también la aplicación de algunas herramientas metodológicas para caracterizar y evaluar la información obtenida del CEL y su posible utilidad para el manejo pesquero. Estos enfoques se consideran una alternativa válida para responder a las exigencias de un enfoque precautorio para el manejo de los recursos, particularmente en situaciones de insuficiente disponibilidad de información científica. PALABRAS CLAVES: tecnologías de muestreo alternativas, procesamiento datos históricos, conocimiento ecológico local, Caribe Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Apuntes Teóricos sobre la Importancia del Conocimiento Tradicional para el Manejo de Pesquerías Artesanales: Una Aproximación desde las Ciencias Sociales Theoretical Notes on the Importance of Traditional Knowledge for Artisanal Fisheries Management: A Social Sciences Approach Notes Théoriques sur l’Importance de la Connaissance Traditionnelle pour le Management des Pêches Artisanales: Une Approximation de les Sciences Sociales PALABRAS CLAVES: Conocimiento tradicional, Pescadores artesanales, Providencia Isla, Diálogo de saberes, Manejo de pesquerías 113 Page RESUMEN Los pueblos indígenas y campesinos del mundo, incluyendo muchas comunidades de pescadores artesanales, son poseedores de un profundo conocimiento sobre los ecosistemas, resultado de la interacción de decenas de generaciones con el entorno. Sin embargo, estos conocimientos se encuentran amenazados por el avance del sistema capitalista, el cual de forma sistemática ha subyugado y destruido los sistemas locales de saber y las formas de vida asociadas a estos. Esto implica no solamente la pérdida de conocimientos insustituibles sino también la aparición y profundización de conflictos ambientales. Es por esto que, en el contexto de crisis actual, los sistemas tradicionales de conocimiento y manejo de los ecosistemas han empezado a ser revalorados y rescatados por algunas disciplinas y por importantes investigadores de diferentes ciencias. No obstante lo anterior, estos conocimientos continúan ocupando un lugar secundario y a menudo irrelevante en las diversas investigaciones que incorporan trabajo con comunidades, incluyendo el caso del manejo de pesquerías, a pesar de que se ha demostrado la necesidad de incorporarlo en este tipo de procesos. Esta ponencia plantea una argumentación teórica, apoyada en referencias empíricas y un caso de estudio (los pescadores de la isla de Providencia), sobre la importancia del conocimiento tradicional para el manejo sostenible de pesquerías artesanales, presentando una visión que, desde las ciencias sociales, dialoga con aproximaciones hechas desde la biología pesquera y la economía, enfatizando la necesidad de que las comunidades y sus saberes sean rescatados y preservados, y de que estos sean incorporados a las políticas públicas y los planes de desarrollo como un componente fundamental. 113 ANA ISABEL MÁRQIEZ PÉREZ Centro de Pesquisa em Desenvolvimento, Agricultu Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro Rua Terezina 29, Apto 403, Bairro Santa Teresa Rio de Janeiro, RJ 20240 - 310 Brasil [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Genetic Analysis of Queen Conch Strombus gigas from the South West Caribbean Análisis Genético de Caracol Pala Strombus gigas del Caribe Suroccidental Analyse Genetique du Lambi Strombus gigas dans Sud-Ouest de Caraibe Page 114 EDNA JUDITH MÁRQUEZ FERNÁNDEZ1, RICARDO LANDÍNEZ1, SANDRA OSPINA1, JUAN AICARDO SEGURA1 MARTHA PRADA2 , ERICK CASTRO and JOSE LUIS CORREA3 1 Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sedee Medellín Calle 59A No 63 – 20 Bloque 19A Laboratorio 310 Medellín, Antioquia 4 Colombia [email protected] 2 Coralina Vía San Luis, Bight, Km 26 Archipiélago de San andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina Colombia 3 Secretaría de Agricultura y Pesca Archipiélago de San andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina Colombia [email protected] INCODER ABSTRACT Genetic connectivity among populations is of crucial importance in conservation and management of commercial threatened species. Here, we explored genetic connectivity and diversity from 490 queen conch Strombus gigas from nine representative areas of San Andres Archipelago and three islands of the Colombian coast in the Southwest Caribbean. Genetic differentiation among geographic populations was analyzed using the statistic ΦST provided by an analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) and spatial analysis of molecular variance (SAMOVA). The correlation between genetic and geographic distance was explored by using Mantel test. All loci were polymorphic with a high number of alleles per locus and showed heterozygosity deficits and departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. We found evidence for four different genetic stocks without indication of isolation by distance. Based on these results, the recovery of S. gigas in the Southwest Caribbean requires management plans focused on a local and regional level KEYWORDS: Strombus gigas, Loci, Management Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Identificación de Parásitos y Bacterias Potencialmente Patógenas Asociadas al Caracol Pala Strombus gigas en La Reserva De Biosfera Seaflower Identification of Potentially Pathogenic Parasites and Bacteria Associated to Queen Conch Strombus gigas from Seaflower Biosphere Reserve Identification des Parasites et des Bacteries Potentiellement Pathogenes Associes a Lambi Strombus gigas dans Reserve de la Biosphere de Seaflower PALABRAS CLAVES: Strombus gigas, Parásitos, bacterias, Seaflower, 115 Page RESUMEN La microbiología y parasitología del caracol pala Strombus gigas es un aspecto poco explorado a pesar de su efecto potencial sobre la eficacia biológica de la especie. El presente trabajo pretende identificar parásitos y microorganismos asociados a la pigmentación anormal de la carne de caracol encontrada incidentalmente en la Reserva Biósfera Seaflower e identificar bacterias cultivables potencialmente patógenas asociadas a ciertos tejidos del caracol mediante el uso de métodos microbiológicos tradicionales, moleculares y bioinformáticos. Los resultados encontrados a la fecha muestran una gran diversidad bacteriana y el análisis histológico del músculo reveló la presencia de una cutícula externa posiblemente relacionada con un parásito cuya identificación se está apoyando con el análisis de bioinformático de secuencias obtenidas por pirosecuenciación de una librería genómica aleatoria construida a partir de músculo de caracol pala. 115 EDNA JUDITH MÁRQUEZ FERNÁNDEZ1, OLGA MONTOYA1, CLAUDIA MORENO1, JAISON CUARTAS MÓNICA HIGUITA1, y ERICK CASTRO2 1 Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sedee Medellín Calle 59A No 63 – 20 Medellín, Antioquia 4 Colombia [email protected] 2 Secretaría de Agricultura y Pesca Archipiélago de San andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina Colombia [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI What Lionfish Eat ¿Qué Pez León Coma Qu'est-Ce Lionfish Manger CHARLES MARTIN University of the Virgin Islands P.O.box 9259 Charlotte Amalie , V.I. 00801 United States Virgin Islands [email protected] Page 116 ABSTRACT The invasive Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans) was introduced to the Caribbean in the early 1990’s and has been rapidly expanding its range. It was first found in the US Virgin Islands in 2008 and is now becoming a common sight on most coral reefs. This study will examine the potential impact of lionfish on Virgin Islands reef fishes. The main focus of my research is the relationship between predator and prey size. By measuring the mouth gape height and length of the lion fish will help us understand what kind of prey can be eaten by lion fish. Lionfish collected from local fisherman were used to collect information on size, weight, sex and gut contents. Once stomachs were removed from lionfish the contents were weighed, measured and identified to the lowest taxonomic level. By identifying the different food items, we are able to pinpoint what kind of species lion fish are targeting. Prey were separated into three body types: elongated (e.g. wrasses), heavy bodied (e.g. groupers), disk shaped (e.g. surgeonfishes). My hypothesis is that small lion fish can only eat skinny or thin prey while larger lionfish will begin to eat disk-shaped prey. If my hypothesis proves to be correct, then this suggests that bigger lion fish eat different species of prey than smaller lionfish which can help us identify the fish species that are mostly targeted by lion fish of different sizes. This information is helping us with the evaluation of lion fish impacts on local fish populations. KEYWORDS: Digestion, populations, height, Length, evaluation Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Local Management Strategies Hindered by Regional Pressures: Akumal, Q. Roo. Estrategias de Manejo Locales Entorpecidas por Presiones Regionales: Akumal, Q. Roo. Stratégies Locales de Gestion Entravée par les Pressions Régionales: Akumal, Q. Roo. KEYWORDS: management, Akumal, strategies, sewage, Mexico 117 Page ABSTRACT Akumal Q. Roo has an ecological and economical importance due to the high biodiversity supported by a wetlands and bays system, along with beaches, seagrass beds and reefs. It was the first tourist resort in mainland Q. Roo and is part of the tourist corridor Cancun-Tulum. Its infrastructure and urban area are not the greatest in the region but it has the highest roomoccupancy rate in the Riviera Maya. Although it is not an MPA it has a local land-use plan focused on regulation of marine activities (fishing, transport, snorkel, etc.), which is implemented in parallel to state and federal environmental laws. From the identification of degradation trends in the reef associated to natural and anthropogenic pressures, it became important to assess the effectiveness of the management strategies in Akumal. For this, past and present reef condition was considered, with emphasis on incidence of coral diseases. The effectiveness of the management strategies was assessed using socio-economic, governance and environmental indicators, as well as content analysis, identifying additional management needs and unaddressed issues. One of the most important issues is the lack of inclusion of the untreated residual water discharges along the coast. This issue must be a priority to resolve in order to local conservation efforts to be successful. 117 MARIANA MATA-LARA and JOAQUÍN GARZA-PÉREZ Programa de Investigación Espacial en Ambientes Puerto de Abrigo s/n , Sisal Sisal, Yucatán 92289 México [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Designing a Plan of Action for Control and Management of Lionfish Invasions in the Dominican Republic: A Participatory Process Diseno de Un Plan de Accion para el Control y Manejo de las Invasiones del Pez Leon en La Republica Dominicana: Un Proceso Participativo En Dessinant un Plan d'Action pour le Contrôle et le Gestion des Invasions du Poisson un Lion en La République Dominicaine: Un Processus Participatif JEANNETTE MATEO1 and NINA LYSENKO2 Consejo Dominicano de Pesca y Acuicultura Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo Edif. Secretaría de Agricultura. Km 61/2 Carret. Duarte. Los Jardines del Norte Biology School. UASD. Ciudad Universitaria.. Santo Domingo, Santo Dgo Dominican Republic [email protected] 2 National Aquarium Avenida Espana. No 75 Santo Domingo Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Page 118 1 ABSTRACT A proposed general framework for the participative action plan for control and management of the invasion of lionfish, Pterois volitans, in the Dominican Republic is presented. The plan has been conceived with stakeholder's participation from governmental and private agencies, and fishing and tourist community. The Plan of Action's main objetive is to reduce the lionfish expansion in Dominican waters through public awareness, research. control and development of tools for its efective management and rational exploitation. During the pan designing process, existing plan from Bonaire, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Saint Maarten and the US Virgin Islands were reviewed. Brainstorming techniques, SWOT analysis and logical framework elements were also applyed. For the purpose of the plan's implementation and to optimize utilization of local resources by region, the use of three coastal'marine strategic ecological zones as well as CODOPESCA regional fisheries administrative and service stations are suggested. the results of the factors analysis and logical framework matrix are presented. Market development for lionfish meat and by-products might become an important source and income for people from economically depresed coastal communities, particularly where overexplotation of groupers and snappers are reported. KEYWORDS: lionfish, management, plan-of-action, invasion, partcipatory Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Ecología y Distribución de Sábalos (Megalops atlanticus) en el Refugio de Vida Silvestre de Boquerón, Puerto Rico. Ecology and Distribution of Tarpons (Megalops atlanticus) at the Boquerón Wildlife Refuge, Puerto Rico Écologie et Distribution d'Alose (Megalops atlanticus) dans le Refuge de Vie Sauvage de Boquerón, Puerto Rico PALABRAS CLAVES: Sábalo, Ecología, Manejo, Conservación, Tasa de Crecimiento 119 Page RESUMEN El sábalo, Megalops atlanticus, es la especie mas importante de la pesca recreativa, modalidad de captura-liberación en Puerto Rico. Su importancia en el Refugio de Vida Silvestre de Boquerón (RVSB), un estuario artificial, hacen indispensable la evaluación de la población para el manejo y la conservación. Esta investigación estimó su abundancia, las clases de edad, la variabilidad en abundancia estacional y sus tasas de crecimiento mediante la evaluación de longitud y peso. Datos colectados desde 2007 de longitud-peso y de captura por unidad de esfuerzo (CPUE) fueron evaluados y desde el 2011 se marcaron sábalos con transmisores internos lo cual nos permitió conocer su ubicación e identidad durante la recaptura.Más de 300 individuos fueron marcados y 10 recapturados mostrando una tasa de crecimiento de 0.08 mm d-1 en promedio. Tanto la laguna interior como los canales que conectan las lagunas con el mar presentaron una mayor frecuencia de individuos de 41-50 cm de longitud de horquilla. CPUE mostro su máximo durante el mes de julio cuando el nivel de agua estuvo en promedio bajo por falta de precipitación. Esta información provee información actualizada para mejorar el conocimiento de la población de sábalos y promover estrategias de manejo en el RVSB que garanticen la sustentabilidad de este recurso pesquero. 119 DANIEL MATEOS-MOLINA, JOSÉ VARGAS-SANTIAGO, MICHELLE SCHÄRERUMPIERRE, HECTOR RUIZ MICHAEL NEMETH, y IDELFONSO RUIZ-VALENTÍN Departamento de Recursos Naturales Puerto Rico, PR 00667 Puerto Rico [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI What Do We Know about Blackfin Tuna (Thunnus atlanticus)? ¿Que Conocemos del Atún de Aleta Negra (Thunnus atlanticus)? Que Savons-Nous du Thon à Nageoires Noires (Thunnus atlanticus)? HÉLOÏSE MATHIEU1, CÉDRIC PAU2, LIONEL REYNAL2, and DERRICK THEOPHILLE3 1 IFREMER Fisheries Division of Dominica 2 IFREMER 79 route de Pointe Fort LE ROBERT, Martinique 97231 France [email protected] 3 Fisheries Division of Dominica Roseau Fisheries complex Dame Mary Eugenia Charles boulevard Roseau Commonwealth of Dominica Page 120 ABSTRACT Blackfin tuna is part of the small tunas, located in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean for which ICCAT recommends the development of research in order to improve our knowledge on its distribution, biology and fishing. Poorly known because of its low economic importance, it is a resource of growing importance for artisanal fisheries that exploit it more and more probably due to the development of the FADs in the region. However official statistics on this species show a sudden drop in landings from 2003, we start with annual tonnage values between 2700 and 4700 t that become values fluctuating between 1000 and 2000 t. It seems unlikely that these figures reflect the evolution of the resource but rather anomalies or delays from the organization in charge of official statistics. This paper makes an initial assessment of knowledge about this species and particularly on catch per unit effort, size frequencies, the selectivity of fishing techniques, reproduction and migration of blackfin tuna. It is made in the context of the project MAGDELESA on sustainable development of fishing using moored FADs in the Lesser Antilles whose actions are coordinated with the CRFM and its working group on offshore Large Pelagics. KEYWORDS: Blackfin tuna, Thunnus atlanticus, reproduction, growth, length-weight relationship Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Description of the Sea Cucumber Commercial Fishery in Puerto Rico, 1911-12 Descripción de la Pesquería de Pepinos de Mar en Puerto Rico, 1911-12 Description de la Pêche Commerciale de Concombres de Mer à Porto Rico, 1911-12 DANIEL MATOS-CARABALLO1 and LUIS A. RIVERA-PADILLA2 DNER Fish. res. Laboratory P.O. Box 3665 Mayaguez, PR 00681 USA [email protected] 2 Fisheries Research LaboratoryPR DNER P.O. Box 3665 Mayaguez Puerto Rico 00681 USA KEYWORDS: Puerto Rico, Commercial Fishseries, Sea cucumbers, Statistics, Socioeconomics 121 Page ABSTRACT The scientific literature established that the sea cucumber fisheries are widespread around the world. It is notorious that in the Western Indian Ocean, the sea cucumber industry has existed for over a century and is an important livelihood source in many coastal households. The fishing pressure on the sea cucumbers resulted in the decline of these resources. The FAO fisheries statistics shown that the total sea cucumber caught have been declining over the last 10 years. Due to the mentioned fact, the Asian markets moved to Latin America for countries such Colombia, Brazil, Dominican Republic and others. Since 2011, one person in Puerto Rico was authorized by the government to establish the commercial fishery of sea cucumbers. Approximately three fishing vessels and six commercial fishers were working in this fishery. All the catch from Puerto Rico has been sold to Chinese dealers whom send the catch to Asia countries. Unfortunately we don’t know the final destination. In 2011, this sea cucumber fishery reported an average of 12,353 individuals/caught per month. The fishery it is active during March to November. Every sea cucumber individual was sold in $0.30 US/Dollar and after the dehydration process the price to the dealers it is estimated an average of $0.65US/Dollar per individual. This paper will discuss the name by species of sea cucumber caught by the fishery, number of individuals catch per trip, description of the dehydration process, catch per unit effort and also an estimate of the economy impact of this fishery. 121 1 Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Women in a Fish Market in Barbados Mujeres Enun Mercado de Pescadoen Barbados Les Femmes dans un Marché aux Poissons de la Barbade PATRICK MCCONNEY1, VERNEL NICHOLLS2, and BERTHA SIMMONS3 1 CERMES University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus , BB11000 Barbados [email protected] 2 Barbados National Union of Fisherfolk Organisations Bridgetown Barbados 3 Consultant Researcher Christ Church Barbados Page 122 ABSTRACT Fishing is usually male work. Yet “fisheries” are much more than just “fishing”. Recent investigation on a global scale has shown that if supporting activities (e.g. credit supply) and postharvest (e.g. fish processing and trade) are taken into account, then females may be in the majority. This does not count the growing number of women in policy, management, science, education, civil society and other activities related to fisheries. CARICOM countries typically have few gender disaggregated fisheries data useful for comparing and assessing the roles and contributions of women and men. The authors conducted research at the Oistins fish market in Barbados, focusing on its successful female fish vendors and women. Through livelihoods analysis we sought deeper understanding of how society, culture, formal and informal education, household arrangements and entrepreneurship combined with other factors to shape the involvement of women in fisheries. Results are presented on some of their vulnerabilities, seasonal calendar of activities, multiple household occupations, time use patterns and strategies for achieving livelihood outcomes. There are marked differences in seasonal patterns of activity, and access to credit was identified as a constraint to entrepreneurship. KEYWORDS: Barbados, fisheries, gender, livelihoods, women Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Lion Fish Population Dynamics and the Effectiveness of Local Community Culling Cayman Islands Dinamica Poblacional del Pez Leon y el Exiito de la Eliminacion Selectiva en las Islas Cayman Dynamiques de la Population de Poisson-Lion et Succès de l'Élimination Sélective (Îles Cayman) KEYWORDS: Lionfish, community culling, Marine Parks, Cayman Islands 123 Page ABSTRACT The first record of a lionfish in Caymanian waters was in Little Cayman in February 2008, followed by Cayman Brac in October 2008 and Grand Cayman in January 2009. Efforts to monitor the size, density and populations of lionfish on Caymanian reefs has been the responsibility of the Department of the Environment (DOE), Cayman Islands Governmentwith the aim of documenting the effectiveness of the community culling control measures. Sixty two sites were surveyed between January and March 2012 in the Cayman Islands; Grand Cayman 30, Little Cayman 16 and Cayman Brac 16, equally divided amongst the deep (>12m) and shallow terrace reefs (<12m), inside and outside of their Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). A total of 333 lionfish were recorded, Grand Cayman (197), Little Cayman (81) and Cayman Brac (55) on transects. Sizes ranged from 0->40cm for Grand Cayman, 11-40cm Little Cayman and 6-40cm in Cayman Brac. Grand Cayman and Little Cayman had lowest densities of lionfish within their MPAs. Additionally greater abundances were observed at the deeper and southern sites. This study demonstrates that the DOE lionfish population control programme is most effective in Little Cayman particularly within their Marine Parks where removal efforts are greatest with weekly organized community culls. This is indicative that lion fish culling by the local dive community and the DOE as a population management strategy is having a positive impact in controlling the lionfish population numbers on a localize scale in areas of high biological value such as their Marine Parks. 123 CROY MCCOY1, ALLISON CANDELMO1, ELAYNE LOOKER2, and LAURA RICHARDSON2 1 Dept. of Environment, Cayman Islands Govt. 580 North Sound Road Georgetown, Grand Cayman KY1-1002 Cayman Islands [email protected] 2 Bangor University School of Ocean Sciences, Menai Bridge Anglesey LL595AB, UK Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Coral Reef Resilience and the Effect of Marine Protected Areas on Bleaching, Disease and Compromise Health - Cayman Islands Resiliencia de los Arrecifes de Coral y el Efecto de las Áreas Marinas Protegidas en el Blanqueo, La Enfermedad y Compromiso con la Salud de las Islas Caimán Résilience des Récifs Coralliens et l'Effet d'Aires Marines Protégées sur le Blanchiment, la Maladie et la Santé de Compromis Îles Caïmans CROY MCCOY1, KATIE HILLYER2, JOHN TURNER2, and LAURA RICHARDSON2 1 Department of Environment, Cayman Islands Govt. 580 North Sound Road Georgetown, KY11002 Cayman Islands [email protected] 2 Bangor University, School of Ocean Sciences Menai Bridge Anglesey. UK LL595AB Page 124 ABSTRACT Coral bleaching and disease are recognized as major drivers of coral reef decline globally and are increasing in prevalence, regularity and severity with global climate change. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are a leading strategy in the conservation of biodiversity and are increasingly being used with the new aim of enhancing resilience in the face of global climate change. This study compared the prevalence of bleaching, disease and compromised health states in scleractinian (stony) and milleporid (fire) corals at 60 monitoring sites, within and outside of MPAs within the Cayman Islands, to determine if resilience was increased (and therefore prevalence lower) within MPAs. Overall, the study found that the Caymanian MPAs did not enhance the resilience of reef building corals to bleaching and disease, with the prevalence of white plague actually higher within MPA sites overall (MPA: 1.31% ± 0.39 S.E., non-MPA: 0.88% ± 0.22 S.E.). However, the prevalence of compromised health states and growth anomalies were reduced within MPA sites. Disease prevalence was patchy and varied according to island and aspect. Prevalence was highest on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman (combined disease: 13.10% ± 1.19 S.E. and 10.91% ± 1.53 S.E.), on southern coasts. Key diseases and hosts were typical of the wider Caribbean; white plague, yellow band disease, dark spot disease and dark spot syndrome, were recorded at the highest prevalence within important reef building species. Mean bleaching prevalence during the study was low (3.97% ± 0.56 S.E.), with an increase at the deep sites (6.52% ± 0.94 S.E.). KEYWORDS: Coral Disease, Coral Bleaching, Compromised Health, Marine Protected Areas, Cayman Islands Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Strategies for Bycatch Reduction in Southern Brazilian Small-Scale Trawl Fishing: Prospects for Fisheries Management Estrategias Para La Reducción de la Captura Incidental en la Pesquería de Arrastre de Pequeña Escala de Sur del Brasil: Perspectivas para la Gestión de la Pesca Les Stratégies de Réduction des Captures Accidentelles et Rejets à la Pêche Artisanale au Sur de la Cote Bresilien: Perspectives pour la Gestión de la Pêche KEYWORDS: ecosystem approach to fisheries, bycatch reduction devices, adaptive comanagement 125 Page ABSTRACT Bycatch reduction devices (BRD) are technical modifications installed in trawl net in order to avoid or to reduce unwanted fishing mortality. We examined the perspectives for the use of BRD on artisanal trawl fishing at Southern Brazilian Coast in three review levels. Firstly, We briefly described Brazilian Fisheries Management (BGM) from the last 50 years. Secondly, we reviewed concepts in Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) and Adaptive Co-Management (ACM) approach. Finally, we summarized some of the findings from experiments with the use of BRD on small-scale fishing boat at the coast of Paraná. Small-scale trawl fisheries ranges from 8-10 m boat length, motorized from 11-180 HP, single or double paired nets. Experiments were conducted with three groups of modifications: 7 Nordmøre Grids with different bar spaces, 3 Square Mesh sizes, and 1 scape panel. Results were satisfactory for teleosts, brachyurids, but with some level of reduction in shrimp (Xiphopenaeus kroeyri). Based on three criteria from EAF and ACM (potential for participatory process, knowledge bridging, adaptive manament), analysis of four institutional cycles of Brazilian Fisheries Management showed how challenging is the adoption of BRD beyond a technical modification. However we experienced good potential to overcome barriers from a learning-by-doing process that can be triggered from a participatory approach to BRD experiments. 125 RODRIGO MEDEIROS, JOSÉ HUGO DIAS GONDIM GUANAIS, LILYANE OLIVEIRA SANTOS, and HENRY LOUIS SPACH Federal University of Paraná Av. Beira Mar s/n, Pontal do Sul Pontal do Paraná, PR 83255-000 BRAZIL [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Influence of Surface Currents in the Dispersal Pathways of Eggs of Cubera Snapper, Lutjanus cyanopterus (Cuvier 1828), at a Spawning Aggregation Site at Gladden Spit, Belize Influencia de las Corrientes Superficiales en las Rutas de Dispersion de Huevos de Pargo Cubera, Lutjanus cyanopterus (Cuvier 1828), en una Agregación de Desove en Gladden Spit, Belice Influence des Courants de Surface dans les Routes de Dispersion des Oeufs de Vivaneau Cubéra, Lutjanus cyanopterus (Cuvier 1828), À Une Agrégation de Frai au Gladden Spit, Bélize ADRIANA MENDEZ-JIMENEZ1, WILLIAM D. HEYMAN2, STEVE DIMARCO3, and CHRIS HOUSER 1 Texas A&M 818 Rio Grande Ln Bryan, TX 77801 USA [email protected] 2 Department of Geography, Texas A&M University CSA 205D MS 3147, College Station Texas 77843 USA 3 Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M Room 702D, Oceanography and Meteorology (O&M) Building MS 3146 College Station TX 77843 USA Department of Geography, Texas A&M University CSA205C MS 3147, College Station TX 77843 USA Page 126 ABSTRACT Most large reef fish use a migratory reproductive strategy and tend to spawn in aggregations that occur at predictable locations and times. Though numerous hypotheses have been formulated to explain the reasons behind this phenomenon, there remain few data to evaluate the relative merits of various hypotheses. Oceanographic variables and lunar cycles are believed to drive the timing and location of this reproductive strategy. However, the dynamics of the interaction between coastal currents, water temperature, biomass concentrations, spawning site selection and gamete transport are still unclear. This study aimed to examine the influence that currents exert on gametes released at spawning aggregations of Cubera snapper (Lutjanus cyanopterus) at Gladden Spit, Belize. It was hypothesized that surface currents flowed offshore at the time and location of spawning. However, observations from this study, using Lagrangian and Eulerian methods, indicated that eggs most likely travel westerly towards the reef and into the reef channel. The dispersal rate of eggs appeared to be explained by a power relationship, with buoyant fertilized eggs dispersing horizontally such that the area of the spawning cloud increased with time. Egg density within the spawning cloud generally decreased over time as it dispersed with the predominant surface currents. Most importantly low-cost surface drifters area an appropriate, highly replicable way to monitor surface ocean currents at spawning sides in areas where more sophisticated methods are not available. Understanding how abiotic factors influence the occurrence of multispecies spawning aggregations will lead to better conservation and management strategies in the Western Caribbean. KEYWORDS: Spawning aggregations, surface currents, Lutjanus cyanopterus, drifters, dispersal Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Vertical Movements of Dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) in the Western North Atlantic as Determined by Use of Pop-Up Satellite Archival Transmitters Los Movimientos Verticales de Dorado (Coryphaena hippurus) en el Atlántico Norte Occidental, Determinado por el Uso de Pop-Up Archivos Transmisores Satelitales Des Mouvements Verticaux de la Coryphène (Coryphaena hippurus) dans l'Atlantique Nord-Ouest Tel Que Déterminé par l'Utilisation de Pop-Up Satellite Emetteurs d'Archives KEYWORDS: Satellite telemetry, Coryphaena hippurus, vertical movements, habitat use 127 Page ABSTRACT Dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) are circumtropical migratory species of significant importance to recreational, sport, and commercial fisheries. In the western North Atlantic, dolphinfish occur from the George’s Bank, off New England, south to Trinidad and Tobago. Throughout this distribution there have been no studies on the vertical movements of dolphinfish. Understanding these is essential in defining dolphinfish preferred habitat, daily diving patterns, feeding strategies, and predator-prey relationships. We deployed pop-up satellite archival transmitters (PSATs) on 11 adult dolphinfish (95-120 cm estimated fork length (FL)) from 2005-2011 in the western North Atlantic to investigate vertical movements and habitat use. For the first time data was recorded indicating the species’ use of the vertical water column to depths of at least 255 m. Diving behavior was classified into four time periods, dawn, day, dusk, and night. Dolphinfish spent 63% of their time in the surface layer (0-9.9 m). The most extensive vertical movements (>30 m) occurred during night rather than during the day. Results suggest a diel activity pattern. These data can be used to further define factors limiting dolphinfish vertical movements, improve stock assessments, resource allocation, and stock-based resource management. 127 WESSLEY MERTEN1, DON HAMMOND2, ROBERTO RIVERA1, and RICHARD APPELDOORN1 1 University of Puerto Rico 701 Calle La Resecadora Mayaguez, PR 00682 United States [email protected] 2 Dolphinfish Research ProgramCooperative Science Services, LLC 961 Anchor Rd. Charleston SC 29412-4902 Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Advancements in Sampling Technologies to Improve Assessment and Monitoring Programs of Marine Ecosystems Los Avances en las Tecnologías de Muestreo Para Mejorar los Programas de Evaluación y Seguimiento de los Ecosistemas Marinos Les Avancées Technologiques d'Échantillonnage pour l'Amélioration des Programmes d'Évaluation des Écosystèmes Marins WILLIAM MICHAELS NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service NMFS Office of Science & Technology 1315 East West Hwy, SSMC3, F/ST4 Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA [email protected] Page 128 ABSTRACT We are confronted with the demand to provide high quality and timely scientific information for policy decisions on the health of marine ecosystems and sustainability of living marine resources, at a time of level funding and inflation costs such as increasing ship expenses. We are also challenged to improve survey capabilities to resolve data-limited assessments of living marine resources occurring in habitats characterized as diverse, complex, and difficult to sample. For example, all fish stock assessments in the Caribbean region are considered as data-poor and inadequate to establish reliable conservation and management measures. Recent developments in sampling technologies now provide an opportunity to improve the ability to monitor key physical and biological indicators that affect the health and production of marine ecosystems. Advances in sampling technologies include sensors, platforms, and processing efficiencies. Remote sensing technologies, such as acoustics and optics, allow more continuous measurements of habitat and biological assemblages. Underwater optical technologies have broad applications in visual surveys of assemblages in habitats that are inaccessible to conventional net sampling, and provide calibrations of remote sensing measures and sampling gear performance. Recent advancements in alternative sampling platforms provide new capabilities to deploy integrated sensing packages that enable more continuous measures and increased survey coverage without increasing expensive ship time. Reseach is underway to develop automated classification software for near real-time processing of acoustic and optical data. Implementation of technologies should supplement existing surveys with calibration rather than replace or ignore historical time series that provide a baseline for ongoing observations. KEYWORDS: Technology, Acoustics, Optics, Platforms, Surveys Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Alternativas de Manejo para la Pesca Artesanal en la Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Caribe Colombiano: Un Acercamiento desde la Ecohidrología Estuarina Alternatives for Artisanal Fisheries in the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Colombian Caribbean: An Estuarine Ecohydrological Approach Alternatives de Gestion Pour la Pêche Artisanat dans la Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Caraïbes Colombiennes: Une Approche de la Écohydrologie Estuariens. PALABRAS CLAVES: Pesquerías artesanales, Ecohidrología Estuarina, Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta 129 Page RESUMEN La Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta (CGSM) es uno de los ecosistemas estratégicos más importantes de Colombia, albergando una de las pesquerías artesanales más importantes de Colombia, conformada por aproximadamente 4000 pescadores que explotan más de 50 especies. La CGSM ha sufrido intervenciones antrópicas que la han afectado, principalmente modificaciones hidrológicas en el intercambio de aguas desde y hacia la CGSM, lo cual sumado a la falta de manejo pesquero resulta en una amenaza a la continuidad de las pesquerías en este sistema debido a la sobrexplotación y cambios en la producción. La hipótesis evaluada fue que los cambios en la producción pesquera de la CGSM están relacionados con la variabilidad de sus niveles de agua, para lo cual se establecieron correlaciones ecohidrológicas, analizando datos mensuales de septiembre de 2002 a septiembre de 2010 de los parámetros: nivel de agua, salinidad, temperatura, oxigeno disuelto y producción pesqueras, esta ultima representada en las 12 especies de peces con mayores capturas. Para esto se desarrollaron series mensuales de niveles de agua de la CGSM usando datos satelitales registrados por la misión ENVISAT. Los datos de variables fisicoquímicas y producción pesquera para la CGSM fueron suministrados por INVEMAR. Se encontraron correlaciones significativas entre producción pesquera y salinidad en 8 de las especies estudiadas y entre salinidad y nivel de agua, siendo este el parámetro fisicoquímico mas influenciado por los cambios de nivel de agua. A partir de los resultados obtenidos se recomienda abordar la planeación del manejo de la CGSM desde la ecohidrología estuarina, al comprobarse la fuerte influencia que tienen las variaciones en la cantidad de agua de la CGSM en la producción pesquera de la misma. 129 ANDRES ESTEBAN MOLINA SANDOVAL1, GUILLERMO DUQUE NIVIA2 y PILAR COGUA ROMERO2 1 Universidad Nacional de Colombia Carrera 32 No 12 - 00 Chapinero, Vía Candelaria Palmira, Valle del Ca Colombia [email protected] 2 Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Sede Palmira Carrera 32 No 12 - 00 Chapinero, Vía Candelaria Palmira Valle del Cauca Colombia Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Deepsea Submersible Expedition in Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica: State-Of-The-Art Research Tool Expedición del Sumergible Deepsee en Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica: Tecnología de Punta Como Herramienta de Investigación Expédition del Navire Submersible Deepsee dans Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica: Un Ultramoderne Outil pour la Recherche 1 HELENA MOLINA-UREÑA1 and ODALISCA BREEDY2 Escuela de Biología and Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias del Mar y Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, 11501-2060, Costa Rica. [email protected] 2 Centro de Investigación en Estructuras Microscópicas(CIEMIC), Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501-2060, Costa Rica Page 130 ABSTRACT Golfo Dulce (GD), a 750-km-2 basin on the South Pacific coast of Costa Rica, displays fiord-like oceanographic conditions year round, with anoxic waters below 100 m. In order to record and ground truth deep-water biota, habitats, and geological formations, a pilot expedition was conducted on board the submersible DeepSee in May 11-17, 2012. DeepSee is a hightechnology, 3-passenger submersible equipped with strong lights, high-definition video cameras, USBL navigation system, Doppler navigation, forward-looking sonar, and an acrylic sphere. Nine immersions, totaling 16.75 hours, took place at eight locations, with a maximum depth of 203 m. Video transects were recorded at each station. Preliminary results confirmed some conclusions by previous indirect studies, while providing new direct observations of the vertical distribution of GD’s biota and habitats. Bacterial mats dominated deep-layer bottoms; the dwarf weakfish or corvina (Sciaenidae: Cynoscion nannus) was the only vertebrate present in suboxic waters (~135 m depth). Dense “gardens” of black coral (Antipatharia, Antipathidae: Antipathes panamensis) were found at 25-40 m depth, closer to the shoreline than at any other location in Costa Rica. Reported depth ranges of the octocoral Leptogorgia cortesi (Alcyonacea, Gorgoniidae) were extended 50%, to 45 m deep. Visual transects highlighted the ecological importance of sparsely distributed basaltic micro-reefs as habitats for reef fishes of commercial value, octocorals, and black corals. Biomass and species richness were restricted to within few meters from rocky outcrops. Suspended terrigenous sediments threaten the reef communities, probably even more than overfishing. KEYWORDS: rocky reefs, tropical fiord, coastal sedimentation, video transects, reef fisheries Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Valoracion de las Áreas Marinas Protegidas por Parte de los Hogares Urbanos en Colombia Economic Valuation of Marine Protected Areas in Colombia by Urban Households L'Évaluation des Aires Marines Protegées par les Ménages Urbaines en Colombie PALABRAS CLAVES: marine protected areas, choice experiment, economic valuation, , state preference methods, non use and existence values 131 Page RESUMEN Tradicionalmente se ha recurrido al establecimiento de Áreas Marinas Protegidas como la principal herramienta para la protección y conservación de los ecosistemas marinos y costeros. Dentro de los beneficios que ofrece el establecimiento de estas áreas, se encuentran aumentos en la biodiversidad de especies, en las posibilidades turísticas y en la abundancia de especies destinadas a la pesca. Este estudio tiene como objetivo estimar el valor que los hogares atribuyen a un incremento del subsistema de Áreas Marinas Protegidas en Colombia. Para cumplir con este objetivo, se emplea la metodología de experimentos de elección (choice experiments), en la cual se valoran los atributos de protección de ecosistemas, destinos turísticos y condiciones de las comunidades de pescadores. Los resultados muestran que aunque el conocimiento generalizado de los hogares sobre áreas marinas protegidas es bajo, están dispuestos a pagar por la ampliación de estas áreas. Asociado a valores de opción y de existencia, la mayoría de los hogares colombianos desea que estas áreas marinas perduren para futuras generaciones. Los hogares valoran de forma significativa los impactos sobre la protección de los ecosistemas y las condiciones de las comunidades de pescadores. Los resultados muestran que el tener niveles bajos de ingreso, vivir en una ciudad costera y el hecho de no conocer el mar, generan que la disponibilidad a pagar como proporción del ingreso sea mayor. Finalmente, el estudio muestra que las autoridades ambientales contarían con una alta aceptabilidad por parte de los hogares para la ampliación del subsistema de áreas marinas protegidas. 131 ANA MARIA MONTAÑEZ-GIL y JORGE MALDONADO Universidad de los Andes Calle 19A 1-37E W814 Bogota, DC 111711 Colombia [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Invasive Lionfish Control and Management: Myths Dispelled and Lessons Learned El Invasivo Pez León Control y Manejo: Mitos Disipados y Lecciones Aprendidas Contrôle Lionfish Envahissantes et Gestion: Mythes Dissipés et Leçons Apprises 1 JAMES MORRIS1 and LAD AKINS2 NOAA 101 Pivers Island Rd Beaufort, NC 28516 USA [email protected] 2 Reef Environmental Education Foundation Key Largo FL Page 132 ABSTRACT This year marks over fifteen years since the first record of lionfish was reported in the Atlantic Ocean. Many lessons have been learned and best practices identified for lionfish control and management. Over the years, a few myths and inaccuracies have surfaced and as time progresses more lessons will be learned. Spreading of incorrect information through formal and informal channels can hamper efforts to minimize lionfish impacts. Examples of common myths include the origin of the lionfish introduction in the Atlantic, the mechanics of envenomation, the toxicity of lionfish venom to native species and humans, and options for control. We also present a synopsis of initiatives aimed at bringing coordination to managing lionfish in the Caribbean. Some of these initiatives include development of a regional lionfish committee, publication of a manual of best practices, issuance of a regional advisory, and development of a regional strategy. KEYWORDS: lionfish, invasive species Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Caribbean Reef Resilience to Climate Change: Tools for Managers Resiliencia De Los Arrecifes Caribeños al Cambio Climático: Herramientas para su Manejo Résilience des Récifs Caribéens au Changement Climatique: Outils de Gestion KEYWORDS: Resilience, Climate change, Remote Sensing, Coral Cover, Grazing 133 Page ABSTRACT The resilience of Caribbean corals is defined as the probability that a reef will continue to exhibit recovery after disturbances over a given time period, such as after the next 30 years. The resilience depends on: (1) the location of critical ecosystem thresholds which separate the ability of a reef to show natural coral recovery versus having coral recruitment shut down, leading to degradation. These thresholds primarily reflect the physical environment, such as the productivity of the ecosystem. (2) the current state of the reef, including the herbivorous fish stock, and therefore how close it lies to a set of thresholds, and (3) the expected disturbance regime that the reef will experience, such as the frequency and intensity of hurricanes, and bleaching events. Models are now available to predict all of the above but communicating the results is a challenge. Here, we show three ways of communicating the resilience of reefs. First, mapping reef resilience and associated metrics. Second, providing Bayesian Belief Networks, that allow scientists and managers to interact with the model results. Third, a new web tool created by the FORCE project (www.force-project.eu). 133 PETER J MUMBY1, YVES-MARIE BOZEC2, ILIANA CHOLLETT2, KIRAN DHANJALADAMS1, ROSANNA GRIFFITH-MUMBY2, and NICK WOLFF1 1 University of Queensland University of Exeter St Lucia Brisbane, Qld 4072 Australia [email protected] 2 University of Exeter Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Effort Dynamics of an Artisanal Underwater Fishery Dinámica del Esfuerzo de Una Pesquería Submarina Artesanal Effort Dynamique de la Pêcherie Traditionnelle Sous-Marine HELVEN NARANJO and SILVIA SALAS CINVESTAV UNA Yucatán, México San José, Costa Rica Mérida, Yucatán México [email protected] Page 134 ABSTRACT Bento-demersal fisheries are a source of income and employment for many Latin American countries. Due their multi-specific nature, the analysis is complex with subsequent implications for management. This paper explores fishing effort dynamic of artisanal fishermen in Costa Rica that uses diving as a fishing method (free diving and hookah). Information was obtained at the level of immersion (fishing site, species catch, immersion time and immersions per trip) through sampling on fishing boats and directed interviews with divers between 2007 and 2008. Further information of beach price was obtained for different species caught. Data analysis included bivaried and multivariate statistics, contrasting the methods and fishing seasons. We identified 32 species in the catches, of which a significant proportion is destined to local consumption and other for commercial purposes. Eight were identified as target species for hookah and six for free diving. Fishing strategies were identified associated with the increased of number of immersions during the dry months due to significant differences between the mean number of dives between seasons (KW, H: 2.5, p <0.05). The results allowed exploring the main units of effort by fishing method. We discussed the importance of this knowledge for the management of these kinds of fisheries. KEYWORDS: Underwater fishery, Fishing strategies, Costa Rica Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Developing Management Tools to Improve the Efficacy of Marine Protected Area Management in Honduras Desarrollando Herramientas a Mejorar la Eficaz del Manejo de Los Áreas Marinas Protegidas en Honduras Développer des Outils de Gestion pour Améliorer l'Efficacité de la Gestion des AMP au Honduras KEYWORDS: Roatan, Utila, Bay Islands, Monitoring, AGRRA 135 Page ABSTRACT The effective management of MPAs in Honduras has been hampered by a lack of appropriate tools to assist managers in making decisions and measuring the effectiveness of their actions. Three specific tools were developed to help marine park managers measure the status of their reefs, log details of infractions from illegal activities within the park boundaries and collate landing information from artisanal fishers. As online tools (available at www.ourfish.org), the information once entered is automatically analyzed and displayed as a set of clear outputs, available in real time. We tested this system with two marine parks in the Bay Islands Honduras. AGRRA data collected inside and outside two marine protected areas on Roatan and Utila found significant differences in the fish assemblages and greater biomass inside the protected areas. There was little variation in coral cover inside or outside either of the MPAs. The majority of animals confiscated from offenders during illegal activities were conch and lobster (70%) with an average of 4 conch and 3 lobsters removed per fisher. Illegal spearing targeted 33 species of reef fish, with snappers and grunts predominating. Seventy-two percent of offenders were from mainland Honduras, compared to Islanders who accounted for 23%. Tourists made up the remainder. These tools provide local park managers with detailed information on which to base focused management decisions by measuring the impact the park is having on the ecology of the area whilst also being able to pin point enforcement priorities and targets for further education and outreach work. 135 ANDRZEJ NAROZANSKI1, STEPHEN BOX2, and GEORGE STOYLE3 1 Centro de Ecologia Marina Edificio Florencia Oficina 401-403 Tegucigalpa, FMO Honduras [email protected] 2 Smithsonian Institution Fort Pierce Marine Station Fort Pierce Florida 34949 USA 3 University of Newcastle Newcastle United Kingdom Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Presence of Fungi and Bacteria in the Eye of Pterois volitans (Scorpaeniformes, Scorpaenidae) in Puerto Rico Presencia de Hongos y Bacterias en el Ojo de Pterois volitans (Scorpaeniformes, Scorpaenidae) en Puerto Rico Présence de Champignons et de Bactéries dans l'Oeil de Pterios volitans (Scorpaeniformes, Scorpaenidae) á Porto Rico Page 136 GEOVANNY NEGRON-RUIZ1, OSCAR PEREZ-LAGUILLO1, JOEL MELENDEZ-DIAZ2, and CARMEN-ROSA VALENTIN2 1 Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Puerto Rico P O Box 1326 Mayaguez, PR 00681 USA [email protected] 2 Ecotono, Inc. P O Box 79172 Carolina PR 00984-9172 USA ABSTRACT The lionfish of the Indo-Pacific, Pterois volitans, an invasive species threatening the marine life in Puerto Rico, was first introduced into the Atlantic Ocean in the early 1990s. Not much is known about this invasive species; however, a cloudy eye appearance has been recently detected in the lionfish leading to vision loss. The aim of this study is to identify the microbial flora found in affected and healthy eyes of the lionfish as potential infectious agents. Samples will be collected at different zones of Puerto Rico. Forty-eight eye samples will be processed and inoculated in PDA-A, RBA and NA. A total of 10 fungal colonies were obtained, and the following genera were identified: Aurebosidium pullulans, Cladosporium spp. y Paecilomyces spp. A total of 40 bacterial colonies were isolated; gram-negative bacteria being the most frequent. The Pseudomona spp. genus dominated. KEYWORDS: lionfish, Pterios volitans, Puerto Rico, disease Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI The Whelk Fishery of Saint Lucia: Description and Contribution to the Fisheries Sector La Pesquería de Buccino de Santa Lucía: Descripción y Contribución al Sector Pesquero La Pêche au Buccin de Sante-Lucie: Description et Contribution au Secteur des Pêches KEYWORDS: Cittarium pica, whelk fishery, overexploitation, management, Saint Lucia 137 Page ABSTRACT The whelk or West Indian topshell, Cittarium pica (Linnaeus, 1758), is a marine gastropod commonly found in the intertidal and shallow sub-tidal rocky shores, particularly those areas that are subject to some degree of wave action. Although there have been reports of whelk overexploitation in a number of countries, this traditional and culturally important fisheries remains an important source of income, food and livelihood for a number of persons, particularly in the rural communities on the east coast of Saint Lucia. Considering that very little has been documented about the whelk fishery on the island, this paper provides, for the first time, a description of the extent and nature of the whelk fishery of Saint Lucia. Such baseline information is essential for beginning to plan the management of the resource use around the island. Moreover, the findings can inform the legislative requirements for the whelk fishery and contribute to the overall fishery management plan and framework. The research utilised stakeholder meetings and interviews to determine diving grounds, whelk fishing practices and perceived management issues and solutions of the fishery. Biological data were captured from whelks landed and in-water surveys were conducted to determine the size structure of the resource. Despite the artisanal nature of the fishery on the island, there is need and scope for the sustainable management of such an important resource. Moreover, there is need for as assessment of the whelk resource around the island to better inform its management. 137 THOMAS NELSON University of the West Indies CERMES Cave Hill Bridgetown, Barbados [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Conservation and Management of Grouper Spawning Aggregation Sites: Adaptive Strategies Based on Fish Movement Patterns Conservación y Gestión de los Sitios de Agregación para el Desove de Meros: Estrategias de Adaptación Basadas en los Patrones de Movimiento de Peces Conservation et Gestion des Sites de Frai de Loches: Stratégies d'Adaptation Basées sur les Habitudes de Déplacement des Poissons. RICK NEMETH1, KEVIN RHODES2, ELIZABETH KADISON1, and JUSTIN MARTENS1 1 University of the Virgin Islands Center for Marine and Environmental Studies 2 John Brewer's Bay St. Thomas, USVI 00802-9990 US Virgin Islands [email protected] 2 University of Hawaii Hilo HA Page 138 ABSTRACT Most large groupers (Serranidae) form annual spawning aggregations (FSA) at predictable times and locations; a life-history trait that 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 compare the spatial and temporal patterns of movement and migration of groupers at spawning aggregations in the Caribbean and Pacific. Surgically implanted acoustic transmitters were used to track the detailed movements of four species of grouper in the US Virgin Islands (Epinephelus striatus, E.guttatus, Mycteroperca venenosa, and M. tigris) and three species in Pohnpei, Micronesia (Epinephelus polyphekadion, E. fuscoguttatus and Plectropomus areolatus) using a large array of 40 acoustic receivers that were strategically placed around two FSA sites. Data indicate that distance travelled was positively related to fish length and that these species commonly swam 1 to 3 km in a few hours and could cover 15 km or more in a 24 hr period. Some differences in spatial patterns of movement were detected between reef types in the Caribbean and Pacific but in most cases movements of tagged groupers carried them outside the existing protected area boundaries and exposed them to fishing mortality on a daily basis. Using information from this study we can recommend general guidelines for establishing spatial requirements for each species around spawning aggregation sites which can greatly increase level of protection. KEYWORDS: spawning aggregations, fisheries management, marine protected areas, migration, US Virgin Islands Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Utilización del Hábitat del Caracol Rosa Strombus gigas en el Parque de Xel Há, México Habitat Utilization of Queen Conch Strombus gigas in the Park of Xel Ha, Mexico Utilisation de l'Habitat du Lambi Strombus gigas dans Le Parc de Xel Há, México PALABRAS CLAVES: Hábitat, Strombus gigas, Xel-Há, Polígono 139 Page RESUMEN El caracol rosa es una especie clave en el Caribe cuyas poblaciones se encuentran sobre explotadas, y desde los años 80 se han desarrollado trabajos de manejo de su pesquería y de acuacultura con la finalidad de proteger e incrementar sus poblaciones. El aporte a su ecología ha sido menor por lo que este trabajo tiene como objetivo conocer el área de hábitat que utiliza el caracol Strombus gigas en un ciclo circadiano. En la Caleta del parque de Xel-Há de Junio a Agosto 30 caracoles adultos se marcaron con una boya, señalando su posición inicial y ésta a intervalos de 10 minutos durante una hora. Mediante buceo Scuba se midió la distancia con una cinta métrica entre cada uno de los 6 puntos y se trazó el polígono formado para finalmente calcular su área. Las observaciones se realizaron en tres horas del día: 8, 12 y 17 hrs. Se han obtenido 29 polígonos: 12 polígonos para las 8hrs, 12 polígonos para las 12 hrs y 5 polígonos para las 17 hrs. Se puede observar que los caracoles de S. gigas requieren un área diferente durante el día, siendo menor a las 8hrs con respecto a medio día o a las 17 hrs. El área promedio que utilizan es de 0.54 m2 por hora. 139 MARIANA NOGUEZ1 y DALILA ALDANA ARANDA2 1 Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología UNAM Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados Circuito Exterior S/N Ciudad Universitaria Delegación Coyoacán Ciudad de México Unidad Mérida Km. 6 Antigua carretera a Progreso Col. Cordemex, Mérida, Yucatán Mèrida, Yucatán México [email protected] 2 Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN Unidad Mérida Km. 6 Antigua carretera a Progreso Col. Cordemex, Mérida, Yucatán Mérida, Yuca México Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Actividades Circadianas del Caracol Rosa Strombus gigas en el Parque de Xel Há, México Circadian Activity of Queen Conch Strombus gigas in the Park of Xel Ha, Mexico Activités Circadienne du Lambi Strombus gigas dans le Parc de Xel Há, Mexico MARIANA NOGUEZ, MANUEL SANCHEZ CRESPO, FRANCISCO GAMEROS ESCOTO , LUIS ALFONSO ASCENCIO AGUIRRE JOSÉ FRANCISCO CHAVEZ VILLEGAS, NURIA ESTRADA SALDÌVAR y DALILA ALDANA ARANDA Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología UNAM Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados Circuito Exterior S/N Ciudad Universitaria Delegación Coyoacán Ciudad de México Page 140 RESUMEN La ecoetología del Caracol Strombus gigas fue estudiada en el Parque de Xel Ha Quintana Roo, México. De Noviembre de 2011 a Agosto de 2012 en dos sitios de la Caleta de Xel-Há: Cueva y Bocana se realizaron observaciones diurnas y nocturnas de cinco actividades de ésta especie: reposo, alimentación, desplazamiento, cópula y enterrado. Las observaciones diurnas se realizaron mensualmente de 7 a 17 h, mientras que las nocturnas se realizaron en Marzo y Julio de 2012 de 18 a 6 h. Las observaciones se realizaron por buceo en nueve transectos de 200 m2en cada sitio y para cada una de las fechas señaladas. El comportamiento diurno de S. gigas tanto en Cueva como en Bocana presentó un porcentaje elevado de reposo (75%) en las primeras horas del monitoreo de 7 a 9 h, disminuyendo a 40% hacia la tarde (17h), mientras que la alimentación aumentó a partir de las 12h hasta las 17h. El desplazamiento estuvo relacionado directamente con la alimentación. En las observaciones nocturnas, los caracoles se encuentran alimentándose de las 18 a las 20h (35%) mientras que el mayor número de individuos desplazándose (13%) se observó a las 24h. De las 2h a las 6h el comportamiento predominante fue el reposo (74%). Así S. gigas presenta ciclos diurnos y nocturnos inversos; durante el día el reposo disminuyó de 75% a 40% (7h-17h) y la alimentación aumentó de 9% a 38%. En el ciclo nocturno la alimentación disminuyó de 33% a 18% (18h a las 6h) y el reposo aumentó de 46% a 70%. PALABRAS CLAVES: Ecoetología, Strombus gigas, Xel-Há, Ciclo circadiano, Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Economic Determinants of Fishing Effort in Colombia's Caribbean Spiny Lobster Fishery Determinantes Económicos del Esfuerzo de Pesca en la Pesquería de Langosta Espinosa del Caribe Colombiano Les Déterminants Economiques de l'Effort de Pêche dans la Pêche de la Colombie Langouste Blanche des Caraïbes KEYWORDS: fishries economics, fishing effort, spiny lobster, Colombia 141 Page ABSTRACT In assessing fisheries, effort information can often be a limiting factor. This is true of well documented legal fishing fleets, and even more so of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fleets. We studied the Colombian Caribbean spiny lobster fishery to see if economic conditions have influenced fishing effort. There is catch per unit effort from the diver- and trap-based industrial fishing fleets spanning over a period of light fishing, expansion, stock collapse, and recent signs of rebuilding. Economic data are available on the costs of fishing and expected revenues over most of this period. We performed a regression analysis of various measures of fishing effort on expected costs of fishing and on expected revenue per unit effort. Effort measures included annual participation (a binary variable), trips per season, and days per trip. Expected costs of fishing were calculated by accounting for a wide range of factors, but fuel price drove annual variability. Expected revenues per unit effort were determined by multiplying the price of lobster by last season’s fleet-specific catch per unit effort, both of which varied from year to year. Our results, which focus on the trap-based fleet where data were richer, indicate that boats are more likely to participate and take more trips per year when fishing costs are lower and expected revenue per unit effort are higher. Trips were also longer when costs were lower. Our results imply that economic conditions may be crucial in determining fishing pressure, and provide insight for better modeling of IUU fishing. 141 JOSHUA NOWLIS1, ERICK CASTRO2, MARTHA PRADA3, TRISHA FORBES2, HUGO WILSON2, and HEINS BENT2 1 Bridge Environment 55 Dudley Ln Apt 104 Stanford, CA 94305 USA [email protected] 2 Secretaria de Agricultura y Pesca Coral Place Avenida Newball San Andres Isla Colombia 3 Corporacion para el Desarrollo Sostenible del Archipielagode San Andres, Providencia y Santa Catalina--CORALINA Via San Luis San Andres Isla Colombia Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Hiding Shark as Salted Fish: Examining the Market Chains for Salt Fish from fhe Artisanal Fisheries of The Coasts of Honduras Ocultando El Tiburon como el Pescado Seco Salado: Un Examen de las Cadenas de Mercado del Pescado Seco de las Pesquerias Artesenales de Las Costas de Honduras Cacher de Requin comme le Poisson Sale: L'Examen des Filieresde Commercialisation pour le Poisson Sale de la Peche Artisanale au Large des Cotes du Honduras 1 MAYRA NUÑEZ 1 and STEPHEN BOX2 Centro de Ecologia Marina Edificio Florencia Oficina 401-403 Tegucigalpa, FMO Honduras [email protected] 2 Smithsonian Institution Fort Pierce Marine Station Fort Pierce Florida 34949 USA Page 142 ABSTRACT “Cecina” is a type of salted fish traditionally made from the fillets of large fish. The product is popular in Central America where it is used in a soup as part of the Catholic tradition to eat fish during Lent. In 2011 Honduras banned the capture or sale of shark species under a presidential decree. A concern however is that shark fillet is being used illicitly as salt fish to disguise it for national consumption and evade this legislation. We evaluated the market chains from the artisanal fisheries of the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of Honduras during the lent season of 2012. In addition we conducted consumer surveys to evaluate the perceptions of the production of salt fish. The main producers of “cecina” were the artisanal fishers in La Moskitia where it was made from shark, large jacks and tarpon. By contrast on the Pacific coast, fish were kept whole when salted and easily identifiable as smaller teleost species. Cecina including shark was found across the market chain reaching supermarkets in the capital. Our survey of 1000 consumers found that 90% ate cecina during lent, but that 0% knew it could be made from shark. 39% of respondents said they would stop buying cecina if they knew it was shark. To improve the efficacy of shark conservation in the region it is essential to address the illicit use of shark in dried fish and improve consumer awareness in Central America to be able to identify and avoid shark based products. KEYWORDS: Dried fish, Cecina, Shark, Sanctuary Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Relación de la Abundancia de Peces Demersales con los Sedimentos con la en la Zona Norte del Caribe Colombiano Relationship of the Abundance of Demersal Fishes with Sediments in the North Zone of the Colombian Caribbean Sea Relation entre l'Abondance des Poissons Démersaux de Sédiments dans la Zone Nord de La Mer des Caraïbes Colombiennes PALABRAS CLAVES: Facies sedimentarias, Peces demersales, Caribe colombiano, La Guajira, Magdalena 143 Page RESUMEN Se hizo un análisis de abundancia de peces demersales en relación con las facies sedimentarias de la plataforma continental de la parte norte del Caribe colombiano. Se tomaron muestras de sedimentos y se hicieron arrastres de peces demersales en dos cruceros entre diciembre de 2005 y febrero de 2006. De los sedimentos se utilizo su tamaño medio de grano (phi=Φ), composición en términos de contenido de carbonato de calcio, CaCO3, así como su localización (profundidad, latitud y longitud). La distribución espacial de los sedimentos permitió caracterizar tres sectores de acuerdo con los valores de PHI y el porcentaje de carbonato de calcio: 1) río Buritaca hasta el río Camarones con arenas finas y lodos con sedimentos predominantemente litoclásticos, litobioclásticos y biolitoclásticos 2) Riohacha hasta Cabo de la Vela con arenas muy gruesas y arenas finas de carácter Bioclástico 3) Cabo de la Vela hasta Puerto Estrella con arenas finas y lodos predominantemente litoclásticos, litobioclásticos y biolitoclásticos. Los resultados de la modelación entre la abundancia (número) de los peces demersales mostraron asociaciones significativas de cuatro de las siete especies de peces demersales colectadas con el tipo de sedimento. Haemulón aurolineatum y Upeneus parvus estuvieron asociados con arenas medianas y finas (sectores 1, 2 y 3) y Diapterus rhombeus se presentó en sedimentos tipo lodo (sectores 1 y 3). Para Calamus calamus y Haemulon aerolineatum se observa que las tallas menores (juveniles) estuvieron asociadas con arenas (sectores 1, 2 y 3) y las tallas mayores (adultos) con lodos (sectores 1 y 3). 143 SAMUEL NUÑEZ1, LUISA ESPINOSA2, y JORGE PARAMO1 1 Universidad del Magdalena Carrera 32 No. 22-08 Avenida del Ferrocarril Santa Marta, Magdalena 0057 Colombia [email protected] 2 INVEMAR Punta Betin Santa Marta Magdalena 0057 Colombia Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Engineering Bycatch Reduction in St. Thomas Fisheries: Development of Escape Vents for St. Thomas Fish Traps Ingeniería Utilizada en la Reducción de la Pesca Incidental en Las Pesquerías de St. Thomas: Desarrollo de Ventanas de Escape para las Nasas de St. Thomas Recherches sur la Réduction des Captures Accessoires par les Pêcheries de St Thomas: Développement de Dispositifs d'Échappement Pour les Nasses de St Thomas DAVID OLSEN1 and RON HILL2 St. Thomas Fishermen's Association 8168 Crown Bay Marina Ste. 310 St. Thomas, VI 00802 USA [email protected] 2 NMFS/SEFSCGalveston Laboratory 4700 Ave. U Galveston TX 77551 USA Page 144 1 ABSTRACT Escape vents of various widths and heights were installed in strings of fish traps then given to fishermen who were told to fish them in their normal fashion and in their normal locations. Catch from each trap was bagged separately and returned to shore where species were identified, counted, and measured. Various vent designs and within-trap locations were evaluated for their ability to retain target species and sizes while reducing bycatch, based on this catch data. Final results indicated an optimal width and height as well as the optimal location on the trap. In addition to the demonstrated results, fishermen reported that the final design and location for installation basically eliminated the bycatch of undersized, thin-bodied fish in their catches. KEYWORDS: Fish Traps, Escape Vents, Bycatch, Virgin Islands, Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Engineering Bycatch Reduction in St. Thomas Fisheries: Problem Identification Ingeniería Utilizada en la Reducción de Pesca Incidental en las Pesquerías de St. Thomas: Identificacion del las Problemas Recherches sur la Réduction des Captures Accessoires par les Pêcheries de St Thomas: Identification des Problèmes DAVID OLSEN1, RON HILL2 and BILL ARNOLD3 St. Thomas Fishermen’s Association [email protected] 2 NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Galvaston Texas 3 NMFS Southeast Regional Office, St. Petersburg, Florida KEYWORDS: Fish Life Traps, Behavior, Bycatch, Virgin Islands 145 Page Species composition and quantities of bycatch from St. Thomas fisheries (U.S. Virgin Islands) have been largely unstudied and unknown. To help fill this critical knowledge gap, the St. Thomas Fishermen’s Association carried out a series of federally funded studies coupling findings from observer trips, port samples and trip tickets over a six-year period. The results have characterized fishery operations, species composition and quantities of bycatch by gear type, and have allowed us to quantify life history parameters for many of the dominant fish trap fishery species. These include: % of the catch above minimum reproductive length, length at first capture, length at full recruitment, gear susceptibility, and calculation of total mortality (Z). In addition, factors affecting catch rates such as lunar and seasonal cycles have defined. 145 1 Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Resultados Preliminares del Cambio de Fase Alga-Coral en el Parque Nacional de Arrecife Alacranes, México: Una Aproximacion por Grupos Funcionales Preliminary Results of Coral-Algae Phase Shift of Alacranes Reef National Park, Mexico: A Functional Groups Approach Résultats Préliminaires du Changement de Phase Coral-Algues dans le Parc National Arrecife Alacranes, Mexique: Une Approche par des Groupes Fonctionnels ILEANA ORTEGON-AZNAR1, DAVID GOZALEZ2, ARMIN TUZ-SULUB2, and ALFONSO AGUILAR-PERERA 1 CCBA-UADY Km 15.5 Carr. Mérida-Xmatkuil A.P. 4-116 Merida, Yucatan 97000 Mexico [email protected] 2 Biologia Marina UADY-CCBA km 15.5 carr Merida-Xmatkuil A.P. 4-116 Itzimna Mérida Yucatán 97000 Mexico 2Biologia Marina UADY-CCBA Km 15.5 carr. Merida-Xmatkuil, A.P. 4116 Itzimna A.P. 4-116 Itzimna Mérida Yucatán 97000 Mexico Page 146 ABSTRACT Coral reefs throughout the world are declining, in part the consequence of shifts from coral- to algal-dominated communities. Algae are widely considered to be competing with coral for space/light, nevertheless, the increase of nutrients and the reduction of herbivores caused by the overfishing promotes the increase of coral-algae phase shift. Alacranes Reef National Park is located 130 km off the northern Yucatan Peninsula. The main objective is implanting a monitoring program to detect changes in the space-time patterns within a coral-algae community. Using a functional grouping approach is useful for understanding broader generalizations as well as predicting changes in community structure. We will compare the variation on space of algae functional groups with the stony coral species composition. Between July-October 2012, seven sites were collected along the reef. Two 20m transect were used at each site with a 0.25 m2 quadrant, placed every four meters. The coverage of algae functional-form groups on the corals were measure using Braun-Blanquet's method and the diversity and dominance of coral with the Shannon-Wiener Index. A total of 14 Genera of stony Corals were found, Montastrea spp and Porites spp were the dominant species. Seven algae functional groups were determinate and the foliose corticated groups were the most abundant along with the filament and the Chyanophyceae. No spatial patterns were found but more work is needed to make conclusions. The coral reef ecosystems demand a precise knowledge of their biological communities in order to implement management programs according to the specific conditions for each system. KEYWORDS: Coral-Algae, Phase shift, Alacranes Reef, National park, Functional Groups Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Plan Estratégico de Comunicación y Educación del Consejo de Manejo Pesquero del Caribe Caribbean Fishery Management Council’s Outreach and Education Strategic Plan Plan Stratégique de Communication et de l'Éducation du Conseil de la Gestion des Pêches des Caraïbes PALABRAS CLAVES: comunicación, educación, pescadores 147 Page RESUMEN Como entes de interés para las comunicaciones y estrategias educativas del Consejo de Administración Pesquera del Caribe (CFMC, por sus siglas en inglés), se considera a toda persona, que por trabajo, recreación o consumo se relaciona con las pesquerías en Puerto Rico (incluyendo las islas de Vieques y de Culebra y en las Islas Vírgenes Estadounidenses (St. Thomas, St. John y St. Croix) en la Zona Económica Exclusiva bajo la jurisdicción del Gobierno Federal. Las islas que conforman la jurisdicción están constituidas por comunidades que tienen historias culturales y económicas diferentes, incluyendo sus lenguajes. Por esta razón el Plan Estratégico de Comunicación y Educación (P.E.C.E.) propuesto por el CFMC, obligatoriamente, tiene que aplicar estrategias diversas y pertinentes para cada población, aún cuando el recurso pesquero esté conformado por las mismas especies de peces y mariscos y se utilicen artes de pesca similares. El cambio continúo en los perfiles demográficos y sociales y en las reglamentaciones que se aplican al recurso pesquero en la región requieren que el acercamiento a la comunicación y a la educación de estos grupos sea dinámica y muy flexible para poder asimilar esos cambios. El P.E.C.E. incluye estrategias tradicionales, tales como: boletines informativos, hojas de datos para explicar conceptos técnicos de pesquería en vocabulario reconocible y de entendimiento para pescadores, educadores, tomadores de decisiones y consumidores y actividades de contacto personal con las personas de interés para llevar y recoger información vital para las acciones de manejo. También, se incluyen estrategias a través de la Internet que le son familiares a los consumidores. Incluye, además, diversas estrategias, con formatos pedagógicos y curriculares, dirigidas específicamente a los educadores, y a los estudiantes en los niveles pre-universitarios. 147 ALIDA ORTIZ-SOTOMAYOR Coordinadora, Panel Asesor para Comunicación y Educación, Consejo de Administración Pesquera del CaribeConsejo de Administración Pesquera del Caribe Consultores Educativos Ambientales, C.S.P. P.O. Box 8747 Humacao, Puerto Rico 00792 Puerto Rico [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Ecosystem Indicators as Tools for Management and Conservation Strategies for the Shallow and Deep-Sea Crustacean Fisheries in the Colombian Caribbean Sea Indicadores Ecosistémicos como Herramientas para Estrategias de Manejo y Conservación para las Pesquerías de Crustáceos de Aguas Someras y Profundas en el Caribe Colombianoles Indicateurs comme Outils pour la Gestion des Écosystèmes et des Stratégies de Conservation pour les Eaux Peu Profondes et la Pêche Hauturière Crustacés dans la Mer des Caraïbes Colombiennes JORGE PARAMO Universidad del Magdalena Cra. 32 No. 22-08 Santa Marta Colombia Santa Marta, Magdalena 0057 Colombia [email protected] Page 148 ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to advice management and conservation strategies for the shallow and the possible new deep-sea crustacean fisheries in the Colombian Caribbean Sea based on an ecosystem approach to fisheries. The management of the shallow shrimp fishery and the potential new deep-sea crustacean fishery should be based on an ecosystem approach that considers population dynamics and structure, the optimum allocation of catches and effort, protection of nursery and spawning areas, the development of monitoring strategies and the care of ecosystems. The future development of the fishing sector in Colombia will depend on the identification of new resources with potential for sustainable exploitation. These considerations highlight the need for ecosystem approach to fisheries based on knowledge of characteristics of the deep sea habitats and the organisms in the Colombian Caribbean Sea. In this sense, four management objectives were distinguished as a means of evaluating the ecological state of marine ecosystems: conservation of biodiversity (CB), maintenance of ecosystem stability and resistance to perturbations (SR), maintenance of ecosystem structure and functioning (EF) and maintaining resource potential (RP). Eight indicators were selected to attain these objectives: total biomass of surveyed species, the inverse ratio of landings/biomass (1/(landing/biomass)), mean length of fish in the community, trophic level (TL) of landings, proportion of predatory fish, proportion of under- and moderately exploited stocks, mean lifespan, and the reciprocal of the coefficient of variation of total biomass (1/coefficient of variation (CV) of total biomass). KEYWORDS: Crustacean, management, ecosystem indicators, Colombian, Caribbean Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Abundancia y Distribución de los Condrictios de Aguas Profundas en el Caribe Colombiano Abundance and Distribution of Deep-Water Chondrichthyans in The Colombian Caribbean Abondance et Distribution des Eaux Profondes Chondrichtyens dans les Caraïbes Colombiennes KEYWORDS: Condrictios, aguas profundas, Caribe, Colombia 149 Page RESUMEN Se realizaron cuatro muestreos a bordo de un barco de arrastre camaronero en los meses de agosto a diciembre de 2009 y marzo a mayo de 2010, entre 100 y 600 m de profundidad en el Caribe colombiano. El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la composición, abundancia y distribución de los condrictios de aguas profundas, con fines de aportar conocimiento que sirva como lineamientos para su manejo. Se encontraron un total de 13 especies y 82 individuos de condrictios, de las cuales las especies que presentaron una mayor importancia en frecuencia de ocurrencia (FO) fueron Etmopterus sp. (23.3%), Galeus cadenati (17.4%), Anacanthobatis americanus (14.0%), Gurgesiella atlántica (10.5%), Squalus cubensis (8.1%) y Cruriraja rugosa (7.0%). Las especies de condrictios que presentaron menores %FO fueron Scyliorhinus boa y Squatina sp. con un 4.7%. Las especies Anacanthobatis longirostris, Centrophorus granulosus, Dactylobatus clarkii, Diplobatis colombiensis, Raja sp. mostraron solo un 1.2% de FO. Las especies con mayor FO se encontraron distribuidas espacialmente entre Dibulla y Santa Marta y al frente del Golfo de Morrosquillo y se encontraron en el ámbito batimétrico entre 300 y 500 m. 149 JORGE PARAMO, DANIEL PÉREZ, FABIAN MORENO, y ARTURO ACERO Universidad del Magdalena Cra. 32 No. 22-08 Santa Marta Colombia Santa Marta, Magdalena 0057 Colombia [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Historical Trends of Catches of Functional Groups in a Small-Scale Fishery in the Colombian Caribbean Sea Tendencias Históricas de las Capturas de Grupos Funcionales en una Pesquería de Pequeña Escala en el Mar Caribe de Colombia Tendances Historiques des Prises de Groupes Fonctionnels dans Un Pèche a Petite Echelle dans la Mer de Colombie MARIA DEL PILAR PARRADO-CORTÉS1, FABIAN DAVID ESCOBAR TOLEDO2, and LUIS ORLANDO DUARTE CASARES1 1 GIEEP Grupo de Investigación y Evaluación de Eco Universidad del Magdalena Carrera 4A # 7 - 87 apt 301 Rodadero Santa Marta, Magdalena CP470003 Colombia [email protected] 2 ICICIMAR - Instituto Politécnico Nacional Av. IPN s/n Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita La Paz B.C.S. CP 23096 Mexico Page 150 ABSTRACTThe small-scale fishery is important for its socioeconomic and environmental impact. Through its dynamism, in terms of target resource is concerned, has led to the overexploitation traditionally fish resources and the extraction of new populations. Therefore, assessment of their catches in view of the effort, main gear, all species caught, long time series, functional groups and geographical features that generate variations are critical. We analyzed data collected from the artisanal fishery from 1994 to 2008 for the northern Caribbean Sea of Colombia in the area between the rivers Magdalena and Palomino. The 196 fish taxa recorded in the catches were categorized into 6 major functional groups (demersal and pelagic divided into large, medium and small) for evaluation. We analyzed the catch per unit effort (CPUE) for each of the groups, ecoregions (Gulf of Salamanca, Tayrona and Palomino) and gears (longline, gillnet and beach seine) and a community analysis to evaluate spatial and temporal changes in the community. The Gulf of Salamanca is important in the capture of medium and small demersal species due to its proximity to an estuarine system and the low selectivity of the gear. Also, the community analysis, multivariate analysis non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) showed no clear pattern of variation while similarity analysis showed significant temporal differences in the structure of fishes. Finally, we observed that both pelagic and demersal domain tend to diminish over time. KEYWORDS: CPUE, Small-scale fishery, functional groups, Colombian Caribbean Sea., Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Perceptions of Changes and Impacts Accompanying the Introduction of Management Planning to the Woburn/Clarke’s Court Bay MPA, Grenada Las Percepciones de los Cambios e Impactos que Acompañan a la Introducción de la Planificación de la Gestión de la Woburn/Clarke's Court Bay AMP, Granada Perceptions des Changements et des Impacts qui Accompagnent L'Introduction de Planification de la Gestion de la MPA Woburn/Clarke's Court Bay, La Grenade KEYWORDS: Socio-economic monitoring, Caribbean Challenge, management planning, WCCB MPA 151 Page ABSTRACT The Woburn/Clarke’s Court Bay Marine Protected Area (WCCB MPA) legally declared in 2001 was chosen as a site for MPA designation solely due to fisheries priority since the area is an important nursery area for many species given its extensive mangroves. The MPA was not actively managed and by the end of the 2000s, had changed into a multi-use area with emphasis placed on resource utilisation and natural resource conservation. The WCCB MPA is demonstrative of both competition and conflicts among a variety of stakeholders and has attracted considerable attention from environmentalists and developers. It is indeed an example of a natural area in development transition. With the upcoming launch of the MPA set for early in 2013, management planning is progressing quite well. A management plan-of-action has been prepared and budget for the first year of implementation has been developed. Other supporting initiatives such as socio-economic studies are considered supplemental to the plan-of-action. Baseline socio-economic data exist but need to be increased to guide management planning for the area. As such, through a sub-grant from the CERMES-implemented, Socio-economic Monitoring by Caribbean Challenge MPA Managers project (CC SocMon), monitoring to determine perceived changes and impacts of stakeholders, particularly those related to yachting, accompanying the introduction of management planning to the WCCB MPA was initiated via key informant interviews and visualisation techniques. The data collected serve to validate information in the management plan as well as provide additional information that may be useful to inform management. 151 SHAWNALY PASCAL Woburn, Grenada [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Status and Local Management Efforts of the Coral-Reef Fisheries of Montecristi National Park, Dominican Republic Estado y Gestión Local de la Pesca de los Arrecifes Coralinos del Parque Nacional Montecristi Etat et Efforts de Gestion Local de la Peche des Recifs Coralliens dans le Parc National Montecristi, Republique Dominicaine TYLER PAVLOWICH Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Program Dartmouth College 6182 Steele Hall Hanover, NH 03755 US [email protected] Page 152 ABSTRACT Artisanal, coral-reef fisheries of the northwest Dominican Republic are struggling to appropriately manage marine resources. However, there are opportunities at the scales of an individual fisherman and of a fishing community to improve resource system health. This is important to focus on because ecological and social factors outside of these scales shape the range of fishermen’s options, but would be very difficult for fishermen to influence. Preliminary research during the summer of 2012 included assessment of the fish community and benthic condition within the fishing area accessed by local fishers, including coral reefs, back-reef habitats, and mangrove forests. Semi-structured interviews and participant observation were used to understand the past and current states of the fishery and fishermen’s attitudes toward the future. Creel surveys and fleet observations provided estimates of the fishing pressure exerted by an individual fisherman and the fishing community as a whole. Fish and coral communities were clearly degraded at most sites, although the presence of juvenile fish, many live coral colonies, and intact nursery habitats provide hope for potential recovery. Several fishing techniques are used which demonstrates flexibility in fishermen’s options. Within the ultimate context of climate change, it is critical that fishermen, fishing communities, and other stakeholder organizations encourage ecosystem recovery and the associated increase of resilience and natural capital. Scientists can participate by theoretically and empirically testing the outcomes of local attempts to improve resource management; in this case, incentives for targeting lionfish and offshore species for external markets, and adhering to responsible fishing guidelines. KEYWORDS: small-scale fisheries, coral-reef fisheries, social-ecological systems, market-based approaches to conservation, governance Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Fishery Management Problems in Coastal Yucatan and Lake Yuriria Problemas de Manejo Pesquero en la Costa de Yucatán y el Lago de Yuriria Problèmes de Gestion de la Pêche dans le Côte de Yucatan et le Lac de Yuriria KEYWORDS: Marine fisheries, inland fisheries, management problems 153 Page ABSTRACT In recent years fishing has attracted worldwide attention because of the declines and even collapse of some fisheries. At the same time, it is noteworthy that despite this situation, smallscale-fisheries are not always given the necessary attention to improve their management, especially when compared with the attention given to agricultural sector. This study engages in a comparative analysis between the forms of management and problems of marine and inland fisheries in the state of Yucatan and Lake Yuriria. This will highlight the similarities and differences between the importance and problems of each of these activities and the need to implement appropriate measures addressed to their particularities, contributing to public policy makers and to the improvement of inland and marine fisheries management plans. This study was based on two surveys conducted in the Yucatan coast in 2008 and 2009 and one applied in Lake Yuriria in 2010. Results suggest that both marine and inland fisheries have similarities and differences necessary to consider in resource use and management policies. Both show significant decreases in catch volume and trading is also a problem because fishermen rely heavily on middlemen. Moreover, the lack in subsidies in inland fisheries is scarcer than in marine fisheries, because they compete largely with agriculture. In addition, inland fisheries struggle for water because of irrigation system concessions in agriculture. Finally, pollution and sediment problems in most lakes in the country and the lack of a recovery and management plan in Lake Yuriria are discussed. 153 CARMEN PEDROZA UNAM Av. Lázaro Cárdenas s/n, esq. Felícitas del Río, Colonia: Centro, Jiquilpan, Michoacán 59510 Mexico [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Size Related Distribution and Mobility of the Queen Conch Strombus gigas in The Xel-Há Park, Mexican Caribbean. Distribución y Movilidad del Caracol Rosa Strombus gigas en Función de la Talla, en El Parque De Xel-Há, Caribe Mexicano. Distribution et Mobilité du Lambi Strombus gigas Corrélée à sa Taille au Parc du Xel-Há, Caraïbe Mexicaine JOANNE PEEL and DALILA ALDANA ARANDA CINVESTAV Merida, [email protected] Page 154 ABSTRACT The queen conch Strombus gigas is a large herbivorous gastropod which represents one of the most important fishery resources of the Caribbean. High fishing pressure and destruction of its natural habitat have caused severe depletion of stocks throughout the region and many of the populations haven’t recovered despite of management and rehabilitation efforts. The conch’s life cycle is highly complex, implying various ontogenic habitat shifts and migrations. The distribution of juveniles generally is restricted to certain areas and the majority of the previous studies are either biased towards aspects of juvenile ecology or adult ecology, but few studies have addressed connectivity between nurseries and reproductive aggregations.The inletofXel-Ha is a natural protected area under private administration, hosting a population of S. gigas. In the present study we assessed size distribution and mobility throughout the inlet using a stratified mark-recapture scheme at four sites (Cueva, Centro, Bocana and Brazo Norte) in order to determine how S.gigas uses its habitat and how the different stages of its life cycle connect in it. A total of 8292 conch was tagged between 2005 and 2011. The population was composed of 70% juveniles. At Cueva, Centro and Brazo Norte mainly juveniles were captured, while at Bocana mostly adults were encountered. Mobility increased in adult and sub-adult conch andduring summer months. Spatial distribution and mobility could be associated to length and lip thickness, suggesting that conch might undergo ontogenetic niche shift as they reach sexual maturity. KEYWORDS: Migration, Connectivity, Ontogenic niche, population structure, spatial distribution Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Growth, Recruitment and Mortality of the Queen Con Strombus gigas in a Natural Protected Area of the Mexican Caribbean Crecimiento, Reclutamiento y Mortalidad del Caracol Rosa Strombus gigas en un Área Natural Protegida del Caribe Mexicano La Croissance, le Recrutement et la Mortalité des Strombus gigas dans une Zone Naturelle Protégée de la Caraïbe Mexicaine KEYWORDS: Von Bertalannfy Growth Parameters, Natural Mortality, Mark-Recapture, Recruitment, Direct Growth assesment 155 Page ABSTRACT The queen conch Strombus gigas represents one of the most important fishery resources of the Caribbean but heavy fishing pressure has led to the depletion of stocks throughout the region. The inlet of Xel-Ha has been usedsince1995as a park forecotourismand fishing is strictly prohibited. The Park is considered a sanctuaryfor the conservation of the queen conch, hosting an important number of juveniles and adults.Sustainable management requires biological knowledge and protection of reproductive stages is crucial. Population size of S.gigas aggregations is mainly determined by recruitment processes but recruitment may be temporally and spatially variable. Growth is paramount for estimating maturation and natural mortality. In the present study we evaluated growth, recruitment and mortality using mark-recapture methods over a period of 3 years and compared the results of direct assessment to length frequency analysis. Growth of S.gigas was high within the inlet. Conch with an initial size of 110-129mm grew 0.32mm day-1. An L∞ of 278.73mm was estimated and the growth constant k was 0.71 year-1. Recruitment peaked twice per year (March-May and July-September) but was highly variable between years. Natural Mortality (z) estimated by mark-recapture methods reflected natural conditions with values between 1.06 and 3.87, but a length converted catch curve showed that it was exceptionally high in conch bigger than 200 mm with z=4.71, since fishing is banned this was attributed to mobility and emigration of adults. The results may be of importance to fishery management and rehabilitation. 155 JOANNE PEEL and DALILA ALDANA ARANDA CINVESTAV Merida, [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Common Socio-Economic Monitoring Indicators for Caribbean Challenge MPAs Comunes de los Indicadores Socioeconómicos de Monitoreo Para el Caribe Desafío AMP Indicateurs De Suivi Communs Socio-Économiques pour les Caraïbes Défi AMP MARIA PENA, PATRICK MCCONNEY, and KATHERINE BLACKMAN CERMES University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, St. Michael, - BB 11000 Barbados [email protected] Page 156 ABSTRACT The Socio-economic monitoring by Caribbean Challenge MPA Managers project (CC SocMon project) implemented by the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES), at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, has been increasing the capacity for effective Marine Protected Area (MPA) management among Caribbean Challenge countries through promoting the use of social and economic monitoring data in MPA decisionmaking. Specific project outcomes include thirty-two trained MPA practitioners; eight initiated site assessment and monitoring programs across three Caribbean Challenge countries (Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia); shared information for improving the SocMon Caribbean process and implementation; and shared project findings and lessons learned with the region. CC SocMon MPA site assessments and monitoring are varied and have focused on differing socio-economic aspects of MPAs including determining current and potential alternative livelihood options and opportunities for MPA communities; collecting socioeconomic data to inform management planning; identifying perceptions of changes and impacts that will accompany the introduction of management planning; collecting data on impacts, attitudes and perceptions trends of communities within and surrounding MPAs; determining MPA awareness; collecting data to guide strategies to mitigate the impacts of planned development on MPAs; and developing core indicators to assist with decision-making and effective management of MPAs. This paper reports on common socio-economic indicators chosen and developed by CC SocMon project sites and assesses those which stand out as being the most useful or feasible to measure. KEYWORDS: Socio-economic monitoring indicators, Caribbean Challenge, MPAs Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Length-Weight and Length-Length Relationships and Condition Factor of Invasive Lionfish, Pterois volitans (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae) in the Gulf Of Mexico and Mexican Caribbean Sea Relación Longitud-Peso, Longitud-Longitud y Factor de Condición del Pez León Invasor, Pterois volitans (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae) en el Golfo de México y Mar Caribe Mexicano Longueur-Poids et la Longueur-Longueur Relations, et le Facteur de Condition l’Envahissantlionfish, Pterois volitans (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae) dans le Golfe du Mexique et du Mexique la Mer des Caraïbes KEYWORDS: P.volitans, invasive, lionfish, length-weight relationships, condition factor, lionfish 157 Page ABSTRACT The red lionfish, Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758), introduced to the coral reefs of the Western Atlantic due to aquarium practices, has invaded the Atlantic coast of US, the Caribbean Sea, and recently the Gulf of Mexico. Its introduction represents a potential threat to the fishery resources, native organisms and human health. In this work we determined and compared body morphometrics (weight-length, length-length and condition factor) of this invasive fish in the Parque Nacional Arrecife Alacranes (PNAA) in the Southern Gulf of Mexico and in Mahahual, in the Mexican Caribbean. Lionfish were voluntarily speared by lobster diver-fishers and fish were analyzed at the laboratory. For the PNAA, 459 fish were captured during two lobster fishing season (July 2010-February 2011, July 2011-December 2011) and body size ranged 90350 mm TL. Length-weight relationships (LWRs) for season 1 was W=2.77739E-06 + L 3.30088) and for season 2 W=1.63544E-06 + L 3.34729, while the condition factor (K) ranged 0.9791 to 1.9785. In Mahahual, 73 fish were obtained (November 2010-April 2011) and their body size ranged 43-250 mm TL. Their LWR was W=3.05296E-06 + L 3.22867) and K ranged 0.9140 to 0.9862. All LWR showed an isometric growth coefficient with a correlation coefficient of 0.94. There was no significant differences among the LWRs for the juvenile lionfish in both sites (p<0.05). The lionfish has been adapted, in terms of growth and weight, to the environmental conditions of both regions. These values are important to contribute into the research of growth of the invasive lionfish in Mexico. 157 LEIDY PERERA-CHAN1, ALFONSO AGUILAR-PERERA2, LUIS QUIJANO-PUERTO, ARMIN TUZ-SULUB and JOSUE SUAREZ-SALAZAR 1UADY C. 92 #583 por 79d Mèrida, Yucatàn 97259 Mèxico [email protected] 2Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan carretera Xmatkuil km 15 Mérida Yucatán 97000 Mérida Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Distribución Batimétrica de los Crustáceos de Profundidad en el Caribe Colombiano Bathymetric Distribution of Deep Sea Crustacean in the Colombian Caribbean Distribution en Profondeur des Crustacés Profonds pour une Nouvelle Pêche dans les Caraïbes Colombiennes DANIEL GIOVANNY PEREZ FERRO y JORGE PARAMO Universidad del Magdalena Cra. 32 Nº 22-08 Santa Marta, Magdalena Colombia [email protected] Page 158 RESUMEN Se realizaron cuatro muestreos a bordo de un barco de arrastre camaronero en los meses de Agosto a Diciembre de 2009 y marzo a mayo de 2010, entre los 100 y 600 m de profundidad en el Caribe colombiano. El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la distribución batimétrica de los crustáceos de profundidad con fines de aportar lineamientos e información básica para el manejo de estos recursos. Se completó una grilla de 87 estaciones, muestreándose un total de 676 individuos pertenecientes a 69 taxas y 28 familias, encontrándose tres grandes agrupaciones, la primera se distribuyo entre los 200 y 300 m, la segunda entre los 300 y 400 m y la última entre los 400 y 500 m. Sin embargo las especies como Aristaeomorpha foliacea, Penaeopsis serrata, Metanephrops binghami, las cuales pueden ser potencialmente explotadas por una nueva pesquería de aguas profundas, se distribuye en el parte intermedia (300-400 m) presentando una mayor tolerancia a los cambios de profundidad (150-535 m). Mientras que las especies que se encuentran dentro del primer y último grupo presentan un rango de distribución batimétrica mucho menor (entre 150-300 m, y 350 - 535 m respectivamente). De acuerdo con lo resultados obtenidos, las especies de crustáceos estudiadas se distribuyen en un amplio rango de profundidad, donde las especies susceptibles a ser aprovechadas por una nueva pesquería se encuentran en niveles intermedios, sobre los cuales se pueden dirigir los esfuerzos sin alterar otros sitios o especies. Estos estudios deben ser complementados con estudios bajo un enfoque ecosistemico para dar lineamientos que sirvan para un adecuado manejo del recurso. PALABRAS CLAVES: Caribe colombiano, crustáceos de profundidad, nueva pesquería, distribución batimétrica, manejo de los recursos Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Mercury and Selenium in Marine Fishes: Review of a Special Symposium Examining Issues Associated with Fish Consumption and Public Health Mercurio y Selenio en Peces Marinos: Revisión de Una Conferencia Dedicada a la Examinación de Problemas Asociados con el Consumo de Peces y la Salud Publica HARRIET PERRY1, HENRY FOLMAR2, and BARBARA VISKUP3 Gulf Coast Research Laboratory 703 East Beach Drive Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39564 USA [email protected] 2 Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality 515 East Amite Street Jackson Mississippi 39201 USA 2 Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality 1141 Bayview Avenue, Suite 208 Biloxi Mississippi 39530 USA ABSTRACT Recent scientific studies have demonstrated selenium's importance in human health and it's dietary role in ameliorating mercury's potential toxic effects. Selenium has a high molecular binding affinity for mercury and thus helps to prevent possible mercury toxicity. Although selenium has been known to counteract mercury toxicity since the 1960s, controversy still exists over the inclusion of selenium data in consumption advisories for mercury in fishes. Consideration of selenium in assessing mercury toxicity and the development of a Se-Health Benefit Value are new concepts, not currently in use. To better understand the relevance of these data to fish consumption and public health, a national workshop was held in October 2012 with recognized scientists examining the mercury/selenium issue, reviewing current and past research, and discussing the implications of these data in development of risk assessments. This presentation provides a review of those data. KEYWORDS: Mercury, Selenium, Marine fishes, Public health 159 Page 1 159 Mercure et Selenium Chez les Poissons Marins: Revue d'Un Symposium Focalisé sur les Implications de la Consommation de Poisson pur la Santé Publique Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Preliminary Evaluation of Goliath Grouper (Lichtenstein, 1822) Populations in Cuban Archipelago Evaluación Preliminar de las Poblaciones de Guasa (Lichtenstein, 1822) en el Archipiélago Cubano Evaluación Preliminar de las Poblaciones de Guasa (Lichtenstein, 1822) en el Archipiélago Cubano FABIÁN PINA AMARGÓS CIEC Cayo Coco Cayo Coco, Ciego de Ávi 69400 Cuba [email protected] Page 160 ABSTRACT Goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara, Lichtenstein, 1822) is catalogued as a Critically Endangered species by IUCN. Overfishing of large adults on spawning aggregation sites is the main cause of its populations reduction. Much attention has been dedicated to the Goliath grouper in its distribution range in the last decades, but there is only one study published in Cuba. The aim of this study is to preliminarily assess Goliath grouper status in Cuban waters through anecdotal information and cartographic representations. Of the 16 Cuban regions, information was gathered from 9, totaling 128 interviews on experienced users. Response rate was 90 %. Goliath grouper are more frequent in southern Cuba than in northern of it, being Jardines de la Reina archipelago the region with highest abundance. Currently, largest specimens mode is around 300-pound. There are around 10 potential spawning aggregation sites of Goliath grouper around Cuba. Sites with relatively high abundance of young Goliath grouper remain poorly known, being Jardines de la Reina and Canarreos archipelagos the ones with more reports. The only tourism operation focus on Goliath grouper sighting is located in Jardines de la Reina archipelago. Goliath grouper is targeted mainly by spearfishermen in Cuban waters. Commercial fishermen operating close to its spawning corridors and spawning aggregation sites target the species during spawning season (July-September). Interviewers state that abundance and size of Goliath grouper has decreased in the last few decades. It is recommended to extend sample effort to the other regions and to prepare research proposals about Goliath grouper in Cuba. KEYWORDS: Goliath grouper, Critically Endangered species, interviews, traditional knowledge, Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Insights from a Survey of the Recreational Fishery in Bermuda Secretos de una Encuesta de la Pesca Recreativa en las Bermudas Aperçus d'Une Enquête sur la Pêche Récréative dans les Bermudes JOANNA PITT1 and TAMMY TROTT2 Department of Environmental Protection Bermuda Government 3 Coney Island Road , St. Georges CR04 Bermuda [email protected] 2 Department of Environmental Protection Bermuda Government 3 Coney Island Rd St. Georges CR04 Bermuda KEYWORDS: recreational fishery, survey, Bermuda, landings, opinions 161 Page ABSTRACT Recreational fishing has always been a popular pastime in Bermuda, yet information on this aspect of the fishery has been sparse and largely anecdotal until recently. More data on recreational fishing practices and estimates of recreational landings are needed to facilitate better management of recreational fishing activity and to help fulfill international reporting obligations. In 2011, a survey of recreational fishing activity in Bermuda was conducted by interviewing fishers on the shoreline and mailing a survey to boat owners. The primary goal was to further investigate the extent of various forms of recreational fishing in Bermuda and to acquire estimates of the types and numbers of fishes being caught. The survey also aimed to find out whether the fishing public was familiar with, and generally supportive of, the new fishing regulations brought in at the end of 2010. Opinions on licensing and reporting options were also sought. Important differences highlighted by the survey are that shoreline fishers were more active than boat owners, although boat owners caught more than twice as many fish per capita, and the fish they caught were much larger. However virtually all those surveyed viewed their fishing as a relaxing leisure activity conducted with friends and family. Awareness of key fisheries regulations was good across both survey categories and those surveyed were generally supportive of the measures in place. In contrast, there was little support for licensing recreational fishing activities. 161 1 Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Impacto de la Pesca Artesanal de Camarón en el Caribe de Colombia Artisanal Shrimp Trawl Fisheries Impact in the Colombian Caribbean Impact de la Pêche à la Crevette dans les Caraïbes Colombiennes RAMÓN ALEJANDRO PLAZAS1, DIANA BUSTOS MONTES2, CAMILA POSADA1 y MARCELA GRIJALBA-BENDECK1 1 Universidad Jorge Tadeo lozano. Facultad de Ciencias. Programa Biología Marina. 2 Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras “José Benito Vives de Andréis” INVEMAR, Cerro Punta Betín, Santa Marta D.T.C.H. - Colombia, AA 1016 Page 162 RESUMEN En Isla del Rosario, Magdalena, se realiza pesca artesanal de camarón mediante el uso de chinchorros de arrastre. Se analizó la fauna íctica acompañante de esta pesquería en el periodo comprendido entre marzo del 2009 y febrero del 2010, a partir de datos tomados directamente a los pescadores e ingresados al Sistema de Información Pesquera del INVEMAR (SIPEIN). Se registró un total de 38 265 kg de camarón y fauna íctica acompañante, de esta última se encontraron 59 especies de peces distribuidas en 23 familias, en donde Engraulidae, Sciaenidae y Mugilidae fueron las más representativas. El mes con mayor desembarco por unidad de esfuerzo (DPUE) fue noviembre. Se midieron un total de 1485 individuos de los cuales se obtuvo la talla media de captura (TMC) de las 10 especies más abundantes, Bairdiella ronchus, Cathorops mapale, Mugil incilis y Trichiurus lepturus son capturados por debajo de la talla media de madurez, los tamaños de los peces evidencian la poca selectividad que tienen los artes usados en esta pesquería y el daño que esta provoca en el ecosistema. Las TMC de la mayoría de las especies son menores comparadas con las de otros estudios y artes. Se discuten los factores climáticos y ecológicos que influyen en la composición del desembarco y las medidas para disminuir el impacto ocasionado por la pesquería. Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Plan de Manejo y Control del Pez León Pterois volitans en el Caribe Colombiano 2012-2014 Management and Control Plan of the Lionfish Pterois volitans in the Colombian Caribbean 2012-2014 Plan de Gestion et de Contrôle du Poisson Lion Pterois volitans dans les Caraïbes Colombiennes 2012-2014 ANDREA POLANCO1, DAVID ALONSO1, ANA ISABEL SANABRIA2, AMPARO RAMOS2, NACOR BOLAÑOS3, LUZ DARY CENDALES4 y FANNY SUÁREZ4 1 Cra 1 A No. 28-01 Edf. Marbella apto 402 Santa Marta, Magdalena 1016 Colombia [email protected] RESUMEN Frente a la llegada del pez león al Caribe colombiano, se inicia la cooperación interinstitucional del Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible, Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, la Corporación para el Desarrollo Sostenible del Archipiélago de San Andres, Providencia y Santa Catalina – CORALINA, el Instituto del Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras “Jose Benito Vives de Andreis” – INVEMAR y la Secretaria de Agricultura y Pesca de la Gobernación del Departamento Archipiélago de San Andres, Providencia y Santa Catalina, con el fin de formular el Plan de manejo y control del pez león en el Caribe colombiano 2012-2014. El plan tiene como objetivo general controlar el incremento de la abundancia de la especie Pterois volitans en el Caribe colombiano, actuando en tres programas principales: (1) programa de investigación, monitoreo y análisis de la información, que se ocupe de generar conocimiento puntual de la adaptación biológica y ecológica de la especie a las condiciones del Caribe colombiano; (2) programa de control y manejo del pez león, que establezca un protocolo de prevención para el Pacífico colombiano y generar instrumentos de gestión que den lineamientos para el manejo y control del incremento de la abundancia de la especie y (3) programa comunicación y educación, que busque concientizar a los colombianos sobre la problemática ecológica que se ha generado por la presencia de la especie invasora en el Caribe colombiano, para que puedan reconocer el impacto en los ecosistemas y los efectos en la salud pública, así como las medidas a implementar ante su presencia. Se resalta el lanzamiento del portal web del pez león, herramienta diseñada para el registro de observaciones de la especie en el Caribe colombiano. PALABRAS CLAVES: Management, Control, invasion, lionfish, Colombia 163 163 Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible 3 Coralina 4 Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia Page 2 Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Biología de la Lisa (Mugil incilis): Índices Reproductivos Mullet Biology (Mugil incilis): Reproductive Indices Biologie De Mulet (Mugil Incilis): Indicateurs De La Reproduction JOSE LUIS POMARICO MIER1and ADRIANA RODRIGUEZ FORERO2 1 Maestría en Acuicultura y Ecología Acuática Trop Cra 32 N 22 08 Santa Marta, Colombia [email protected] 2 Universidad del Magdalena Cra 32 N 22 08 Santa Marta Colombia ABSTRACT Page 164 La lisa (Mugil incilis), es una de las especies más valoradas de su género a nivel comercial y como producto en la seguridad alimentaria en la Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta (CGSM), (Magdalena, Colombia). Debido a esto, existe una fuerte presión sobre el recurso. Sobre ella, es escasa la información sobre su fisiología de la reproducción la cual permitirá evaluar las poblaciones y su capacidad de perpetuación. Se propone evaluar indicadores relacionados con su comportamiento reproductivo en el medio natural. Para tal efecto, al menos diez ejemplares de la especie se colectaron mensualmente en la CGSM, durante diez meses. Estos se transportaron al Laboratorio de Acuicultura de la Universidad del Magdalena, donde se procedió a realizar biometrías y se disectaron para extraer gónadas e hígado. Se determinó macroscópicamente el estado de madurez gonadal de cada individuo. Los resultados indicaron que las hembras presentan una mayor talla corporal que los machos y éstos se encuentran en menor proporción. Los índices gonadosomático y hepatosomático son superiores en hembras y existe desplazamiento de un mes en la sincronización del periodo de madurez gonadal en machos, con respecto a las hembras. Los resultados obtenidos servirán para promover el aprovechamiento sostenible de este recurso, teniendo en cuenta que es un organismo típicamente estuarino con amplia distribución en la Ciénaga y representa un importante recurso pesquero para los habitantes de esta región. A largo plazo se espera contribuir a construir el paquete tecnológico de su cultivo y a ofrecer medidas de conservación en la región. KEYWORDS: lisa, Mugil incilis, reproduction, liver, gonad Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Finding Geographic Population Structure in Marine Fish Species with High Gene Flow Encontrar Estructura de la Población Geográfica de Especies de Peces Marinos con Alto Flujo Génico Trouver Structure de la Population Géographique des Espèces de Poissons Marins au Flux de Gènes a Haute KEYWORDS: Population structure, gene flow, genetic resources, snappers, Gulf and Caribbean 165 Page ABSTRACT Management of highly exploited marine resources necessitates a rigorous definition of geographic boundaries that separate stocks because different stocks (populations or subpopulations) may possess local adaptations that lead to differences in important life-history parameters such as growth, fecundity, and disease resistance. Failure to recognize locallyadapted stocks potentially can result in extirpation and irretrievable loss of genetic resources. Identifying separate stocks, based on genetic data, is problematic for marine species with high dispersal capability, particularly when selectively neutral genetic markers are employed. The issue is that homogeneity in such markers may not necessarily reflect homogeneity in genes affecting life-history and/or fitness traits. Moreover, historical events, e.g., population expansion or decline, often leads to violations of equilibrium assumptions inherit in traditional population genetics models. When ‘traditional’ FST-based approaches are combined with spatial and demographic analyses, important aspects of cryptic population structure may be revealed. A review of stock-structure assessment in exploited species of snappers (Lutjanidae) in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea demonstrates that even for species with similar life histories, patterns of population structure vary and require robust analytical methodologies to detect fine-scale differences. 165 DAVID PORTNOY and JOHN GOLD Texas A&M University TAMU 2258 College Station, Texas 77845 USA [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Diet of the Red Lionfish, Pterois volitans, in the Parque Nacional Arrecife Alacranes, Southern Gulf of Mexico Dieta del Pez León Rojo, Pterois volitans, in el Parque Nacional Arrecife Alacranes, Sureste del Golfo de México Diète du Poisson Scorpion Rouge, Pterois volitans, dans le Parque Nacional Arrecife Alacranes, Du Sud Du Golfe Du Mexique LUIS QUIJANO-PUERTO, ALFONSO AGUILAR-PERERA, LEIDY PERERA-CHAN, and ARMIN TUZ-SULUB Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan Carretera a Xmatkuil Km. 15.5 Apartado Postal núm. 116 Merida, Yucatan 97315 Merida [email protected] Page 166 ABSTRACT Biological invasions cause negative effects that produce biodiversity losses in the ecosystem. The Indo-Pacific red lionfish, Pterois volitans is a venomous predator that invaded the Eastern coast of the US, the Caribbean Sea, and recently the Gulf of Mexico. This fish has a broad diet based mainly on reef fishes that may affect native fishes altering the trophic ecology. The importance of knowing its diet is a useful strategy to identify how this fish is affecting the reef ecosystem. In this work, we analyzed the diet of 217 lionfish from the Parque Nacional Arrecife Alacranes, off the northern Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, during the lobster fishing season of July 2011-December 2011. We used the frequency occurrence, numerical abundance, and gravimetric composition to calculate the index of relative importance, the index of importance, and the index of preponderance. Out of 217 stomachs examined 72 showed identifiable material to family level of which 79% were teleosts and 21% peneid crustaceans. At least 14 families of teleosts were identified of which those of high abundance were Pomacentridae, Labridae, Haemulidae, Gobiidae, Blennidae and Labrisomidae. This work represents the first step to determine the lionfish diet in the PNAA, in the Southern Gulf of Mexico, in order to know how this fish is affecting the native organisms. Results may allow determining future impacts this fish may have on the reef communities on this region. KEYWORDS: lionfish, Gulf of Mexico, Alacranes Reef, invasive fish, fish diet Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Reconstructed Total Catches by the Marine Fisheries of Small Island States in the Wider Caribbean (1950 -2010) Reconstrucción de las capturas de las pesquerías marinas de las islas del Caribe Reconstituées des captures totales des pêches maritimes des petits États insulaires dans les Caraïbes (1950 -2010) KEYWORDS: catch reconstruction, underreporting, fisheries accounting 167 Page ABSTRACT Accurately recording marine fisheries catches is difficult in both space and time. Thus underreporting of fisheries catches occurs worldwide. Caribbean fisheries are typically smallscale operations, with a labour-intensive and dispersed nature, which make them especially difficult to monitor. To illustrate the extent of this problem, total fisheries catches by 10 island countries in the Wider Caribbean Region were estimated from 1950-2010 using an established ‘catch reconstruction’ methodology. This approach uses landing statistics supplied by Caribbean member countries to FAO, and then adjusts these data for unreported components based on all accessible data and information sources. These catch reconstructions illustrate a substantial level of underreporting. For example, the reconstructed catches of Haiti and Jamaica were on average 3 and 4.5 times higher, respectively, than landings reported by these countries to the FAO. Unfortunately, underreported catches can lead to erroneous interpretations on fisheries trends, and substantially under-values the socio-economic importance of small-scale fisheries. Comprehensive accounts of historic time series of total marine fisheries catches, including largely underestimated subsistence and recreational sectors, are therefore of crucial importance to the management and development of policy frameworks for Caribbean fisheries resources. 167 ROBIN RAMDEEN1, NICOLA SMITH2, LOU FROTTÉ, STEPHANIE LINGARD1,l SARAH HARPER1 , DIRK ZELLER1 and DANIEL PAULY1 1 University of British Columbia UBC Fisheries Centre 2202 Main Mall Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z4 Vancouver, Canada [email protected] 2 Department of Marine Resources Bahamas Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Dimensión Sociocultural como Elemento Prioritario en la Evaluación y Gestión de las Pesquerías Artesanales: Caso de Estudio de la Comunidad Wayuu, Caribe Oriental de Colombia Socio-Cultural Dimension as a Priority Element in the Evaluation and Management of Small-Scale Fisheries: A Case of Study of the Wayuu Community, East Colombian Caribbean Dimension Socioculturelle comme une Priorité dans l'Évaluation et la Gestion des Pêches Artisanale: Étude de Cas de Communauté Wayuu, est des Caraïbes Colombie JOHN GABRIEL RAMIREZ 1 GINA PUENTES 2 FRANCISCO REYES 2, DIEGO GILAGUDELO3 y VIVIAN ARIÑO4 1 Universidad de Barcelona Fundación Ecosfera , Catalunya 08192 Spain [email protected] 2 Page 168 3 Fundación Ecosfera Instituto Colombiano del Petroleo 4 Universidad de La Guajira RESUMEN La evaluación de las pesquerías artesanales en Latinoamérica, generalmente multiespecífica y multiarte, se enfrenta a los desafíos propios de la actividad que suponen entre otras 1) una población en estado de pobreza; 2) mano de obra profusa; 3) varios intermediarios y 4) dispersos lugares de desembarco. La evaluación generalmente no logra cubrir toda la población de pescadores y menos aún, los recursos de interés pesquero. La selección de algunos puntos según su importancia y reconocimiento local, como estrategia de estimación, no logran representar adecuadamente las características, magnitud y condiciones en las que se desarrolla la pesca de toda el área. ¿Cómo se logra una evaluación y gestión de las pesquerías artesanales con amplia cobertura, viabilidad y que generen corresponsabilidad por parte de las comunidades? la presente investigación describe los principales elementos socioculturales que deben ser considerados, incluso, antes de centrarse en los aspectos pesqueros. Se establecen los vínculos entre los elementos socioculturales y sus efectos sobre el desarrollo de las pesquerías. Finalmente se proponen las estrategias que pueden dar respuesta las necesidades de evaluación y gestión de las pesquerías artesanales bajo el actual escenario. Se tomó como caso de estudio los pescadores de la etnia Wayuu de La Guajira, dada su importancia regional. Según los datos aportados por la estadística oficial del país, la pesca Wayuu representó el 31% del total del desembarco de pesca artesanal continental del Caribe colombiano (2006–2009). Además su complejidad cultural incluye la poliresidencialidad, costumbres pesqueras de reciprocidad y presencia de lenguaje y leyes propias. Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Campaña para la Protección de Los Bajos Arrecifales de King Fish, Izabal Guatemala Campaign for the Protection of the Low Reef Of King Fish, Izabal Guatemala Campagne Pour La Protection Du Récif Faible De King Fish, Izabal, Guatemala PALABRAS CLAVES: King Fish, Zonas de Restaruación Pesquera, Protección, Manejo, 169 Page RESUMEN La Campaña de Orgullo Bajos Arrecifales de King Fish tiene como objetivo principal la protección y conservación de los Bajos de King Fish ubicados en la Bahía de Amatique Izabal, Caribe de Guatemala. Estos presentan parches de coral los cuales son zonas importantes para agregación, alimentación y refugio de una gran diversidad de especies marinas. La propuesta de la campaña es disminuir o evitar la pesca no sustentable mediante la creación de una zona de restauración pesquera, técnica que ha sido aplicada en otras partes del mundo con resultados exitosos. Los bajos son una zona que ha sido utilizada desde hace muchos años por pescadores garífunas donde realizan su pesca con anzuelo, siendo esta zona de gran importancia para la pesca artesanal no solo desde el punto de vista pesquero sino cultural. Esta campaña se basa en dos estrategias principales, siendo la primera mercadotecnia social que se enfoca en la concientización ambiental de niños, pescadores y comunidades costeras con respecto al tema de manejo de los recursos marino costero y en este caso la importancia de las zonas de restauración pesquera en el área con el fin de conectividad entre áreas; y la segundo es la fase de remoción de barreras la cual consiste en un monitoreo constante del estado de los arrecifes, las especies de peces presentes en los parches y las alternativas económicas que se le presentarán a los pescadores mientras el área de pesca (King Fish) está siendo conservado y manejado adecuadamente. 169 SILJA RAMIREZ FUNDAECO 25 street 2-39 zone 1 Guatemala Guatemala, Guatemala 01001 Guatemala [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Biometric Analysis of the Invasive Pacific Lionfish (Pterois volitans) in the Virgin Islands El Análisis Biométrico de la Invasión del Pez León del Pacífico (Pterois volitans) en Las Islas Vírgenes L'Analyse Biométrique de l'Invasif Lionfish Pacifique (Pterois volitans) dans les Îles Vierges NALINIE RAMNARAINE, CHARLES MARTIN, NIKITA THOMPSON, and RICHARD S. NEMETH University of the Virgin Islands Center for Marine and Environmental Studies #2 John Brewers Bay St. Thomas, VI 00802 US VIRGIN ISLANDS [email protected] Page 170 ABSTRACT Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans) are precipitously invading the waters of the Caribbean and tropical Atlantic. Due to their population explosion and aggressive behavior, lionfish have the potential to become the most devastating marine invasion in history by significantly reducing the abundance of coral reef fishes and leaving behind a devastated ecosystem. It was first found in the US Virgin Islands in 2008 and is now becoming a common sight on most coral reefs. In order to understand its potential impact on native fishes, we need to learn more about its biology and basic life history characteristics. The analysis of weight length data is usually directed toward two objectives; (1) Mathematically relating the relationship between weight and length; (2) Measuring the variation from the expected weight for length of individual fish as indications of corpulence, well-being, or gonad development. Several different ratios have been developed to describe these relations between fish length and weight. These ratios are universally used as measures of fish well-being (condition). Length and weight of sample lionfishes (N= ~50) were obtained. The Fulton’s Condition Factor was done to determine the ratio between the observed weight and an expected weight dependent on the fish’s length. According to the ANOVA Analysis that was obtained (N=48) the average female length = 23.855 cm and average male length = 26.746 cm; (F = 3.9715, P< 0.05). Weight analysis indicated (N=48) the average female weight = 228.586 g; average male weight = 357.658 g; (F = 12.883 , P< 0.001). KEYWORDS: Length, Weight, Condition Factor, Ratio Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Distribution and Abundance of Flyingfish (Family Exocoetidae) Larvae in the Northern Gulf of Mexico Distribución y Abundancia de Peces Voladores (Familia Exocoetidae) Larvas en el Norte del Golfo de México Distribution et Abundance ee Poissons Volants (Famile Exocoetidae) des Larves dans le Nord du Golf du Mexique KEYWORDS: flyingfish, larvae, Gulf of Mexico, distribution, abundance 171 Page ABSTRACT Flyingfish occupy a crucial link in marine food webs and also commercially fished in many areas of the world. Understanding the distribution and abundance of flyingfish larvae can provide insight into the location of spawning areas and lead to an improved understanding of their population dynamics. Here we report on summer ichthyoplankton cruises conducted in the northern Gulf of Mexico (NGoM) during 2010 and 2011. Samples were collected using neuston nets towed through the upper meter of the water column in the outer shelf and slope waters of the NGoM. Over the sampling period, a total of 4338 flyingfish larvae were collected. Interannual differences were apparent with densities of flyingfish higher in 2010 than 2011 (7.5 and 2.3 larvae 1000 m-2, respectively). In 2010, flyingfish densities did not show any seasonal variation during the summer sampling period; however, in 2011, the flyingfish density in July (0.8 larvae 1000 m-2) was much lower than June (3.0 larvae 1000 m-2) and August (3.2 larvae 1000 m-2). Flyingfish were present in each year and month along our sampling transect, and percent frequency of occurrence ranged from 56% in July 2011 to 100% in July 2010. This suggests that flyingfish represent a common and important component of the larval assemblage in the NGoM. Research is currently underway to characterize the species composition of the flyingfish assemblage during the early life period, and models are being developed to investigate links between relative abundance of flyingfish larvae and oceanographic conditions in the NGoM. 171 LANDES RANDALL and JAY ROOKER Texas A&M Galveston 200 Seawolf Parkway OCSB Bldg 3029 Galveston, Texas 77553 USA [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Variación del ADN Mitocondrial de la Langosta Espinosa Panulirus argus en el Archipiélago de San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina Mitochondrial DNA Variation in Spiny Lobster Panulirus argus from Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina La Variation du ADN Mitochondriel de la Langouste Épineuse Panulirus argus dans l´Archipel San Andres, Providencia et Santa Catalina JOSE DAVID RANGEL MEDRANO1, EDNA JUDITH MARQUEZ FERNANDEZ2, y ERICK CASTRO GONZALEZ3 1 Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sedee Medellín Calle 59A No 63 - 20 - Núcleo El Volador Medellín, Antioquia 4 Colombia [email protected] 2 Universidad nacional de Colombia, sede Medellin Calle 59A No 63 - 20 - Núcleo El Volador Medellín 4 Colombia 3 Secretaría de Agricultura y Pesca Gobernación Archipiélago de San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina. Avenida Francisco Newball, Archipiélago de San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina 4 Colombia Page 172 RESUMEN La langosta espinosa, Panulirus argus, es uno de los recursos pesqueros de mayor valor económico y ecológico del mar Caribe y representa el principal producto pesquero de exportación en el Archipiélago de San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina (ASPSC). En algunas regiones del Caribe, P argus (P. argus argus) puede eventualmente coexistir con una subespecie morfológicamente indistinguible (P. argus westonni), por lo tanto la identificación de las dos sub-especies es un aspecto crucial para discriminar las fuentes intraespecíficas de variación genética de las generadas por diversidad taxonómica. Este conocimiento evitaría que ambas subespecies puedan ser eliminadas por el esfuerzo pesquero, provocar desequilibrios a nivel del ecosistema y una pérdida de su potencial adaptativo. En este estudio se analizó la secuencia del gen citocromo oxidasa I y del rRNA 16S con el fin de contrastar la hipótesis de que dos subespecies morfológicamente indistinguibles de P argus (P argus argus y P argus westoni) co-existen en el ASPSC. En segundo lugar, se analizó la región control del DNA mitocondrial para determinar si las poblaciones del Archipiélago están estructuradas en más de un stock. Hasta el momento, nuestros resultados sugieren la ausencia de haplotipos Brasileros de P. argus westonii en el ASPSC. Además no fue detectada una subdivisión estadísticamente significativa por medio de las comparaciones entre pares de poblaciones. Este trabajo es fundamental para determinar el estado actual de la especie y elaborar programas de manejo y conservación más coherentes que contribuyan a la preservación de este importante recurso marino. KEYWORDS: Región control, rRNA 16S, estructura poblacional, Panulirus argus westonni, COI Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Age and Growth of Mycteroperca bonaci from Southern Gulf of Mexico Edad y Crecimiento de Mycteroperca bonaci del Sur del Golfo de México Age et Croissance de Mycteroperca bonaci dans le Sud du Golfe du Mexique KEYWORDS: Black grouper, age, growth, otoliths, von Bertalanffy 173 Page ABSTRACT Mycteroperca bonaci or black grouper is the second most important grouper species in southern Gulf of Mexico, supporting commercial and recreational fisheries. It is considered as near threatened species by IUCN, its fishery as deteriorated and their population as decreasing thought out their distribution range. Even though it’s economic importance, this study is the first to determine age and growth for black grouper in the Campeche Bank. During 1996 to 1999, 714 black groupers were captured using long line by the artisanal and commercial fishing fleets. Otoliths were up through the gills-removed, alcohol cleaned and stored dry. Age determination was performed by assigning annuli based on the number of opaque zones from the otolith core to the otolith margin, in left sagittae thin sections. Individuals ranged in size from 25.6 to 160.0 cm (LF) and in age from 2 to 27 years. Age-9 fish were the most numerous in the sample (N = 107), followed in frequency by age-8 (N = 92), age-11 (N = 90) and age-10 (N= 84), representing 52 % of total specimens. Young fish with age-2 (N= 18) and older fish with age-20 and age-27 (N= 2 and N= 1, respectively) were poorly represented. The more frequent year-class was 1987 (N= 107). Edge-type analysis confirmed the formation of a single growth annulus per year, recording the smallest marginal increment values between February and March. The relationship between furcal length and age was described by the von Bertalanffy growth model as: LF= 138.40[1- exp (-0.12 (t -0.0688))]. 173 XIMENA RENAN, EMMANUEL SECA-CHABLÉ, and THIERRY BRULÉ CINVESTAV-IPN Unidad Merida Antigua Carretera a Progreso K. 6 Cordemex. Merida, Yucatan 97310 Mexico [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Patrones Ontogénicos y Estacionales de Peces Cirujanos (Acanthuridae) según el Uso de Hábitat en un Paisaje Insular: Reserva de Biosfera Seaflower Ontogenetic patterns of surgeonfish (Acanthuridae) according to use of habitat in an island Caribbean seascape: Biosphere Reserve Seaflower, Colombian Caribbean Patróns Ontogéniques et Stationnaire des Poissons Chirurgiens (Acanthuridae) Selon L'Usage d'Hábitat dans un Paysage Insulaire: Réserve de Biosphère Seaflower, Caraïbe Colombienne NATALIA RINCÓN1, OMAR SIERRA – ROZO2, y ADRIANA SANTOS – MARTÍNEZ2 1 Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Caribe Carretera circunvalar San Luis, Free Town No. 52 – 44. San Andrés isla, Colombia [email protected] 2Universidad Nacional de Colombia San Andrés Islas Archipiélago de Sa Colombia Page 174 RESUMEN Este estudio estableció los patrones ontogénicos de peces de la familia Acanthuridae según el uso que hacen de diferentes hábitats costeros dependiendo de su fase de vida y la época climática. Se realizaron censos visuales con transeptos de banda, en tres paisajes costeros: manglares - pastos marinos - arrecifes, pastos- arrecife y arrecife, y durante dos épocas de lluvia y sequía del 2009 a 2011, en la isla de San Andrés Reserva de Biosfera Seaflower. En total se identificaron 96 especies y 24828 individuos, siendo la familia Acanthuridae la tercera en abundancia promedio, con 2416 individuos, de las especies Acanthurus coeruleus (61%), Acanthurus bahianus (26%) y Acanthurus chirurgus (13%). El índice de diversidad global Shannon, fue de 0.90 para ésta familia y se presentó una presencia casi exclusiva de juveniles en praderas próximas al arrecife, lo que indica patrones de distribución ligados a la ontogenia. Los valores de la riqueza media, fueron similares para los hábitats arrecifales conectados 2,26 ±0.25 especies/100 m2, así mismo, existe similitud entre las variables ambientales entre éstos sitios. No se presentaron diferencias significativas en la densidad y abundancia de acantúridos entre las épocas climáticas. La presencia de juveniles en los arrecifes conectados, indica que la dependencia por hábitats de praderas no es obligada, de esta manera juveniles pueden desarrollarse en ambientes arrecifales. Los resultados obtenidos contribuyen a corroborar el conocimiento sobre los vínculos funcionales entre hábitats, importante para la gestión ambiental en las áreas marinas protegidas. PALABRAS CLAVES: Conectividad ecosistémica, Acantúridos, ontogenia, paisaje costero marino Benthic Habitat Beta-Diversity Modelling and Landscape Metrics for the Selection of Priority Conservation Areas Modelación de la Beta-Diversidad y Características del Paisaje de Hábitats Bentónicos para la Selección de Áreas Prioritarias de Conservación Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Modélisation de la Beta-Diversité et les Caractéristiques du Paysage de l´Habitat Benthique Pour la Sélection de Zones Prioritaires du Conservation KEYWORDS: Protected Areas, benthic landscape, beta-diversity, remote sensing 175 Page ABSTRACT As management of coastal areas has become more complicated, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) coupled with remote sensing have increasingly been used to help managers obtain accurate information to make decisions. Bahía Magdalena, located on the Pacific side of the Baja California Peninsula, is one of the most important bays of Mexico due to the high value of commercial fisheries that operate in the region. However, fisheries of scallops, pen shell, geoduck, and shrimp, which cause a high degree of disturbance of the benthic landscape, are already showing signs of decline. In this study, we aim to assist the management of the region by proposing priority conservation areas, based on beta-diversity modelling and landscape metrics. Quantitative estimates on the percentage of cover of benthic substrates from 60 ground truthed sites were used to perform a cluster analysis with the Bray-Curtis similarity index. Seven groupings were recognized, with habitats characterized by an inter-mix of sand, seagrass, macroalgae and rock substrates. A thematic map of benthic habitats was produced utilizing a supervised classification with the maximum likelihood rule on a natural colour mosaic of high resolution satellite scenes (Kappa=0.85). Scripts written in Matlab were then used to calculate Beta-diversity values based on the nature and distribution of habitats. A weighted overlay analysis considering habitat type, patch area/perimeter ratio and beta-diversity was performed to identify priority conservation areas. By selecting sites using these landscape characteristics we are indirectly protecting the natural processes responsible for maintaining diversity. 175 RODOLFO RIOJA-NIETO1, ERICK BARRERA-FALCÓN1, GUSTAVO HINOJOSAARANGO2, and RAFAEL RIOSMENA-RODRÍGUEZ3 1 Facultad de Ciencias, UA-Sisal, UNAM Pto de Abrigo s/n Sisal, Hunucma, Yucatán 97355 Mexico [email protected] 2 Centro para la Biodiversidad Marina y la Conservación, A.C. Calle del Pirata 420 La Paz Baja California Sur 23090 3 Programa de Botánica Marina, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur Carretera al Sur Km 5.5 La Paz Baja California Sur 23080 Mexico Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Current Status of Recreational Fisheries in Puerto Rico Estado Actual de la Pesca Recreativa en Puerto Rico État Actuel de la Pêche Récréative dans Porto Rico GRISEL RODRIGUEZ-FERRER1, YAMITZA RODRIGUEZ-FERRER2, KELVIN SERRANO3, and LILYESTROM CRAIG2 1 DNER Department of Natural and Environmental Resource PO Box 3665 Marina Station Mayaguez, Puerto Rico 00681 Puerto Rico [email protected] 2 Department Natural and Environmental Resources-DNER PO Box 3665 Marina Station Mayaguez Puerto Rico 00681 Puerto Rico 3 Department of Natural and Environmental Resources PO Box 366147 San Juan PR 00936 Puerto Rico 2Department of Natural and Environmental Reources PO Box 366147 San Juan 00936 Puerto Rico Page 176 ABSTRACT Recreational fisheries are an importantand growing component of the Puerto Rico marine fisheries. Data about the numbers and kinds of fish taken through recreational fisheries are essential for fisheries management. While each individual angler typicallyharvests a small number of fish, collectively these sport fisheries can takea significant fraction of the yearly catch (Committee on the Review of Recreational Fishing Methods 2006). The Puerto Rico Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Program was instituted in 1999 as an effort to monitor recreational fishing in Puerto Rico. Prior to this project, there was no continuous information regarding marine recreational fishing activities in the Island. This project has filled a gap in fisheries management. This data, when combined with the commercial fisheries data, gives the necessary tools to appropriately manage fisheries in Puerto Rico. Data from this project was used in the formulation of the first modern Fisheries Regulation for Puerto Rico in 2004, in subsequent amendments to this and in the most recent Fisheries Regulation 7949(2010). It is also used by the Caribbean Fisheries Management Council for Fisheries Management Plans and amendments, by numerous other groups and individual researchers. In this presentation the curren status of the marine recreational fisheries in Puerto Rico is discussed using data from the Marine Recreational Information Program. KEYWORDS: Recreationa Fisheries, Puerto Rico, Survey, Fisheries Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Changes in Recreational Tournament Fishing as a Result of New Regulations for Recreational Fishing in Puerto Rico Cambios en los Torneos De Pesca como Resultado de Nuevas Leyes para la Pesca Recreativa en Puerto Rico. Les Changements dans Tournoi de Pêche en Raison des Nouveaux Règlements pour la Pêche Récréative a Porto Rico KEYWORDS: tournament, regulations, Puerto Rico 177 Page ABSTRACT In Puerto Rico, fishing tournaments have been continuously monitored since 2000, by the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (PR-DNER), Project F-42 Marine Recreational Fishing Statistic Survey. Prior to 2005, fishing tournaments, although monitored, did not have specific regulations for its fishing practices, since then recreational fishing tournaments have experienced changes with the implementation of Law 278 Puerto Rico Fisheries Law, Regulation 6768 Puerto Rico Fishing Regulation and the following amends to the regulation. As a result of these regulations recreational fishing tournament organizers had to change their operational mode, awards given, and adjust their activities to the current and applicable laws. For tournament organizers this represented a new approach to dolphinfish (C. hippurus), wahoo (A. solandri), and mackerel (Scomberomorus spp.) and reef fish tournaments. The implementation of these new regulations resulted in a new management based approach to recreational fishing in Puerto Rico. This poster analyses the consequences of the execution of this law in tournaments in Puerto Rico. 177 YAMITZA RODRIGUEZ-FERRER1, GRISEL RODRIGUEZ-FERRER2, and CRAIG LILYESTROM3 1 Department Natural and Environmental Resources PO Box 3665 Marina Station Mayaguez, PR 00681 Puerto Rico [email protected] 2 Department of Natural and Environmental Resources PO Box 3665 Marina Station Mayaguez PR 00681 Puerto Rico 3 Department Natural and Environmental Resources PO Box 3665 Marina Station Mayaguez PR 00681 Puerto Rico Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Biología de la Lisa (Mugil incilis): Índices Reproductivos Mullet Biology (Mugil incilis): Reproductive Indices Biologie de Mulet (Mugil incilis): Indicateurs de la Reproduction JOSE LUIS POMARICO MIER2 y ADRIANA RODRIGUEZ FORERO1 1 Maestría en Acuicultura y Ecología Acuática Trop Cra 32 N 22 08 Santa Marta, Colombia [email protected] 2 UNIVERSIDAD DEL MAGDALENA CRA 32 N 22 08 SANTA MARTA COLOMBIA. [email protected] Page 178 RESUMEN La lisa (Mugil incilis), es una de las especies más valoradas de su género a nivel comercial y como producto en la seguridad alimentaria en la Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta (CGSM), (Magdalena, Colombia). Debido a esto, existe una fuerte presión sobre el recurso. Sobre ella, es escasa la información sobre su fisiología de la reproducción la cual permitirá evaluar las poblaciones y su capacidad de perpetuación. Se propone evaluar indicadores relacionados con su comportamiento reproductivo en el medio natural. Para tal efecto, al menos diez ejemplares de la especie se colectaron mensualmente en la CGSM, durante diez meses. Estos se transportaron al Laboratorio de Acuicultura de la Universidad del Magdalena, donde se procedió a realizar biometrías y se disectaron para extraer gónadas e hígado. Se determinó macroscópicamente el estado de madurez gonadal de cada individuo. Los resultados indicaron que las hembras presentan una mayor talla corporal que los machos y éstos se encuentran en menor proporción. Los índices gonadosomático y hepatosomático son superiores en hembras y existe desplazamiento de un mes en la sincronización del periodo de madurez gonadal en machos, con respecto a las hembras. Los resultados obtenidos servirán para promover el aprovechamiento sostenible de este recurso, teniendo en cuenta que es un organismo típicamente estuarino con amplia distribución en la Ciénaga y representa un importante recurso pesquero para los habitantes de esta región. A largo plazo se espera contribuir a construir el paquete tecnológico de su cultivo y a ofrecer medidas de conservación en la región. KEYWORDS: lisa, Mugil incilis, reproduction, liver, gonad Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Estado Actual De Las Poblaciones Del Caracol Strombus Gigas (Linnaeus 1758),En El Sector Centro Del Área Marina Protegida Seaflower, Colombia Current Status of Queen Conch Populations, Strombus Gigas (Linnaeus 1758), In The Central Zone Of Marine Protected Area Seaflower, Colombia Situation Actuelle Des Populations De Lambis, Strombus Gigas (Linnaeus, 1758), Dans La Zone Centrale De Protection Marine Seaflower, Colombie PALABRAS CLAVES: Strombus gigas, SEAFLOWER, Densidad poblacional, Providencia, Colombia 179 Page RESUMEN El Strombus gigas históricamente ha sido la segunda pesquería en importancia económica en el Caribe después de la langosta espinosa. En Colombia, la principal pesquería se desarrolla en el Archipiélago de San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina, región que ha mostrado también una tendencia decreciente en los desembarcos. En 2012 La universidad Nacional de Colombia, sede Caribe, la Secretaria de Agricultura y Pesca del Departamento y con el apoyo de la Oficina del PNN Old Providence Mcbean Lagoon, se evaluó el estado de S. gigas, para ello se estimó la densidad y abundancia mediante evaluaciones visuales con buceo autónomo (scuba) a lo largo de transectos lineales en cruz en las Islas de Providencia y Santa Catalina (incluyendo área del PNN Old Providence McBean Lagoon). Como resultado para la isla de Providencia se estimó una densidad de 6,79 ±20,97 ind.ha-1 similar a la estimada para el PNN 6,79 ±20,01 ind.ha-1. Estos valores están por debajo de las densidades reportadas en el resto del Archipiélago y las reportadas en el resto del caribe. Estos resultados reflejan que no se ha producido una recuperación de la población de la especie, lo cual requiere: 1) Que se evalué, analice y si es el caso se replantee las estrategias de control, manejo y recuperación de la especie que se estén aplicando en esta área; 2) Que se plantee nuevos estudios que expliquen con más detalle que factores están incidiendo en la no recuperación de la población en esta Zona. 179 ANTHONY ROJAS1, JAIRO MEDINA1, TRISHA FORBES2, ERICK CASTRO2 y HUGO WILSON2 1 Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Caribe San luis, Free town No 42-54 San Andres Isla, San Andres Colombia [email protected] 2 Secretaria de Agricultura y Pesca Av. Francisco Newball-Edificio Coral Palace San Andres Isla San Andres Colombia [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Evaluación del Potencial de Manglares y Pastos Marinos como Habitats Esenciales para Peces Juveniles Arrecifales en un Área Marina Protegida del Caribe Colombiano Assessment of Potential Mangroves and Seagrasses as Essential Habitat for Juvenile Reef Fish on Marine Protected Area of Colombian Caribbean. Evaluation du Potentiel des Mangroves et d´Herbes Marines comme Habitats Essentiels Pour les Poissons Juvéniles de Récifs, dans une Aire Marine Protégée sur a Mer Caraïbe de la Colombie. XIMENA ROJAS Consultor Cr 15 no 29 - 345 Santa Marta, Colombia [email protected] Page 180 RESUMEN Los manglares y pastos marinos son ecosistemas estratégicos para el desarrollo de las zonas costeras colombianas. No obstante, en las Áreas Marinas Protegidas (AMP) del Caribe continental se desconoce su potencial como Hábitats Esenciales (HE) para el desarrollo de peces juveniles arrecifales (PJA). El Parque Nacional Natural Corales del Rosario y San Bernardo (PNNCRSB), se localiza en la parte central del Caribe continental colombiano, posee grandes extensiones de praderas de pastos marinos y formaciones de manglar que bordean áreas insulares, lagunas interiores y arrecifales, condiciones que contribuyen a mantener gran cantidad de peces arrecifales. Se realizaron censos visuales en tres localidades del PNNCRSB, durante dos períodos del año 2007 (septiembre – noviembre). Se censaron un total de 4,783 peces, pertenecientes a 29 familias y 58 especies. De estas, se escogieron 23 especies pertenecientes a 13 familias por ser las más representativas entre los hábitats. En promedio fue registrada una mayor proporción de PJA en los hábitats (88.5 % en manglares y 65% en pastos marinos) que peces residentes. Los manglares insulares presentaron la mayor densidad de PJA (158.7 peces/100 m2), mostrando una correlación significativa con la distancia al arrecife de coral, y la estructura del hábitat, evidenciando un mayor potencial como HE para PJA. Por lo anterior, se enfatiza en la necesidad de adelantar estudios sobre la conectividad entre hábitats y en adoptar medidas para la conservación de los HE como el enfoque ecosistémico, monitoreo de HE y educación dentro del AMP. PALABRAS CLAVES: Reef fish, Essential Habitats, Seagrasses, Mangroves, Marine protected area Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI An Electronic Guide to the Shore Fishes of the Caribbean and Adjacent Areas Una Guía Electrónica para los Peces Costeros del Caribe y Zonas Adyacentes Un Guide Électronique des Poissons Côtiers des Caraïbes et Zones Adjacente KEYWORDS: shore fishes, Greater Caribbean, Electronic guide, identification, iPhone 181 Page ABSTRACT A free iPhone/iPad/iPod touch application provides tools to identify and record information about virtually all species of shallow-living marine shore-fishes from the Greater Caribbean (1600 species from 169 families). To aid in the identification of those species, the app incorporates over 5500 images, most of them color photographs of live or freshly collected fish. To collect specimens for this initiative, several field work surveys were conducted since 2005, in the coastal and insular waters of the USA (Florida to Texas), Bahamas, Panamá, Curacao and Venezuela, some of them specially oriented toward locations that were not previously adequately sampled due to logistical complexities of access. During these surveys particular attention was placed on the collection of cryptic, hence poorly known, species. Additionally, collection records from many online (museums and universities) and individual databases, as well as the information provided by the scientific literature were incorporated into the system to enhance geography coverage for each species. Together those produced a database of almost 800,000 occurrence records that were used to construct the species range-maps. A notebook module allows constructing and storing lists of species, together with data relating to the list itself and each member of a list, to organize those lists in folders, and to export them by email. 181 ROBERTSON D ROSS1 , JAMES L VAN TASSELL2 , ERNESTO PEÑA1 , JUAN M POSADA3 and RODOLFO CLARO4 1 Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute 9100 PANAMA CITY PL Washington , DC 20521-9100 USA [email protected] 2Dept. of Ichthyology American Museum of Natural History USA.3 Simón BolívarDept. Biología de Organismos Venezuela. 4 Instituto de Oceanologia Cuba [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Passive Acoustics Record Grouper Spawning Activity At Multi-Species Aggregations Acústicas Pasivas Graban Actividad De Desove De Meros En Agregaciones De Múltiples Especies Acoustiques Passives À Évaluer L’activité De Frai De Mérous À Des Agrégations D’espèces Multiples TIMOTHY J ROWELL, RICHARD S. APPELDOORN, and MICHELLE T. SCHÄRERUMPIERRE University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Department of Marine Sciences PO Box 9000 Mayagüez, PR 00681 Puerto Rico [email protected] Page 182 ABSTRACT Many large groupers (Serranidae and Epinephelidae) form multiple species aggregations at specific times and predictable locations. Documenting the timing of site usage and spawning is essential for understanding the annual dynamics of spawning aggregations and developing protections. Spawning and courtship associated vocalizations of red hind (Epinephelus guttatus), yellowfin grouper (Mycteroperca venenosa), and Nassau grouper, (Epinephelus striatus) have been identified as important spawning behaviors and can be used as indicators of density, habitat use, and spawning. From mid-January to June, passive acoustic recorders collected acoustic data at two protected grouper spawning aggregations off St. Thomas, USVI: the Grammanik Bank (GB) and the Red Hind Bank, Marine Conservation District (MCD). Red hind, yellowfin, and Nassau grouper vocalizations were quantified audibly and visually from spectrograms and summed for each day at each site. The resulting time series revealed that the GB hosted spawning aggregations of yellowfin and Nassau grouper during the months of January-May and red hind in January-February with lunar periodicity. Nassau grouper aggregated in later months than previously observed at other Caribbean locations. The MCD primarily supported spawning aggregations of red hind in January and February, but recordings of all species’ vocalizations were present during all months, indicating that yellowfin and Nassau grouper use the MCD during the spawning season. Passive acoustic techniques provided species specific information on when spawning peaked and at which locations spawning occurred at a higher resolution than previously attainable with traditional methods. KEYWORDS: Epinephelus guttatus, Epinephelus striatus, Mycteroperca venenosa, Sound production, United States Virgin Islands Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Recovery of Coastal Ecosystems in the Gulf of California: The Need of Breaking “Vicious Circles” in Social-Ecological Systems En Busca de Recuperar los Ecosistemas Costeros del Golfo de California: La Necesidad de Romper Círculos Viciosos en las Interacciones de los Sistemas Ecológico-Sociales La régénération des écosystèmes côtiers dans le golfe de Californie: la nécessité de la rupture "cercles vicieux» dans Social-Ecological Systems Reconstruit captures totales par les pêches maritimes des petits États insulaires dans les Caraïbes (1950 -2010) KEYWORDS: Gulf of California, Social Ecological Systems, fisheries, wetland 183 Page ABSTRACT Marismas Nacionales (MN), in the Gulf of California (GC), is one of the largest mangrove areas on the Pacific coast of North America. This ecosystem is economically and ecologically important for small and large-scale fisheries. The livelihood of coastal communities in MN is tied to the ecosystem health. However, presently the high fishing effort is linked to economic policies that promote natural resource exploitation and ecosystem degradation. We described a “vicious circle” existent in the social-ecological systems of fishing towns in MN, where high prices of some fishery resources and unsustainable fishery practices, maintain mangrove forests in a degraded state. We report data from 182 surveys related to fishermen perspectives on their natural environment. We investigated fishermen i) perspectives regarding fishing overexploitation, ii) fishery practices, and iii) knowledge about mangroves, fished, and native wetland species. Results show fishermen are aware of environmental damage and reduced catches. We found a long-term practice of unsustainable fishing practices i.e., Purina, a pork meal employed to aggregate shrimp when fishing, is considered an everyday practice during shrimp season. Similarly the use of illegal mesh nets and cyanide for fishing is widespread. Fishermen were knowledgeable of the ecological benefits mangroves provide to improve their livelihoods, and of the laws for mangrove preservation. Overall fishermen had substantial knowledge of the biology of fished species. Our findings can help lightening actions, which need to be implemented in policy and management strategies in order to break the “vicious circle” between maintaining the socioeconomic benefits and increasing environmental degradation in MN. 183 NADIA T. RUBIO-CISNEROS1, OCTAVIO ABURTO-OROPEZA1, JEREMY JACKSON1, and EZCURRA EXEQUIEL2 1 Scripps Institution of Oceanography Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation 9500 Gilman Drive la Jolla, CA 92093 United States [email protected] 2 UC Institute for Mexico and the United States (UC MEXUS)University of California, Riverside 3324 Olmsted Hall Riverside riverside ca 92521 USA Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Distribución Espacialmente Explícita de la Intensidad de Pesca Marina en Colombia: Base de un Sistema de Información Geográfica Pesquera Participativo Spatially-Explicit Distribution of Marine Fishing Intensity in Colombia: Base of a Participatory Geographical Fishing Information System Spatialement Explicite de Distribution de l'Intensité de la Pêche Maritime en Colombie: Base d'Un Système d'Information Géographique Participatifs de la Pêche MARIO RUEDA, ALFREDO RODRIGUEZ, DIANA BUSTOS MONTES, DANETCY MÁRMOL EFRAÍN VILORIA, LUISA GARCÍA and ALEXANDER GIRÓN INVEMAR Cerro Punta Betín, A.A 1016 Santa Marta, Magdalena Colombia [email protected] Page 184 RESUMEN El contexto espacial de la pesca cada vez cobra más relevancia en el manejo y conservación de pesquerías. Sin embargo, información explícita sobre la distribución del esfuerzo de pesca es muy difícil de obtener, especialmente en la pesca artesanal donde en la mayoría casos no se cuenta con dispositivos de geoposición a bordo. Durante 2010 y 2011 se realizaron entrevistas a más de 9800 pescadores artesanales en ambas costas de Colombia, con fines de caracterizar la pesca marina reciente y cartografiar la intensidad de pesca. Se colectó información tecnológica, biológica, económica y social de la actividad, además de la ubicación de múltiples sitios de desembarque y caladeros de pesca definidos por áreas con mayor intensidad de pesca para un arte específico. La información sobre caracterización de la pesca industrial fue obtenida de la institucionalidad pesquera e información secundaria, la cual permitió cartografiar las áreas de pesca por tipo de flota. Se construyó un Sistema de Información Geográfica (SIG), el cual se presenta a través de una plataforma virtual denominada geovisor de pesca (http://gis.invemar.org.co/anh_caladerospesca/). Los resultados obtenidos tienen amplia aplicación para el manejo y conservación de la pesca, así como en evaluaciones del impacto sobre esta actividad debidas a múltiples usos del espacio marino. PALABRAS CLAVES: Pesca artesanal e industrial, SIG, distribución espacial, manejo, conservación e impacto ambiental, Colombia Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Colombian Marine Small-Scale Fisheries Management: Tragedy of the Commons and an Opportunity for Co-Management Manejo Pesquero Artesanal Marino en Colombia: Otra Tragedia del Común pero una Oportunidadpara el Co-Manejo La Gestion de la Pêche Colombienne à Petite Échelle: La Tragédie des Biens Communs; Une Opportunité de Co-Gestion KEYWORDS: Co-management, Coastal Fisheries Management, Small-Scale Fisheries 185 Page ABSTRACT Although Colombia’s coastal fisheries have declined noticeable historically and in recent times, conditions are not as dire as elsewhere in the world. This gives hope that the decline might be arrested and conditions eventually improve. Understanding small-scale fisheries are key to protecting the health of the nation’s coastal ecosystems and in improving the quality of life for coastal fishing communities. This paper presents the results of an analysis to characterize the nature and scope of Colombia’s small-scale fisheries, and finding a place for them within a sustainable management framework based on conditions for success. While many differences were evident, the universal acknowledgement of problems and concurrence on broad solutions suggests that implementing successful fisheries co-management may now be possible, although difficulties still abound. Areas of agreement suggest that both old and new problems could be minimized by implementing co-management. Analysis of differences suggests that comanagement, a mix of Top-down and Bottom-up approaches, better addresses the realities that threaten this sector. If the Colombian administration continues centralized administration of the fishery sector, future conditions could well be worse than at present. Socio-ecological systems related to marine and coastal fisheries may grow weak and fragile, making fishing communities even more vulnerable, putting food security at risk, and endangering the health of marine ecosystems. Colombian small-scale fisheries situation is evaluated by taking as case studies four traditional marine artisanal fisheries communities on the Pacific coast and five on the Atlantic coast in order to understand and describe their past and actual situation. 185 LINA MARIA SAAVEDRA-DÍAZ1, ANDREW ROSENBERG2, and ROBERT POMEROY3 1 University of Magdalena University of New Hampshire Programa de Biologia, Carrera 32 No. 22-08 Santa Marta, Magdalena Colombia [email protected] 2 Center for Science & Democracy, Union of Concerned Scientists National Headquarters, Two Brattle Sq. Cambridge Massachusetts 02138 United States 3 University of Connecticut Room 380, Marine Science Building, 1080 Shennecossett Road Groton Connecticut 06340-6048 United States Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI What Must be Done to Recover a Threatened Commercial Grouper, The Nassau, Epinephelus striatus? Que Se Debe Hacer para Recuperar un Mero Commercial en Peligro de Extincion, El Nassau, Epinephelus striatus? Qu’est-Ce qu’on Doit Faire pour Restorer un Merou Commercial Amenace, Le Nassau, Epinephelus striatus? Page 186 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] ABSTRACT The Nassau grouper was listed as globally threatened in 1996 according to IUCN Red List criteria and categories, and again in early 2000s. Although a growing suite of management measures has been applied nationally to the species over the last two decades or so, especially in relation to protection of spawning aggregations, with few notable exceptions there is little evidence of recovery. The major remaining outpost for the species, in terms of reef area and fishery status, appears to be The Bahamas although indications are that landings in this country are gradually declining. However, in most places little detailed information exists on its status with few initiatives at the national level aimed at its recovery. Given its pelagic (i.e. possibly wide-ranging) larval phase, the long-distance migrations (hundreds of km) undertaken by some adults between resident and spawning reefs, and its value for food and livelihoods, a better understanding of its current regional and global status is needed. An updated overview of the status of the species, sponsored by the Caribbean Fishery KEYWORDS: endangered, grouper, management, review Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Research on Larval Nutrition of the Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus Las Investigaciones sobre la Nutrición Larval del Pargo del Golfo Recherches sur la Nutrition Larvaire du Vivaneau Campèche ou Sarde Rouge Lutjanus campechanus KEYWORDS: red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus, nutrition, larval rearing, aquaculture 187 Page ABSTRACT The red snapper is a forefront candidate for marine aquaculture in the United States. Development of aquaculture for this species is impaired by the very low survival through the larval phase, largely attributed to unsuccessful feeding. Another limitation is the dependency on copepod nauplii which remain an essential prey for the first 3 to 4 weeks of culture. Understanding larval nutritional requirements and digestive capacity will be helpful in order to develop successful protocols for feeding red snapper larvae. In this work, the ontogeny of the digestive system of developing larvae was described morphologically via histology, and by assaying the activity of digestive enzymes including lipase, trypsine, chymotrypsine, aminopeptidase, alkaline phosphatase and pepsin at different stages of the larval culture. Enzyme measurements were performed on samples from two replicate tanks at 18 hours post fertilization and then 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 12, 18, 24, 31 days post hatch. The proximate composition of larvae collected at different stages as above, and of live preys and inert prepared feeds given during larval rearing were determined. Moisture, crude lipid and crude protein content as well as the total soluble protein fraction were measured, and fatty acid and amino acid profiles were generated. Lipid content of the larvae showed a transient increase during the first week of feeding and then decreased and stabilized at levels similar to values recorded at first feeding. Protein content increased steadily during the larval development in a trend paralleled by most amino acids. 187 ERIC SAILLANT1, CAMILO POHLENZ2, ERIC LECLERCQ1, AGNES BARDONALBARET1, ANGELOS APEITOS3, ALEJANDRO BUENTELLO2, DELBERT M GATLIN III2, BRIE SARKISIAN1 and JASON LEMUS1 1 The University of Southern Mississippi GCRL 703 East Beach Drive Ocean Springs, MS 39564 USA [email protected] 2 Texas A&M University 703 East Beach Drive Ocean Springs, MS 39564 USA 2 Texas A&M University TAMU 2258 College StationTX 77843 USA Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Algunos Aspectos sobre la Reproducción de Pterois volitans en Chichiriviche de la Costa, Estado Vargas (Venezuela) Some Aspects about the Reproduction of Pterois volitans in Chichiriviche de la Costa, Vargas State (Venezuela) Certains Aspects Concernant la Reproduction de Pterois volitans à Chichiriviche de la Costa, l'État de Vargas (Venezuela) MARÍA F. SALAZAR R., NICIDA NORIEGA, and JUAN M. POSADA Univ. Simón Bolívar Dept. Biología de Organismos Valle de Sartenejas, Pabellón 4 Caracas, Venezuela [email protected] Page 188 RESUMEN Pterois volitans (Pisces: Scorpaenidae) ha logrado establecerse y dispersarse en corto tiempo en las aguas del Atlántico nor- y centro occidental y el Caribe, a partir de su presencia inicial en las aguas de La Florida (EE.UU). Una de las razones que posiblemente permitieron ésta rápida expansión se relaciona con su aparente capacidad de reproducirse a lo largo de todo el año. El objetivo principal del presente estudio fue evaluar algunos aspectos en la reproducción del pez león, a través de las observaciones en ejemplares capturados en Chichiriviche de la Costa, estado Vargas (Venezuela). Se realizaron muestreos mensuales desde diciembre de 2010 hasta noviembre de 2011. Las tallas de los individuos capturados estuvieron entre 96 y 290 mm de longitud total (LT) para las hembras, y entre 90 y 287 mm LT para los machos, las cuales no resultaron significativamente distintas (U de Mann-Whitney: W=16, p=0,5296). Se calcularon los índices gonadosomáticos (IGS) y se examinaron histológicamente las gónadas de todos los individuos colectados. Las tallas mínimas de madurez sexual fueron 96 mm y 90 mm LT, para machos y hembras respectivamente, mientras que la talla a la que madura el 50% de la población se estimó en 160 y 170 mm LT para machos y hembras, respectivamente. No se encontró evidencia que apunte hacia la ocurrencia de desoves continuos a lo largo del año, sino a través de eventos discretos (abril, agosto y septiembre). PALABRAS CLAVES: Pez león, reproducción, desove, madurez, Venezuela Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Caracterización del Periodo Reproductivo y de Desove del Caracol Strombus gigas en el Parque de Xel Há, Quintana Roo México Characterization of the Reproductive Period and Spawning of the Snail Strombus gigas in the Park of Xel-Ha, Quintana Roo, Mexico Caractérisation de la Reproduction et Ponde du Lambi Strombus gigas dans le Parc de Xel Há, Quintana Roo México PALABRAS CLAVES: Strombus gigas, Reproducción, Desove, Densidad, Caribe 189 Page RESUMEN Caracterización del periodo reproductivo y de desove del caracol Strombus gigas en el Parque de Xel Há, Quintana Roo México Caractérisation de la reproduction et ponde du lambi Strombus gigas dans le Parc de Xel Há, Quintana Roo México Characterization of the reproductive period and spawning of the snail Strombus gigas in the Park of Xel-ha, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Manuel Sánchez Crespo y Dalila Aldana Aranda El caracol rosa Strombus gigas es una especie importante del Caribe. En Quintana Roo, constituyó la principal pesquería. Reproducción y desove de S. gigas se realiza en los meses más cálidos. En este trabajo, en Xel-ha de JunioAgosto se realizaron monitoreos semanales para conocer el comportamiento reproductivo de S. gigas; cuantificando número de organismos en cópula, desove y masas de huevo en tres transectos de 1000 m2. Los parámetros fisicoquímicos temperatura (°C), salinidad (ppm) y oxígeno (ml l-1) en superficie y fondo fueron determinados (YSI-85, ±0.1): La composición granulométrica del sedimento se analizó mensulamente. La temperatura promedio en superficie fue 27.33 °C y 29.16 °C en fondo; el oxígeno disuelto en superficie 4.65 ppm y en fondo 4.85 ppm; la salinidad en superficie 14.9 y en fondo 33.93. El sedimento presentó 53.32% de arena fina y arena media (20.7 %). Un total de 157 caracoles observados; 45 estaban copulando, 136 desovando, y 106 masas de huevo. La densidad media fue de 0.0776 caracoles m-2 con una densidad máxima de 0.113 caracoles m-2 (Junio) y mínima 0.05 caracoles m-2 (agosto). Del total de caracoles, 18 desovaron 2 veces y 2 lo hicieron 3 veces, a un intervalo de 7-19 días. Se observaron 2 hembras del inicio al término del desove, proceso que duro 20 horas. 189 MANUEL SANCHEZ y DALILA ALDANA CINVESTAV-IPN Unidad Mérida km. 6 Carretera Antigua a Progreso Mérida, Yucatán 97310 México [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Triadamodel Fishworkers Inclusion in Academic and Productive Environment Modelo Triada Inclusión del Pescador Artesanal en un Entorno Académico y Productivo Triadamodèle Inclusion dans un Environnement Scolaire Pêcheurs et Productif 1 LUIS FERNANDO SANCHEZ RUBIO1 and FREDY ORJUELA MARTINEZ2 Fundación Planeta Azul Calle 67 #13-40 B. Canapote Cartagena, Bolivar 00000 Colombia [email protected] 2 Fundacion Planeta Azul Calle 67 # 13-40 B. Canapote Cartagena Boliv 00000 Colombia Page 190 ABSTRACT Due to the current fishing situation at the Colombian Caribbean, which is defined by difficulties such as the lacking of appropriate fishing techniques, (Grijalba et al 2011) that impact negatively the environment and the fishing resource, added by a lousy policy that is not coherent to the social reality (CCO, 2010), and a continuous environmental degradation (INVEMAR, 2010), it is evident the needing of alternatives that can confluence the previous problems and solve them effectively, including an educational component to mitigate de low technical level of local communities. Accordingly to this perspective, an intervention model is proposed for the fishery affair: the triad (TRIADA). This is a combination of three performers who work in a geographical area and who work on the multi scale fishery production topic. The “professionals”, who provide the research, leaping out from conceptual to productive, as changing agents, looking at ecology since natural sciences to social sciences, (Ramírez, 2000) and applying the Environmental Didactic strategy (Sánchez, 2004) through the real fishing productive field, amplified towards aquaculture. “Communities”, traditionally productive and informal, in this case although, organized and well oriented toward the technological achievement in their activity, and finally, “private institutions”; enterprises belonging to a related productive sector, that while continuing its enterprise´s mission, either developing new business fields or doing its current job with its financial muscle, include in its working plans this triad. KEYWORDS: fisheries, triad, Caribbean, fishworker, fishing Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Policy Effects in a Fishery Economy In Northern Honduras: Using a Village Model Efectos De Las Políticas en una Economía Pesquera en el Norte de Honduras: El Uso de un Modelo De Pueblo Effets de la Politique dans une Économie de la Pêche dans le Nord du Honduras: Utilisation d'Un Modèle de Village KEYWORDS: Village SAM, Lobster, Honduras, Policy Impact 191 Page ABSTRACT Sound policy decisions in coastal areas require that coastal managers have objective and timely information on the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of the policy and program alternatives being considered. Effective decision making also calls for periodic assessments of the impact of socio-economic and environmental conditions in order to identify the fishery activities, coastal communities, and families experiencing economic stress. Developing the capabilities to deliver this information requires procedures and methods that allow realistic and timely monitoring of socioeconomic impacts. This research project intended to develop a Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) applicable to fishery communities in the north coast of Honduras. By using multiplier analyses techniques, it was possible to explore the impacts of projected policy changes, in this case the possible disclosure of industrial lobster fishing, on fishing communities in the Miskito region. Using a representative sample, seven different types of households were identified for the creation of the Village SAM. The Village SAM allowed us to simulate the possible lobster foreclosure in the socioeconomic and environmental circumstances of the area and to analyze the impacts of these changes on the different types of households. 191 ARIE SANDERS and DENISSE MCLEAN Zamorano University Apdo. 93 Tegucigalpa, Honduras [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Hábitos Alimentarios del Pez León Pterois volitans en el Caribe Colombiano Food Habits of the Lionfish Pterois volitans in the Colombian Caribbean Habitudes Alimentaires du Rascasse Volante Pterois volitans dans le Caribe Colombien ADOLFO SANJUAN-MUÑOZ1, MARCELA GRIJALBA-BENDECK1, HUMBERTO GOMEZ-PARDO1, ELIANA CARDENAS-AGUIAR1, MARIA CASSO-CARRASCO2, y ARTURO ACERO-PIZARRO3 1 Universidad Jorge Tadeo Loano Cra. 2 No. 11-68. Edificio Mundo Marino. El Rodadero. Santa Marta, Magdalena No aplica Colombia [email protected] 2 Universitat de Barcelona. Facultat de Biologia Avinguda Diagonal 643 Barcelona Catalunya 08028 España 3 Universidad Nacional de Colombia Cerro Punta Betín - INVEMAR Santa Marta Magdalena No aplica Colombia [email protected] Page 192 RESUMEN Se analizaron 485 estómagos de Pterois volitans provenientes de los sectores Chocó, Bolívar y Magdalena (Caribe colombiano), hallándose alimento en el 49.3% (n = 239). En Choco 73.0% (n = 111) de peces tenían alimento, en Bolívar 56.8% (n = 50) y en Magdalena 25.8% (n = 48). Se encontraron 435 muestras de alimento correspondientes a peces (n = 278), crustáceos (n = 53), restos de peces (n = 61), restos de crustáceos (n = 9) y materia orgánica no identificable (n = 34). La biomasa promedio ingerida por P. volitans fue de 1.49 + 0.20 g. Los peces identificados hasta ahora (n = 42) pertenecen a 9 familias y 14 especies. El 30.9% de los peces-presas fueron de Thalassoma bisfaciatum (n = 13), y el 16.7% de Stegastes planifrons y Apogon quadriscuamatus (n = 7 para cada una). El tamaño y peso promedio de las especies ícticas consumidas por P. volitans fue de 3.9 + 0.2 cm y 2.3 + 0.3 g respectivamente, siendo un ejemplar de Sparisoma chrysopterum el de mayor talla y peso (12.5 cm y 36.0 g) y un espécimen de Coryphopterus sp., el más pequeño (1.5 cm y 0.04 g). Se encontraron cuatro (4) géneros de crustáceos, siendo el tamaño y peso promedio de estos de 3.1 + 0.3 cm y 0.7 + 0.1 g respectivamente; el ejemplar más grande tuvo una talla de 8.5 cm y un peso de 2.8 g, y el de menor tamaño midió 0.8 cm y pesó 0.1 g. PALABRAS CLAVES: Pterois volitans, Especie Invasora, Ecología trófica, Pez León, Composición de la Dieta Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Morphometric Variation of Coroncoro (Micropogonias furnieri) on the Colombian Caribbean and the Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela Variación Morfométrica del Coroncoro (Micropogonias furnieri) en el Caribe de Colombia y el Lago de Maracaibo en Venezuela Variation Morphométrique de Coroncoro (Micropogonias furnieri) sur la Région Caraïbe Colombienne et le Lac de Maracaibo au Venezuela KEYWORDS: Morfometric, Colombia, Caribbean, Venezuela, Coroncoro 193 Page ABSTRACT This paper identifies patterns morfometrics on four population of M. Furnieri present in lagoon coastal and estuary ecosistems, for which were collected102 individuals catched in differents sites by the artisanal fishery float. Were designed a morfometrics measures net from 12 anatomical points. Two functions discriminated morphometrically the four populations and selected 10 measures to characterize each one. The main characteristics are the body height, length of caudal peduncle, basis of the first and second dorsal fin, and the size of the mouth. Were attributed the change in the morphology of the stocks to the characteristics of the ecosystems they inhabit. Due to the lack of information, we suggests studying trophic relationships and their effect on morphometric variation in a way which will provide suport to policy makers in formulating management plans that seek sustainable and rational utilization of fishery resources in the Colombian and Venezuelan Caribbean 193 EDDIE SANJUANELO GARCÍA and JUAN CARLOS NARVAEZ Universidad del Magdalena Santa Marta, Colombia [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI SIMASPE - Sistema de Manejo Sustentable de la Pesquería: El Caso del Archipiélago de San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina - Reserva de la Biosfera Seaflower, Caribe Colombiano SIMASPE- System of Sustainable Management of Fisheries: The Case of the Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina - Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, Colombian Caribbean SIMASPE- Système pour la Gestion Durable de la Pêcherie: Le Cas de l'Archipel San Andrés, Providencia et Santa Catalina - Réserve de la Biosphère Seaflower, Caraïbe Colombienne ADRIANA SANTOS-MARTÍNEZ Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Caribe - San Luis Free Town San Andrés, Archipiélago Colombia [email protected] Page 194 RESUMEN Como respuesta a la problemática en la pesquería, en las dimensiones natural-ecológica, socialcultural, económica-productiva y política-institucional, se propone el SIMASPE - Sistema de Manejo Sustentable de la Pesquería, caso Reserva de Biosfera Seaflower. El cual es un software (en línea, de fácil almacenamiento y uso), que se constituye en una herramienta científica, con fines académicos; basado en el marco de la sustentabilidad de un sistema socio-ecológico. Se desarrolló para dar a conocer la información de cada dimensión a los usuarios, Sistema de Información Ambiental (SIA), sobre publicaciones, tablas, imágenes y/o mapas (680 archivos); y simular escenarios de manejo Escala de Sustentabilidad Pesquera (ESP), sobre unmodelo de la tendencia a la sustentabilidad, que pondera 20 variables, índices o puntos de referencia (cualitativas, cuantitativas o semi-cuantitativas), en forma de “semáforo”. Con lo cual los usuarios conocen y participar de la toma de decisiones, contribuyendo a la gobernanza desde el co-manejo. La simulación se realizó a partir del análisis holístico del estado de las pesquerías del Archipiélago, langosta, caracol y peces y de la pesca industrial y artesanal. Se demostró que la sustentabilidad actual, se encuentra en un estado intermedio alto (amarillo – naranja). Las evidencias reflejan alta riqueza, disminución de la abundancia y sobrepesca de los principales recursos, signos de deterioro en el ecosistema, existen amenazas naturales y actividades ilícitas y pesca ilegal. Los indicadores socioeconómicos tienen valores medios a bajos. Los usuarios participan y han logrado acuerdos importantes con el gobierno. Pero se puede alcanzar mayor sustentabilidad, si se mejora la calificación de cada pesquería y por lo tanto lograr modelos de desarrollo sustentable, a escala humana. PALABRAS CLAVES: Manejo, Sustentabilidad, Pesquerías, Softwear, Seaflower Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Estudio de la Población Micótica Asociada al Pepino de Mar Isostichopus badionotus Fungal Population Associated with Sea Cucumber Isostichopus badionotus Étude du La Population Fongique de Concombre de Mer Isostichopus badionotus PALABRAS CLAVES: Bêche-de-mer, fungus, microbiology, Isostichopus badionotus, sea cucumber 195 Page RESUMEN El pepino de mar Isostichopus badionotus es una especie ampliamente distribuida en el Caribe y poco conocida en Colombia. Tiene gran importancia ecológica, al actuar como bioturbina, mezclando el sedimento y el detritus y limpiando el fondo donde habita. Es un producto gastronómico en Asia y Europa, habiéndose demostrado su calidad nutricional. Su papel ecológico reviste gran importancia en los ecosistemas naturales donde habita y no se han realizado estudios sobre la flora microbiana asociada a estos individuos. Así pues, el presente trabajo pretende caracterizar la población micótica de esta especie. Para ello se colectaron individuos provenientes de la bahía de Santa Marta, los cuales fueron trasladados al Laboratorio de Acuicultura de la Universidad del Magdalena, se estabularon y luego se llevaron al Laboratorio de Microbiología donde se procedió a realizar un frotis superficial en piel y en el tubo digestivo luego de su sacrificio a través de hipotermia. Se realizaron observaciones macro y microscópicas de las colonias fúngicas aisladas a partir de cultivos en agar Saboraud adicionado de gentamicina y estreptomicina, permitiendo identificarlas hasta nivel de género y especie. Se ensayaron enfrentamientos duales entre todas las cepas para determinar actividad antagónica entre estas. De las colonias aisladas, se identificaron nueve especies fúngicas Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, A. sp.,Cladopsorium fulvum, Cladosporium herbarum, Gliocladium sp., Paecilomyces sp., Penicillium sp. y Trichoderma sp. Los ensayos de enfrentamiento dual muestran que las cepas de Paecilomyces sp. y Aspergillus niger tienen mejor actividad antagónica frente al resto de las cepas identificadas. 195 JONATHAN SARMIENTO, JORGE LUNA FONTALVO, y ADRIANA RODRIGUEZ FORERO Universidad del Magdalena Cra 32 N 22 08 Santa Marta, Colombia [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Reproductive Biology of Lionfish Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Colombian Caribbean Biología Reproductiva del Pez León Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758) en el Caribe Colombiano Biologie Reproductive de Lion de Poisson Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758) dans la Caraïbe Colombienne LAURA SARMIENTO1, HUMBERTO GÓMEZ1, MARCELA GRIJALBA BENDECK1, ADOLFO SANJUAN MUÑOZ1 and ARTURO ACERO2 1 Universidad de Bogotá Jorge Tadeo Lozano Bogotá, Colombia [email protected] 2 Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Caribe. Santa Marta Colombia Page 196 ABSTRACT The arrival of Pterois volitans tropical waters of the western Atlantic has reported an increase in their populations and a decrease in the diversity of environments colonized with high efficiency of adaptations, which generates a large pressure on native species of these areas, this apparent success may be explained by reproduction, this being the overall objective of this studio. Se assessed reproductive condition (degree of gonadal development, maturation stages) of P. volitans in the Colombian Caribbean, by histological analysis and counting of the gonads of males and females, providing information in their gonadal development, fecundity, length of maturity and sex ratio, to establish management measures to control the rate birth. Set the gonad development of P. volitans in male and female specimens to determine when the breeding season and what are the minimum size of maturity. Initially estimated the fertility and sexual maturity stages macroscopically and microscopically by determining the index gonadal (GI) of the specimens, the size of sexual maturity was obtained by relating total length and weight of individuals. The evaluation of the sex ratio was performed by climatic periods and determined the relationship between the temporal variation of the catches and the variability of organisms caught. Differences in sex ratio during the months of capture and sexual maturity, indicated the main months in which it must make the biggest catch. KEYWORDS: Reproduction, Histological, Colombian Caribbean, maturity stages, gonads Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Pursuing Sustainability for the Brazilian Lobster, Panulirus argus, Fishery from the Bottom-Up Buscando La Sustentabilidad para la Pesquería Brasileña de Langosta, Panulirus argus, con Iniciativas de Abajo Hacia Arriba À la Recherche d'Une Pêche Durable de la Langouste, Panulirus argus, au Brésil, une Expérience de Terrain RENÉ SCHÄRER1 and MICHELLE SCHÄRER-UMPIERRE2 Amigos de Prainha do Canto Verde Caixa Postal 51 Beberibe, CE 62840-970 Brasil [email protected] 2 Department of Marine ScienceUniversity of Puerto Rico P.O.Box 9000 Mayagüez PR 00681 Puerto Rico KEYWORDS: lobster, Brazil, certification, sustainability, Panulirus argus 197 Page ABSTRACT The Brazilian lobster (Panulirus argus) fishery, exploited since the 1950's, has generated annual exports ranging from US$ 59 to 92 million, most of which is directed to the US. Approximately 15,000 artisanal fishers, many of which are 'jangadeiros', depend directly on this resource for their livelihoods; therefore the sustainability of the fishery is imperative for social development, food security, poverty alleviation and economic stability in coastal regions of northeastern Brazil. However in the past decades the landings, catch per unit effort and size of lobsters has declined precipitously despite fisheries management regulations such as limited licensing, size limits, gear restrictions and ever expanding seasonal bans, which are accompanied by fisher's unemployment compensation. Some of the problems affecting the fishery include: overcapitalization, destructive fishing (hookah, gillnets), capture of berried and juvenile individuals, impact to habitat (steel drum 'casitas'), ineffective enforcement, lack of control of origin and insufficient scientific data (biological and socio-economic) for management decisions. Various bottom-up approaches have been developed to see this trend reversed including: local participation in fisheries management, networking, outreach and education to follow the FAO Code of Responsible Fishing, certification of lobster products, MPA establishment and marketbased tools. The latest efforts are encompassed in a sustainable fisheries partnership that seeks to develop agreements with all stakeholders to implement best management practices. Although previous MSC certification failed this time certification of origin, under the Bureau Veritas “Recognition of Responsible Fishing” scheme is sought. 197 1 Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI The Courtship Associated Sounds of Nassau Grouper, Epinephelus striatus (Pisces: Epinephelidae) during Spawning Aggregations Sonidos Asociados al Cortejo del Mero Cherna, Epinephelus striatus (Pisces: Epinephelidae) durante Agregaciones Reproductivas The Courtship Associés sons de Mérou Rayé, Epinephelus striatus (Pisces: Epinephelidae) au cours de Frayères MICHELLE SCHÄRER-UMPIERRE, TIMOTHY ROWELL, MICHAEL NEMETH, and RICHARD APPELDOORN Department of Marine Science University of Puerto Rico P.O. Box 9000 Mayagüez, PR 00681 Puerto Rico [email protected] Page 198 ABSTRACT Nassau grouper, Epinephelus striatus, were studied at two known and one newly located spawning aggregation site to document the species passive acoustic characteristics. At least two types of sounds are produced by Nassau grouper; one related to alarm or distress and the other associated with courtship. Although the sound production capabilities of this species had been documented this is the first time courtship associated sounds (CAS) are described with autonomous video and audio recordings, which allowed us to determine a relation between sound and courtship behavior.The alarm sound is a train of short pulses 0.09 ± 0.02 s and the CAS begins with a few short pulses but is immediately followed by a consistent and longer tonal portion making this sound of greater duration (1.6 ± 0.3 s). With this information the temporal dynamics of Nassau grouper were quantified at two sites (Grammanik, USVI and Bajo de Sico, PR). The residence time, peak sound production days and months at the two sites was similar although replicate long-term recordings are required to establish consistent patterns. The association between sound and reproductive behaviors provides researchers with an important clue that allows the assessment and monitoring of multiple spawning aggregations sites simultaneously over a greater time span. Information on the temporal patterns of CAS during spawning aggregations applies directly to the protection of the most critical phases of reproduction for this endangered species via seasonal or site specific management efforts. KEYWORDS: Nassau grouper, spawning aggregation, sound, courtship, reproductive behavior Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Evidence of Episodic Mass Recruitment of Nassau Grouper in the Cayman Islands Evidencia de Reclutamiento Masivo Episódica de Nassau Grouper en las Cayman Islands Preuve de Recrutement de Masse Épisodique de Mérou Rayé dans Les Cayman Islands KEYWORDS: Nassau grouper, recruitment, Grouper Moon Project, Cayman Islands, spawning aggregation 199 Page ABSTRACT Nassau grouper, a culturally and ecologically valuable large serranid, have become endangered due to over-fishing of their spawning aggregations. This species only reproduces in large aggregations on evenings surrounding full moons in the winter. Additionally, the catchment of a single aggregation can be 1000s of hectares of reef area. As such, gametes released at aggregation sites represent the complete regional reproductive output of the species. Furthermore, based on a decade’s worth of monitoring from the Cayman Islands, this reproduction occurs during only 2-4 evenings per month. Such concentrated spawning in both time and space affords increased mate choices, egg fertilization rates, and may buffer the impacts of egg predators. However, it is unclear how such concentrated spawning influences regional recruitment. Here we report on Nassau grouper recruitment monitoring in Little Cayman, Cayman Islands, following winter spawning during the last 8 years. Using larval light traps, snorkel surveys and reports from local dive professionals, we found a nearly complete lack of recruitment in all years except 2011. During the 2011 recruitment event, juveniles were commonly found in the back reef habitat around the island. Local episodic recruitment in the species may be accentuated by the loss of recruitment support from aggregations throughout the region that have been fished to exhaustion. Understanding recruitment variability is a key part of efforts to set expectations for recovery in the species following management actions. 199 BRICE SEMMENS1, SCOTT HEPPELL2, PHILLIPPE BUSH3, CHRISTY PATTENGILLSEMMENS4. CROY MCCOY3, and BRADLEY JOHNSON3 1 Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla, CA 92093-0202 USA [email protected] 2 Oregon State UniversityDepartment of Fisheries and Wildlife 104 Nash Hall Corvallis OR 97331 US 3 Cayman Islands Department of EnvironmentProtection and Conservation Unit P.O. Box 486GT Georgetown Grand Cayman Cayman Islands 4 Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) PO Box 246 Key Largo FL 33037 US Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Tourism and Coral Reef Health in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park El Turismo y Salud de los Arrecifes de Coral en el Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park Le Tourisme et la Santé des Récifs Coralliens dans les Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park KRISTA SHERMAN1, CRAIG DAHLGREN2, and DANIEL BRUMBAUGH3 1 Bahamas National Trust P. O. Box N-4105 Nassau, Bahamas [email protected] 2 Perry Institute of Marine Science 100 US Hwy 1, Suite 202 Jupiter Florida 33477 USA 3 America Museum of Natural History 79th Central Park West New York New York 10024 U.S.A. Page 200 ABSTRACT Quantitative and qualitative assessments of fish community structure and benthic composition are being used to determine critical resource thresholds for coral reef habitats and to assist in the development of a long-term monitoring programme for the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park (ECLSP) under the Global Environment Facility Full Sized - pilot demonstration 3 project. Effective management of the ECLSP may improve the health and resiliency of critical habitats by minimizing anthropogenic impacts. Twenty-two sites, across three habitat types – forereef, fringing and channel reefs were selected based on the relative impacts of human activities. Species diversity and biomass data were collected for fish species observed during belt transect surveys. Relative abundance of commercial fish species and invasive lionfish was assessed using timed roving diver surveys. Dominant benthic cover was estimated using point-intercept sampling with 1-m2 quadrats. Species lists were compiled for each quadrat. Preliminary data analyses of fish species abundance using multidimensional scaling and Bray-Curtis similarity indices revealed temporally stable fish communities that varied by habitat type. Within a habitat type, fish communities were grouped based on level of protection, threat and geographic location. The greatest differences in fish community structure were between two of the forereef sites out of the Park and the rest of the forereef sites. Benthic community structure and biodiversity composition varied significantly across sites and reef types. Forereefs were significantly different from both fringing and channel reefs. Forereef sites were dominated by macroalgae; fringing and channel reefs were dominated by corals, sponges, or turf algae. KEYWORDS: coral reefs, fish community structure, benthic composition, anthropogenic impacts, biodiversity Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI The Effects of Fishery Product Imports on the Performance and Sustainability of the Florida Keys Commercial Fishing Industry Los Efectos de las Importaciones de Productos Pesqueros en el Rendimiento y la Sostenibilidad de la Industria de la Pesca Comercial de los Cayos de Florida Les Effets des Importations de Produits Halieutiques sur les Performances et la Durabilité des Keys de la Floride l'Industrie de la Pêche Commerciale KEYWORDS: commercial fishing, fishery imports, fishing communities, Florida Keys 201 Page ABSTRACT Commercial fishing in the Florida Keys, an archipelago located off the southern end of the Florida peninsula, is an economically and culturally important activity, comprised of a variety of subtropical and tropical finfish and invertebrate fisheries. The fishery sector developed as an export economy, initially to the island of Cuba to the south and since the early 20th century, to the mainland US. Over the past few decades, fishery product imports (hereafter ‘imports’) have increased considerably in the US, transported mainly as air cargo, leading to steady supplies of high quality imports. Imports that affect the Florida Keys fisheries consist of substitutes (ex., cultured shrimp from southeast Asia and South America) and species landed in the Florida Keys (ex., spiny lobster, reef finfish). This study evaluates the overall effect of these imports on the performance and sustainability of Florida Keys fisheries, as measured in terms of price, landings, and participation, over the past 35 years. The study also identifies the fisheries in which imports have been most successfully able to compete, i.e., whether local branding or endemic species/stocks have been able to surmount the challenge of imports. Finally, the study considers the role of the US management and regulatory framework in affecting ex-vessel values and the framework effects on US commercial fishery competitiveness. 201 MANOJ SHIVLANI Northern Taiga Ventures, Inc. (NTVI) 10600 SW 131 Court Miami, Florida 33186-3455 USA [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Cambios Temporales en Poblaciones de Pargos (Lutjanidae) En Arrecifes De La Reserva de Biosfera Seaflower, Caribe Colombiano Temporal Changes In Stocks Of Snappers (Lutjanidae) In Reefs At Biosphere Reserve Seaflower, Colombian Caribbean Changements Temporaires Des Populations De Vivaneaux (Lutjanidae) Aux Récifs De La Réserve De Biosphére Seaflower, Caraïbe Colombienne OMAR SIERRA ROZO y ADRIANA SANTOS MARTÍNEZ Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sede Caribe San Luis Free Town San Andrés isla, Colombia [email protected] Page 202 RESUMEN Se evaluaron los cambios en las poblaciones arrecifales de lutjánidos en San Andrés isla, Caribe colombiano, mediante censos visuales con transeptos de banda, en temporada de lluvias del 2009 y 2010 y de sequía del 2010 y 2011 y discriminaron individuos juveniles y adultos. Con estadística descriptiva se compararon las densidades encontradas para establecer tendencias generales. Globalmente se censaron 131 individuos de las especies Lutjanus apodus, Lutjanus mahogoni y Ocyurus chrysurus, y se obtuvo una densidad promedio de 1,8±1,0 pargos 100/m2. El 2,5% de los individuos fueron juveniles. La abundancia general descendió notablemente durante el 2010 y se recuperó en el 2011. La especie más representativa fue L. apodus (1,2±0,9 ind/100 m2), la cual definió el comportamiento general, y fue la única registrada en todas las temporadas y arrecifes. Las otras especies se presentaron con bajas densidades (L. mahogoni: 0,5±0,1 ind/100 m2; O. chrysurus: 0,2±0,1 ind/100 m2), de forma intermitente espacial y temporalmente, y con leves variaciones poblacionales. Según la zonación del AMP, el arrecife con mayor abundancia hace parte de una zona de pesca, y los otros se incluyen en zonas más restringidas. Las capturas de la pesca artesanal de peces ubican a los lutjánidos con un 17% anual (promedio de siete años) y de ella se destaca, entre 14 especies, aO. chrysurus (60,4%), y menos L. apodus (1,5 %), pero no se registra L. mahogoni, lo que requiere ser revisado. Descensos drásticos en la abundancia anual de la familia en 2008 y 2010 (1,9 – 2,7 t), requiere evaluaciones a nivel poblacional, así como de los factores ambientales para explicar los comportamientos observados y aportar medidas de manejo para la Reserva de Biosfera. PALABRAS CLAVES: Arrecifes coralinos, Caribe, Lutjanidae, Pesca artesanal, AMPs Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Explorando el Uso de Fotografías para Evaluar la Pesca Deportiva Submarina en Venezuela Exploring the Use of Photographs to Assess Marine Recreational Fishing in Venezuela Explorer l'Utilisation de Photographies d'Évaluer Marine de la Pêche Récréative au Venezuela PALABRAS CLAVES: Pesca submarina, Fotografías históricas, Esfuerzo de pesca, Ecorregiones marinas 203 Page RESUMEN Las fotografías históricas de pesca deportiva constituyen una evidencia de tallas y especies que han sido objetivo de estos artes de pesca por un largo período de tiempo. La pesca submarina con arpón es un caso interesante de evaluación, dada la alta selectividad de la cual se pregona, tanto en talla como en especies capturadas. Para examinar los cambios que han podido experimentar los recursos sometidos a extracción pesquera por este deporte, se examinaron las variaciones existentes en las tallas de capturas (en 15 categorías taxonómicas) y la composición de especies en las últimas cinco décadas (1960-2010), en cinco ecorregiones marinas de Venezuela, recurriendo al análisis de fotografías históricas. El análisis de tallas presentó limitaciones dada la poca cantidad de datos (1207 capturas registradas). Sin embargo, la talla promedio de captura se mantuvo estable (110 cm) durante las cinco décadas, aunque varias categorías experimentaron variaciones significativas, generalmente en descenso (Serránidos, Sphyraena barracuda y Lutjánidos). En cuanto a especies, las preferencias de los pescadores submarinos se han mantenido estables en el tiempo, sin mostrar cambios significativos. Sin embargo, se detectó una diferencia significativa entre las especies capturadas en cada ecorregión, explicada por las características ecológicas propias de cada una. El esfuerzo de pesca (años de experiencia*profundidad máxima de pesca) ha aumentado en el tiempo. Esto conlleva a una disminución del índice de explotación, lo cual podría interpretarse como un deterioro de los recursos que son objetivo de la pesca submarina en Venezuela, aunque no necesariamente atribuibles a este deporte, ya que estas especies también son de interés comercial. Sin embargo, se continúan capturando especies que deberían tener prioridad de conservación. 203 CARLOS ENRIQUE SOUCRE, JUAN POSADA y JUAN CRUZ Universidad Simón Bolívar Av ppal La Boyera, Res Pikal-B, Apto 71-B. Caracas, Miranda 1083 Venezuela [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Alterations in Home Range Space Use over a Multi-Year Study of Nassau Grouper (Epinephelus striatus) Cambios en el Uso Del Hábitat del Mero de Nassau (Epinephelus striatus) a Través de un Estudio Multi-Anual Les Changements dans l'Usage d'Espace de Gamme de Maison sur une Étude de Multi-An de Mérou de Nassau (Epinephelus striatus) SIERRA STEVENS-MCGEEVER1, BRICE SEMMENS1, CHRISTY PATTENGILLSEMMENS2, SCOTT HEPPELL3, PHILLIPPE BUSH4 , BRADLEY JOHNSON4 and CROY MCCOY4 1 Scripps Institution of Oceanography La Jolla, Ca [email protected] 2 Reef Environmental Education Foundation 3 Oregon State University 4 Cayman Islands Department of the Environment Page 204 ABSTRACT Characterizing long-term movement patterns and space use is vital to developing a robust understanding of spatial ecology. While short-term tracking is informative regarding daily movement patterns, long-term data provide insight into the stability of these spatial use patterns. In this study, we examine the variation in home range space use of Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus). Using acoustic telemetry, we monitored the movements of Nassau grouper in the Cayman Islands by examining the frequency of detections at hydrophones located within the home range of tagged fish. Changes in the number of detections through time signified alterations in the habitat occupied by Nassau groupers, suggesting that these fish may have larger home ranges than previously thought, or that Nassau groupers exhibit home range drift. This idea is supported by data from depth-coded tags, where two of our study fish shifted the depth of their home range. We used a time series analysis (Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT)) to identify cyclical patterns in frequency of tag detections. The FFT analysis showed marked peaks in the number of detections per day at 24-hour cycles. Evidence for long-term shifts in home ranges could have implications for the management of this endangered species by changing our understanding regarding the space required for effective spatial management. Fish in this study showed distinctly different depth use patterns when compared to the only other long-term acoustic study of this species, suggesting that movement patterns and space use of this species may depend greatly on local habitat characteristics and oceanic conditions. KEYWORDS: Spatial ecology, Grouper, Epinephelus striatus, Home Range, Acoustic Telemetry Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Evaluating the Abundance and Size Distribution of Indo-Pacific Lionfish (Pterois spp.) in the United States Virgin Islands La Evaluación de la Distribución de la Abundancia y el Tamaño del Indo-Pacífico, el Pez León (Pterois sp.) en los Estados Unidos Islas Vírgenes Évaluation de l'Abondance et la Taille de Distribution de l'Indo-Pacifique Lionfish (Pterois spp.) dans les Îles Vierges Américaines 205 Page ABSTRACT Over the last decade, the invasion of the Indo-Pacific lionfish have captured the attention of many scientists and researchers, due to the poorly understood ecological impacts the invaded species can have on the marine ecosystems and native organisms. Because of its voracious appetite and lack of predators, the invaded species’ population is rapidly increasing; therefore, this may be challenging for managers when trying to control the population and reduce the potential negative impacts. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, the lionfish sighting have become more frequent over the last few years. To aid USVI managers in the efforts to control the population and reduce the number of lionfish by targeting specific habitat types, this study will focus on evaluating the abundance and distribution patterns and size structure of the lionfish population. My goal is to identify habitats with the highest abundance of adult and juvenile lionfish and any drivers that the species may have in selecting specific habitat type. In this study, fish surveys were carried out in three habitat types – mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs. Ten sites were randomly stratified by habitat type, and 25 x 4m (large fish) and 25 x 2m (small fish) transects were laid down and a roving dive was performed at each site. In addition to the surveys, a database compiled of information from the surveys as well as past and current data on lionfish sightings within the USVI. 205 NIKITA THOMPSON1, NALINIE RAMNARINE2, CHARLES MARTIN2, and RICK NEMETH2 1 #2 Brewer's Bay St. Thomas, VI 00802 [email protected] 2 University of the Virgin Islands #2 Brewer's Bay St. Thomas VI 00802 United States Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Genetic Connectivity of Caribbean Spiny Lobster in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef Conectividad Genética de la Langosta Espinosa del Caribe en el Arrecife Mesoamericano Connectivité Génétique dans la Langouste Blanche del Caribe dans la Barrière de Corail Méso-Américain NATHAN TRUELOVE1, RICHARD PREZIOSI1, MARK BUTLER IV2, DONALD BEHRINGER JR.3, STEVE BOX4, and KIM LEY-COOPER5 1 University of Manchester Faculty of Life Sciences Michael Smith Building Oxford Road Manchester, M13 9PT United Kingdom [email protected] 2 Old Dominion UniversityDepartment of Biological Sciences Norfolk VA 23529 USA 3 University of Florida School of Forest Resources and Conservation Gainesville FL 32653 USA 4 Centro de Ecologia Marina Edificio Florencio Blvd Suyapa Tegucigalpa Honduras 5 Curtin University Department of Environment and Agriculture Perth Australia Page 206 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 helping managers build ecological resilience into marine protected areas (MPAs). We used 19 microsatellite markers to explore patterns of connectivity in Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus in nine MPAs in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef (MBR), one MPA in Grand Banks of Nicaragua and one MPA in Panama. Sites outside of MPAs included: Long Key, Florida; Bimini Island, Bahamas; and Corn Island, Nicaragua. Significant levels of pairwise population differentiation were found among eight of the nine sampling sites in the MBR. Long Key Florida, South Water Caye MPA in Belize and Cayos Miskitos MPA in the Grand Banks of Nicaragua were not significantly different from any sites. The shared connectivity patterns suggest that MPAs in the MBR are well connected to Grand Banks of Nicaragua and the Florida Keys, however, connectivity is limited among MPAs within the MBR. Additional research is required to identify the environmental and ecological factors contributing to the limited connectivity of P. argus among MPAs in the MBR. KEYWORDS: Spiny Lobster, Panulirus argus, Genetics, Marine Reserves, Mesoamerica Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Community Awareness and Livelihood Opportunities at the Pointe Sable Environmental Protection Area (PSEPA), St. Lucia Sensibilización de la Comunidad y Oportunidades de Subsistencia en el Pointe Sable Área de Protección Ambiental (PSEPA), Santa Lucía Communautaires des Possibilités de Sensibilisation et des Moyens de Subsistance À L' Pointe Sable, Zone de Protection De l'Environnement (PSEPA), Sainte-Lucie KEYWORDS: Community awareness, livelihood opportunities, socio-economic, PSEPA 207 Page ABSTRACT The Pointe Sable Environmental Protection Area (PSEPA) located on the southeast coast of St. Lucia was legally declared in 2007. It is one of two Environmental Protection Areas (EPAs) in St. Lucia. The total area encompasses approximately 10.38 km2, of which 6.88km2 is marine. The EPA comprises three marine reserves; one wildlife reserve; two RAMSAR sites; a national landmark and historical sites. Up until the late 1990s it was considered to be one of the best managed areas in St. Lucia. The primary activities in communities adjacent to the PSEPA are agriculture, charcoal production, fishing and tourism. Several commercial, industrial and tourism operations are located in close proximity to the EPA. Hence the area supports a variety of community livelihoods and some efforts towards developing community-based eco-tourism (hiking trails, guided tours and bird-watching) have been made within the EPA. Through a subgrant from the CERMES-implemented, Socio-economic Monitoring by Caribbean Challenge MPA Managers project (CC SocMon), valuable socio-economic information on community awareness of the existence of the PSEPA; level of awareness of current livelihoods and potential livelihood opportunities within the area; and number of households currently benefiting economically from the area has been collected. This data will be useful in helping to further guide management of the area and informing future development of community-based livelihoods within the area 207 BISHNU TULSIE Saint Lucia National Trust Castries, St. Lucia [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Seguimiento del Reclutamiento de Larvas de Coral en Sustrato Artificial Instalado a Tres Diferentes Profundidades, Mediante la Identificación Genética de las Larvas (Isla de Guadeloupe) Monitoring of Coral Larval Recruitment on Artificial Settlement Plates at Three Different Depths Using Genetic Identification of Recruits (Guadeloupe Island) Suivi du Recrutement Larvaire des Coraux sur des Substrats durs Artificiels Disposés à Trois Différentes Profondeurs avec Identification Génétique des Recrues (Guadeloupe) LÉA URVOIX1, CÉCILE FAUVELOT2, and CLAUDE BOUCHON1 1 Équipe Dynecar - Labex Corail Université des Antilles et de la Guyane Campus Fouiolle - BP 592 Pointe-à-Pitre, 97159 Guadeloupe [email protected] 2 Équipe Dynecar - Labex Corail - Université Antilles GuyaneI.R.D Unité 227 Campus Fouillole - BP 592 Pointe a pitre 97159 Guadeloupe Page 208 ABSTRACT Coral mortality has been increasing over the last 30 years in the Caribbean, making coral recruitment critical for sustaining coral reef ecosystems and contributing to their resilience. Dynamics of coral communities is partly controlled by larval recruitment. However, the accurate identification of coral recruits remains difficult (size < 2 mm). Genetic markers permit to distinguish coral species commonly observed in Caribbean studies. The objective of the study was to examine the temporal variability in the recruitment of corals larvae from 2010 to 2012 in Guadeloupe Island. For that, twenty terracotta settlement plates were fixed on a grid and immersed every month at 5 m, 10 m and 20 m deep. COI and ITS region as a genetic marker were used for the identification of coral recruits. Larvae settlement was observed all year round and presented an important peak between March and June. Temporal variability in the density of coral recruits occurred at all depths. Among the 286 recruits collected, genetic identification revealed seven different species. The highest settlement was shown by Agaricia.sp and Porites astreoides at all depths followed by Favia fragum, Madracis sp, other Porites.sp. Settlement appeared to be inversely related to depth. The taxonomic composition of the recruits reflects the structure of juvenile but not adult coral communities. To conclude, the initial phase of the life cycle plays an important role in the establishment and survival of Scleractinian corals. The understanding of the mechanisms of post settlement mortality of recruits could improve the knowledge necessary to maintain corals populations. KEYWORDS: Coral Larval recruitment, Carribean reefs, terracota plates, COI, ITS Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Socio-Economic Dimensions of Seaweed Farming in Mexico Aspectos Socio-Económicos del Cultivo de Algas Marinas en México Dimensions Socio-Économiques de la Culture des Algues au Mexique 209 Page ABSTRACT Seaweed farming based primarily on the culture of Kappaphycus and Eucheuma species has been practiced successfully in the Philippines and Indonesia over the last three decades, significantly contributing to improve the socio-economic conditions of marginalized coastal communities in these countries. Despite this success, the economic potential of seaweed farming has barely been explored in Latin America. This study describes the outcomes of experimental trials led by the Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV) in the fishing community of Dzilam de Bravo in Yucatán, Mexico. The study evaluated the economic feasibility of seaweed aquaculture under two different farming methods (off-bottom and floating lines) and varying assumptions on production and price parameters. Although seaweed farming in Yucatán was found to be economically feasible, the study concluded that any integration of seaweed growing and industrialization in Mexico would require interest from industry and local investors, as well as government authorities, in order to boost development of the activity. Finally, the advantages, disadvantages, limitations and potentials of seaweed farming are discussed in terms of the socio-economic characteristics of the community of fishermen in Dzilam de Bravo. 209 DIEGO VALDERRAMA University of Florida Food and Resource Economics Department 1121 McCarty Hall B PO Box 110240 Gainesville, FL 32611 USA [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Using Parrotfish Size as an Indicator of Fishing Pressure El Uso Del Tamaño de los Peces Loro como Indicador de la Presión Pesquera L'utilisation de la Taille Des Poissons Perroquet Comme Indicateur de la Pression De Pêche HENRI VALLES1 and HAZEL OXENFORD2 1 Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus , Barbados [email protected] 2 CERMESUniversity of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus St Michael Barbados Page 210 ABSTRACT There is a great need to develop simple indicators of the status of exploited reef fish communities for Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management. In this study we investigate the use of fish size of regionally abundant and ecologically important parrotfishes as an indicator of fishing pressure on Caribbean reefs. Underwater visual surveys and concurrent experimental fish pot catches across six reefs in Barbados consistently showed that mean individual fish weight of parrotfish (at the family level) was negatively and significantly correlated with estimates of fishing pressure. In contrast, we found no consistent correlations between overall parrotfish biomass or parrotfish density with fishing pressure. This finding supports the idea that parrotfish size responds more specifically and consistently to fishing pressure than parrotfish density or total biomass. Similarly, an analysis across the Caribbean region using the Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) dataset confirmed that parrotfish mean fish weight was significantly linked to estimates of fishing pressure, and more strongly linked to fishing pressure than parrotfish biomass or density. Given that highly valued predatory species typically used as indicators of fishing pressure may be a rare sight in many exploited Caribbean reefs, our findings indicate that variation in fish size of the ubiquitous and abundant parrotfish family may provide a more reliable indicator of fishing pressure in such reefs. KEYWORDS: parrotfishes, indicator, fishing pressure, size, overfishing Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries: The Development of Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines Sobreproteger la Pesca Sostenible en Pequeña Escala: El Desarrollo de Directrices para la Pesca de Pequeña Escala Sécurisation Artisanale Durable de la Pêche: l'Élaboration de Directives de la Pêche à Petite Échelle KEYWORDS: fisherfolk, small-scale, guidelines, FAO, livelihoods 211 Page ABSTRACT The 28th Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI), 2009, recognized the role of small scale fisheries (SSF) to combat malnutrition, improve food security and enhance the livelihoods of fishery-dependent communities. In 2011, Fisheries Authorities from 115 countries gathered at the 29th session of COFI and decided that International Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries be developed in support of the sector. The development process of these guidelines started the same year and a “zero” draft was prepared recently. This draft is available at:http://www.fao.org/fishery/ssf/guidelines/en, This session at GCFI aims to increase awareness on the Guidelines, to support consolidation of policies and best practices regarding Small scale fisheries in the Gulf and Caribbean region and to contribute directly to the Guideline development process. It is expected that this session will gather perspectives from scientists/researchers, fisherfolk, government officials and CSOs/NGOs on specific sections of the guidelines and explore and discuss opportunities for support and partnerships and potential implementation constraints to bringing the SSF Guidelines into effective implementation. 211 RAYMON VAN ANROOY FAO WECAFC Marine Gardens Hastings Christ Church, BB 11000 Barbados [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI The Status of Elasmobranchs and Fisheries and Conservation Measures in the Dutch Caribbean El Estado de Elasmobranquios y Medidas de la Pesca y Conservación en el Caribe Holandés Le Statut des Élasmobranches et Les Mesures de Peche et Conservation dans les Antilles Néerlandaises INGRID VAN BEEK and A.D. DEBROT IMARES Bevesierweg 4 Den Helder, 1780AB The Netherlands [email protected] Page 212 ABSTRACT Based on literature at least 34 shark species occur in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Little is known of species composition, abundance and fisheries in the region. In our study we document the occurrence of shark species in the Dutch Caribbean EEZ. We investigate which legislation has been implemented for their protection and report findings from fisheries monitoring. In the Dutch Caribbean EEZ 24 shark species have been documented. Of these, 9 are critically endangered and 8 are near threatened. Overfishing is considered the largest threat to elasmobranchs in the region. Elasmobranchs are not a target fisheries in the Dutch Caribbean, but bycatch in artisanal fisheries. Sharks are considered a nuisance by fishermen. Most sharks are not discarded, but consumed locally, used as bait, or reportedly killed and discarded on islands where landing of sharks is illegal. Two of the six islands have implemented regulation to protect sharks, for their ecological importance and economic value. Two other islands have implemented fish- and fisheries monitoring programmes. The fish monitoring uses stereo-Baited Underwater Remote Video, a new method for long-term monitoring of species composition and relative abundance of sharks. The fisheries monitoring includes port sampling with low numbers of shark landings, and on-board sampling with bycatch of sharks on each fishing trip. We conclude there is an urgent need to better cooperate with fishermen to make fisheries and conservation measures more effective and to promote research on gear modifications and fishing methods to mitigate bycatch of sharks. KEYWORDS: shark, elasmobranch, fisheries, conservation, Dutch Caribbean Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Distribution Patterns of Tarpon, Megalops atlanticus, using Remote Detection Technology of Passive Internal Transponders at Boquerón, Puerto Rico La Distribución de Sábalos, Megalops atlanticus, utilizando Tecnologías Remotas de Detección de Marcas de Transponedores Pasivos Internos en Boquerón, Puerto Rico Les Modèles de Distribution de Tarpon, Megalops atlanticus, avec la Technologie de Détections a Distance de Transpondeurs Passifs Internes à Boquerón, Puerto Rico KEYWORDS: Puerto Rico, Megalops atlanticus, tarpon, distribution patterns, PIT tag 213 Page ABSTRACT Tarpon, Megalops atlanticus, is an important sport fish species that dominates the fish community of the Boquerón Wildlife Refuge (BWR) at Cabo Rojo, western Puerto Rico. The BWR is an artificial water impoundment originally developed for waterfowl enhancement, yet provides important habitat for other fishes. The relative abundance of tarpon varies yearly and these populations require long-term monitoring along with an understanding of habitat use patterns in order to develop appropriate management strategies. This study investigates the spatial distribution patterns by tagging fish internally with passive internal transponder (PIT) tags combined with autonomous detection antennae. From November 2011 to August 2012, 310 tarpon were tagged throughout the BWR and two solar powered detection systemswere installed. The antennas recorded a total of 71,501 detections and showed diel patterns of activity that were higher prior to sunrise (3:00- 6:00AST). In addition smaller tarpon appeared during the latter months of the ongoing study, which coincided with low water levels suggesting a relationship between water levels and fish movements that may be size dependent. Migration patterns of two tarpon were observed, although further data should provide more detail over the long-term. These data provide a new approach to studying tarpon movements in the BWR. Finally this information will provide a better understanding of the ontogenetic requirements of this population such as nursery habitat, migration corridors and spawning sites. This information is essential for the application of adaptive management strategies for the development of a sustainable fishery in the BWR. 213 JOSE A. VARGAS-SANTIAGO1, HÉCTOR J RUIZ2, MICHAEL NEMETH2, IDELFONSO RUIZ-VALENTÍN1, ANDREW B BARBOUR3, MICHELLE SCHÄRER-UMPIERRE2 and DANIEL MATEOS-MOLINA2 1 Refugio de Vida Silvestre de Boquerón Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales P. O. Box 366147 San Juan, PR 00936 Puerto Rico [email protected] 2 HJR Reefscaping P.O. Box 1126 Hormigueros PR 00660 Puerto Rico 3 School of Forest Resources and Conservation Program of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences University of Florida 7922 NW 71st St GainesvilleFlorida 32653 USA Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Diets and Foraging Behaviours of Juvenile Reef Fish Species in Mangroves and Seagrass Beds Dieta y Hábitos Alimenticios de Juveniles de Peces Recifales de Manglares y de Praderas de Fanerógamas Marinas Comportement et Régime Alimentaire de Juvéniles de Poissons Récifaux des Mangroves et des Herbiers AMANDINE VASLET, YOLANDE BOUCHON-NAVARO, and CLAUDE BOUCHON Équipe Dynecar, Labex Corail Université des Antilles et de la Guyane Laboratoire de Biologie Marine BP 592 Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe 97159 France [email protected] Page 214 ABSTRACT Mangroves and seagrass beds are important shelter habitats for juvenile reef fishes, but little is known about their relative importance as fish feeding grounds. We investigated the degree to which these two coastal habitats were used as feeding areas by eight reef fish species in the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin lagoon in Guadeloupe (Lesser Antilles). Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses were performed on fish species and their potential food sources consisting of plant materials and invertebrates. Carbon isotopic signatures of food sources were significantly different between mangroves (δ13Cmean = -19.5±1.3‰) and seagrass beds (δ13Cmean = 12.8±0.4‰) and indicated that most juvenile reef species had isotopic values close to those of seagrass prey items. Two planktivorous (Harengula clupeola, Anchoa lyolepis) and two carnivorous species (Centropomus undecimalis, Lutjanus apodus) had depleted carbon values, suggesting an increased reliance on mangrove prey items in their diets. For these species cited above, mangrove-derived organic matter contributes indirectly to fish diets through the pelagic (i.e. zooplankton) or benthic (i.e. crabs, shrimps) food webs. This study highlighted that reef fishes sheltering in mangroves appeared to actively forage in nearby seagrass beds, thus reinforcing the importance of preserving these interlinked coastal habitats. KEYWORDS: Fish, Dietary habits, Mangrove, Seagrass, Stable isotopes Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Importance of Benthic Invertebrate Assemblages on the Feeding Behaviour of Fish Species from Seagrass Beds Importancia De Las Communidades De Invertebrados Bentónicos sobre los Hábitos Alimenticios de Peces en Las Praderas de Fanerógamas Marinas Importance des Assemblages d’Invertébrés Benthiques pour le Régime Alimentaire des Poissons d’Herbiers KEYWORDS: Fish, Diet, Invertebrate assemblages, Seagrass beds 215 Page ABSTRACT The diets of the most conspicuous fishes were studied in two seagrass beds of the Grand Cul-deSac Marin lagoon in Guadeloupe (Lesser Antilles). Fishes were sampled in two sites located at the extremities of a coast-seawards gradient: a coastal seagrass site situated near fringing mangroves and an offshore seagrass site close to the barrier reef. A total of 15 fish species was caught with a seine net. Morphological measures (total length (LT) and weight) and gut-content analyses were performed on each specimen. Prey items were identified to the lowest possible taxon, enumerated, weighed, and the Index of Relative Importance was calculated to evaluate the relative importance of each food item in the fish diets. Dietary analyses showed that fishes from the reefal seagrass site were carnivorous species that mainly foraged on shrimps (Hippolytidae, Palaemonidae, Alpheidae), crabs (Portunidae, Xanthidae) and Paguridae. In the coastal seagrass beds, fishes were carnivorous and omnivorous species and their diets were characterized by the abundance of small Tanaidacea (Crustaceans). These small Crustaceans appeared to dominate in abundance the benthic invertebrate assemblage of this coastal site. In both sites, ontogenetic trophic variations were observed for the species Ocyurus chrysurus (Lutjanidae). Smaller individuals (i.e. 2-5 cm in LT) generally preyed on amphipods whereas larger specimens (i.e. 1719 cm in LT) foraged on larger prey items (i.e. shrimps and fishes). This study showed that fishes adjusted their diets according to their ontogenetic development and to spatial changes in the benthic assemblages and prey abundances characterizing seagrass bed sites. 215 AMANDINE VASLET, FRANÇOISE GAUTIER, YOLANDE BOUCHON-NAVARO, and CLAUDE BOUCHON Équipe Dynecar, Labex Corail, Université des Antilles et de la Guyane Laboratoire de Biologie Marine BP 592 Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe 97159 France [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Identifying Opportunities for Rights-Based Management in Artisanal Fisheries: The Mangrove Cockle Fishery of the Gulf of Fonseca Honduras identificando Oportunidades para el Manejo Basado en Derechos en la Pesca Artesenal: La Pesca de Curiles en el Golfo de Fonseca, Honduras identifier les Opportunites pour les Droits de Gestion Axee sur les Pecheries Artisanales: Le Peche des Coques de Mangrove du Golfe de Fonseca, Honduras DIANA VASQUEZ1 and STEPHEN BOX2 1 Centro de Ecologia Marina Edificio Florencia Oficina 401 - 403 Tegucigalpa, FMO Honduras [email protected] 2 Smithsonian Institution Fort Pierce Marine Station Fort Pierce Florida 34949 USA Page 216 ABSTRACT In Honduras artisanal fisheries are prone to very limited management oversight with little effective monitoring or control of resource exploitation. The unregulated exploitation of marine resources remains one of the greatest threats to the long term sustainability of these near shore fisheries. In the Gulf of Fonseca the mangrove cockles which are collected by hand by a specific sector in fishing communities present a viable opportunity to address this management vacuum and develop a rights based approach to incentivize self-management. To evaluate the feasibility of supporting the development of this approach we monitored the fishing activities of 180 cockle collectors from communities around the Gulf. We collected fishing statistics and mapped their fishing grounds to produce spatially explicit exploitation data. We also conducted socioeconomic household surveys to evaluate livelihood dependence of this fisheries sector. We found that there was exceptionally high site fidelity for cockle collectors from different communities with almost no spatial conflict between communities in terms of the areas they accessed. This provides a strong foundation for being able to connect specific communities with their own fishing grounds as part of a new management framework. Cockle collectors’ households were characterized by the largest number of children, lowest education levels, smallest incomes, fewest assets, least livelihood alternatives and the most vulnerable sector for mangrove degradation. This provides a strong socioeconomic justification to support these fishers to develop improved livelihoods from this fishery and encourage the development of new management mechanisms that can protect their resources from further degradation. KEYWORDS: Eastern Pacific, Bivalves, Sustainable, Curile Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Use of Catchability by Size to Identify Recruitment Zones of the Octopus (Octopus maya) in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico Utilización de la Capturabilidad por Tallas para Identificar Zonas de Reclutamiento del Pulpo (Octopus maya) en la Península de Yucatán, México L’Utilisation de la Capturabilité par Tailles Afin d’Identifier des Zones de Recrutement du Poulpe (Octopus maya) dans la Péninsule de Yucatan, Mexique KEYWORDS: octopus fishery, vulnerability, size, recruitment, fishery management 217 Page ABSTRACT Catchability (q) is a relevant parameter for stock assessment; it is defined as the portion of the population that can be extracted per Unit of Fishing effort or the fishing mortality rate caused by this unit. An adequate estimation of this parameter for several population components allows to determining zones or periods where the specimens are highly vulnerable to a certain fishing gear. The present study aimed to evaluate the q spatial differences at different sizes of the octopus population (O. maya) caught by the small-scale fleet that operates in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. It was expected this information can help to determine potential recruitment zones and define management implications. To do so, samplings of animals was undertaken twice a month through the 2009 fishing season in seven fishing communities of the study area. Recording of the mantle length (ML) and total weight (TW) of landed organism per boat was done at the fishing ports. Information on fishing time and number of alijos (boats smaller than 3 m) per boat was also collected through interviews applied to fishers at their arrival to the port. The results showed that there isspatial variability in the study area regarding q with two regions of high q values associated to small octopus (< 14 cm ML). The identified zones were assumed as potential recruitment zones. Discussion about management implications of fishing operations in these areas is presented. 217 IVÁN VELÁZQUEZ-ABUNADER1, SILVIA SALAS1, JULIA RAMOS-MIRANDA2, DOMINGO FLORES-HERNÁNDEZ2 and MIGUEL A. CABRERA1 1 CINVESTAV Km. 6 Antigua carretera a Progreso Apdo. Postal 73, Cordemex, Mérida, Yucatán 97310 México [email protected] 2 EPOMEX-Universidad Autónoma de Campeche Av. Augustin Melgar y Juan de la Barrera s/n Apartado Postal 520 Campeche Campeche 24030 México Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Composición Bromatológica del Pepino de Mar Stichopus badionotus Chemical Composition of the Sea Cucumber Stichopus badionotus La Composition Chimique des Concombre de Mer Stichopus badionotus WENSY VERGARA y ADRIANA RODRÍGUEZ Universidad del Magdalena Grupo de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico Cr 32 N 22-08 Santa Marta, Magdalena Colombia [email protected] Page 218 RESUMEN Los pepinos o cohombros de mar pertenecen a los equinodermos de la clase Holothuridea. Hasta el momento 30 especies son comercialmente explotadas por flotas pesqueras artesanales o industriales. Desde hace de más de 1000 años han sido tradicionalmente capturados y comercializados en Asia donde se consumen crudos, secos o cocidos. Estudios acerca de la biología y ecología de pepino de mar son escasos en Colombia. Su producción controlada es de interés reciente para el sector de la acuicultura. Diversos autores afirman desde el punto de vista nutricionalque los pepinos de mar son una rica fuente de proteína cruda y que sucomposición proximal en fresco puede variar, dependiendo de la especie, la época de captura y su alimentación. Algunos autores revelan que el contenido de humedad, proteína, grasas, cenizas y carbohidratos puede oscilar entre 82 a 92.6; 2.5 a 13.8; 0.1 a 0.9; 1.5 a 4.3 y 0.2 a 2.0 % respectivamente. Bajo este contexto el objetivo principal de esta investigación fue evaluar la composición nutricional del pepino de mar Stichopus badionotus. Se capturaron 30 ejemplares del sector del Rodadero, Santa Marta. Se llevaron hasta el Laboratorio de Acuicultura donde se estabularon y posteriormente se procesaron en el Laboratorio de Bromatología de la Universidad del Magdalena para su respectivo análisis de composición bromatológica la cual se hizo a través de técnicas convencionales. Se encontraron los siguientes datos: Proteína 8,96%, Humedad 87,94%, Grasa 0,25% y Ceniza 2,51%, lo cual indicó que su composición es similar a la reportada por otros autores en especies similares. PALABRAS CLAVES: Food Science, I comb the sea, Protein, Stichopus badionotus Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Valoración Biológica y Ambiental de La Jaiba en la Laguna Estuarina Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Caribe Colombiano: Implicaciones de Manejo y Conservación Niological and Environmental Assessment of the Crab on the Estuarine Lagoon Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Colombian Caribbean: Conservation and Management Implications Évaluation Environnementale et Biologique du Crabe en Estuaire Lagon Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Colombie Caraïbes: Implications pour la Gestion et la Conservation PALABRAS CLAVES: Pesca artesanal, laguna estuarina, jaiba, manejo pesquero, Caribe colombiano 219 Page RESUMEN En el complejo lagunar Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta (CGSM) la jaiba es uno de los recursos más importantes a nivel socio-económico, representando el 10% de la producción pesquera extraída. Se evaluó la jaiba roja (Callinectes bocourti) y azul (C. sapidus), utilizando datos históricos de captura y esfuerzo entre 2000 y 2009, además de información biológica y ambiental obtenida entre octubre/2009 y septiembre/2010. Desde 2007 hasta 2011 el esfuerzo de pesca se ha incrementado en 75% con consecuencias en desembarcos equivalentes al punto de referencia límite del rendimiento máximo sostenible (RMS) de 900 t con grave riesgo de sobre-explotación para la jaiba. Se propone una cuota precautoria 630 t, basado en un modelo no lineal de rendimiento excedente y en otros procesos poblacionales. Ambas especies mostraron desoves parciales a lo largo del año, aunque con pulsos reproductivos en el periodo enero-mayo. La talla media de madurez se estimó en 8.5 cm y 8.6 cm de longitud estándar del caparazón para C. bocourti y C. sapidus, respectivamente. Esto indicó que el 34% de la captura ocurre por debajo de la talla de madurez. La presencia de hembras adultas en estado avanzado de madurez en la zona de comunicación entre la Ciénaga y el Mar, indican la importancia de esta área para el desove de la jaiba, por tanto se recomienda realizar una veda espacio-temporal para proteger este evento reproductivo. 219 JORGE VIAÑA, MARIO RUEDA, ALFREDO RODRIGUEZ, DIANA BUSTOS y ELKIN PARDO INVEMAR Cerro Punta Betín Santa Marta, Colombia [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Factores Ambientales y Antropogénicos Pertinentes para la Conservación y Ordenación de la Pesquería de la Reserva de la Biosfera Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Caribe Colombiano Environmental and Anthropogenic Factors Pertinent for Conservation and Fisheries Governance in the Reserve of the Biosphere Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Colombian Caribbean Les Facteurs Environnementaux et Anthropiques Pertinents à la Conservation et à la Gestion de la Pêche Réserve de La Biosphère Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Caraïbes Colombiennes 1 EFRAÍN VILORIA1, JACOBO BLANCO2, y MARIO RUEDA1 INVEMAR Cerro Punta Betín Santa Marta, Magdalena Colombia [email protected] 2 Universidad del Magdalena Santa Marta Magdalena Colombia Page 220 RESUMEN La pesquería artesanal de la CGSM es una de las más importantes de Colombia. Opera en 3812 km2 y sostiene aproximadamente a 3000 pescadores que explotan más de 50 especies, entre peces, crustáceos y moluscos. Usando varios artes de pesca. Producto de un monitoreo ambiental y pesquero realizado entre 1994 y 2011 ha sido la evaluación del impacto de obras hidráulicas hechas para rehabilitar el ecosistema. La captura anual osciló entre 4178 y 9269 t, con ingresos mensuales promedio entre U$200000 y U$480000. Desde 2007 viene descendiendo y en 2011 se estimó en 4733 t. Los peces fueron los de mayor participación (74%) con 3481 t. Estas capturas mostraron amplia variabilidad interanual, predominando especies estuarinas (lisa, mojarra rayada, chivo cabezón y mapalé). La variación interanual en la composición de las capturas permitió identificar impactos en los ensamblajes de especies de peces e invertebrados. Los años 2010 y 2011 fueron años “La Niña” relacionados con baja salinidad en la CGSM debida a los mayores caudales de los tributarios y con efectos sobre la comunidad. Los crustáceos, en su mayoría jaibas, se incrementaron en un 11,6% con respecto a 2010, mientras que los camarones disminuyeron. En consecuencia, se evidencia sobrepesca y una productividad natural muy variable que repercute en la economía de los pescadores. El estado de los recursos pesqueros de la CGSM hace imperativa la intervención de las entidades reguladoras (Autoridad Nacional de Acuicultura y Pesca – AUNAP) para aplicar estrategias de manejo basadas en los resultados de este seguimiento. PALABRAS CLAVES: Manejo pesquero, conservación, pesquería artesanal, El Niño, hidrología Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Application of Chemical Tags to Obtain Life History Information of Sharks Aplicación de Etiquetas de Productos Químicos Para Obtener Información de la Historia de Vida de los Tiburones Application des Marqueurs Chimiques pour Obtenir la Vie Informations d'Historique des Requins KEYWORDS: tagging, oxytetracycline, mako, blue, thresher 221 Page ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to validate vertebral band count ageing of juvenile shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) and to resolve the discrepancy between observed fast growth in juvenile shortfin mako and the much slower growth predicted by age-at-length models that assume one band pair per year deposition rate in vertebrae. Oxytetracycline (OTC) labeled vertebrae of 29 juvenile shortfin mako were obtained from tag-recapture activities to determine timing of centrum growth band deposition. Tagging occurred off southern California from 1996 to 2010, with time at liberty of the 29 sharks ranging from 4 months to 4.4 years (mean=1.3 years). Growth information was also obtained from length frequency modal analyses (MULTIFAN and MIXDIST) using a 29-year dataset of commercial and research catch data, in addition to tagrecapture growth models (GROTAG) using lengths and time-at-liberty for OTC-labeled and unlabeled shortfin mako. For vertebrae samples used for age validation, shark size at time of release ranged from 79 to 142 cm fork length (FL) and from 98 to 200 cm FL at recapture. Results from band counts of vertebrae distal to OTC marks indicate two band pairs (2 translucent and 2 opaque) are formed per year for shortfin mako of the size range examined. In addition, total band pair counts at length compared well with results of a similar study in this region, suggesting vertebral readings were similar, and only assumptions about deposition rate differed. Growth rates calculated from length frequency modal analyses estimate 26.5 to 35.5 cm per year for the first age class mode (85 cm FL), and 22.4 to 28.6 cm per year for the second age class mode (130 cm FL). In addition, the tag-recapture growth model also resulted in a rapid growth rate during time at liberty for tagged fish of the two youngest age classes with estimates of 28.7 and 19.6 cm FL per year at 85 and 130 cm FL, respectively. Collectively, these methods suggest rapid growth of juvenile shortfin mako in the southern California study area and suggest biannual deposition in vertebrae for the first five years. 221 DAVID WELLS1, SUZANNE KOHIN2, HEIDI DEWAR2, and NATALIE SPEAR2 1 Texas A&M University 1001 Texas Clipper Rd OCSB Bldg. 3029 Galveston, TX 77553 USA [email protected] 2 NOAASouthwest Fisheries Science Center 8604 La Jolla Shores La Jolla CA 92024 USA Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Stable Isotopes as Natural Markers of Nursery Origin for Juvenile Snappers Occupying Back-Reef Habitats in Belize Isótopos Estables Como Marcadores Naturales de Origen de Vivero para Pargos Juveniles Ocupan Hábitats de Arrecife Posterior de Belice Utilisation des Isotopes Stables comme Marqueurs Environnementaux Naturels pour Identifier l'Origine des Nourriceries des Juvéniles de Vivaneaux Occupant l'Arrière Récif de Belize LYNNE WETMORE1, WILLIAM HEYMAN2, and JAY ROOKER1 1 Texas A & M University at Galveston P.O. Box 1675 Galveston, Texas 77551 United States [email protected] 2 Texas A & M University College Station Texas 77843 United States Page 222 ABSTRACT Characterizing movement and habitat connectivity in reef fish populations is necessary for the identification of productive nurseries in the tropics, where the early life stages of many important fishery species (e.g. groupers, snappers) utilize multiple back-reef habitats before moving to the fore-reef as sub-adults or adults. However, identifying natural markers with the resolution to discriminate among specific back-reef nurseries has proved challenging. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of otolith stable isotopes in determining natal origin for three species of juvenile snappers (Lutjanus spp.) collected from two latitudinal regions and two cross-shelf positions within the back-reef lagoon of southern Belize. Although otolith d13C and d18O showed significant and consistent differences between regions and across the continental shelf, isotopic signatures also displayed considerable overlap among study sites. As a result, the percentage of fishes correctly assigned to their original collection location was relatively low (52%); however, classification success improved when regional effects were excluded and only shelf position was considered, with 75% of inner-shelf fishes and 87% of outer-shelf fishes assigned to their respective collection locations correctly. No differences in otolith d13C or d18O were detected among species from the same region or shelf position, suggesting that all three congeners reflected ambient water chemistry in a similar manner. The distinct otolith d13C and d18O signatures of fishes from inner and outer shelf positions suggest that this approach has promise for determining relative contribution rates of juvenile snappers produced at inshore and offshore nurseries within the back-reef. KEYWORDS: stable isotopes, reef fish, natal origin, nursery habitat, population connectivity Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Effects of Site and Sampling Time on Motile Cryptic Invertebrate Communities on Fringing Reefs Los Efectos de Sitio y Tiempo de Muestreo en Comunidades de Motiles Invertebrados Escondidos en Arrecifes de Franja Effets de Site et de l'Heure d'Échantillonnage sur Motiles Communautés d'Invertébrés des Récifs Frangeants de Cryptic KEYWORDS: Cryptic invertebrates, Diversity, Community ecology, Reef ecology 223 Page ABSTRACT Cryptic invertebrates are a little studied part of tropical coral reef ecosystems, despite their significant contribution to coral reef biomass and biodiversity. In order to assess means of sampling these cryptofauna and begin a census of present and common taxa, coral rubble traps were deployed at three sites in St. Thomas, USVI for two durations (14 and 28 days) near the University of the Virgin Islands. We tested the hypothesis that invertebrate communities/relative abundances are different by site but not sampling time, with no interaction. From the 18 traps, 246 individual motile invertebrates were sampled, representing 31 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs). The ten most common OTUs accounted for 86.59% of specimens, with arthropods making up the majority of specimens (82.52%) and consisting of 13 OTUs. Shannon diversity index H’ was calculated and then analyzed in a two-way crossed ANOVA for site and time; time was a significant factor (p = 0.0146). Average H’ increased between 14 and 28 days (0.456 and 0.655, respectively). Results from PERMANOVA showed only site to have a significant factor (permutation p = 0.0435). The significant effect of time on H’ implies colonization new substrate to be on going within the time of deployment, while the difference among sites is evidence that different reefs, even in close proximity to one another, are affected differently by drivers of biodiversity and relative abundances of cryptic invertebrates. 223 ZACHARY WHITENER and RICHARD NEMETH University of the Virgin Islands #2 John Brewers Bay Marine Science Center St. Thomas, VI 00802 USA [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Cooperatives in Small Scale-Fisheries: Collective Management for Achieving Ecological, Economic, and Social Goals Las Cooperativas en las Pesquerías de Pequeña Escala: Un Manejo Colectivo para El Alcance de Objetivos Ecológicos, Económicos y Sociales Les Coopératives dans la Pêche Artisanale: Une Gestion Collective pour la Réalisation des Objectifs Écologiques, Économiques, et Sociales JEFFREY WIELGUS and ROD FUJITA Environmental Defense Fund Tampa, FL 33607 United States [email protected] Page 224 ABSTRACT Despite being the focus of directed management for decades, marine fisheries around the world are in decline. Collective management of common-pool fishery resources by users organized into cooperatives can result not only in sustainable resource use and enhanced socioeconomic benefits, but also in ecosystem conservation and stewardship. The effectiveness of fishery cooperatives, however, depends on a variety of factors. In essence, cooperatives will only succeed when the benefits expected from coordinated extraction and decentralized management outweigh the costs incurred in operating the institution and enforcing its agreements. In addition, there must be measures for aligning the cooperative members’ interests with long-term sustainability, including the presence of secure fishing rights. We identify the benefits of smallscale fishery cooperatives, the prevailing challenges to cooperative formation and operation, and the critical design elements for successful cooperatives. These elements correspond to diverse socioeconomic dimensions including social capital, organizational complexity, member homogeneity, and democratic participation. We present examples of how small-scale fishery cooperatives around the world have successfully managed fisheries to achieve ecological, economic, and social objectives. KEYWORDS: cooperatives, small-scale fishery, multiple objectives, socioeconomics Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Impact of Artisanal Fishery on the Elasmobrach Community from the Gulf of Salamanca, Caribean Sean of Colombia Impacto de la Pesquería Artesanal Sobre la Comunidad de Elasmobranquios del Golfo de Salamanca, Mar Caribe de Colombia Impact de la Pêche Artisanale sur la Communauté Élasmobranches dans le Golfe de Salamanca, Colombia KEYWORDS: Artisanal Fishery, Shark, Batoids 225 Page ABSTRACT The impact of the artisanal fishery on elasmobranchs from the Salamanca Gulf was analyzed from records of landings made between August and December 2008. We explored five principal kinds of fishery methods: Chinchorro, Red de enmalle, Changa, Palangre and Línea. We found a total capture of 692 individuals (2366 Kg), corresponding to seven batoids and one shark. 67.6 % of the capture was estimated as directed and high frequency in low depth zones. Batoids dominated landings recorded all the time in this study, the most impacted specie by the artisanal fishery was Dasyatis guttata, due to it was extracted by all fishing methods. This specie showed the highest values of capture in all methods, except the Chinchorro which showed highest impact over Rhinoptera bonasus. We observed a negative effect over the size structure of R. bonasus and D. guttata, given the high fraction of individuals captured below the first size of maturity (100 and 58.62 % respectively). Therefore, we show the need for fishery management policies that include responsible usage of the resources and in that way to preserve exploited elasmobranch populations in the Salamanca Gulf having in mind the role of these organisms in the aquatic ecosystems. 225 JOSE YACOMELO, ANDRÉS FELIPE GONZÁLEZ, and LUIS O. DUARTE Universidad del Magdalena Carrera 21d 5 # 29f-41 Santa Marta, Magdalena 0 Colombia [email protected] Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI Carbon Sequestration: An Economic Approach for the Valuation of Ecosystem Services Provided by Marine Protected Areas in Colombia Captura De Carbono: Una Aproximación Económica para la Valoración de los Servicios Ecosistémicos Provistos por las Áreas Marinas Protegidas en Colombia La Sequestration du Carbone: Une Approche Economique pour la Valorisation des Services Ecosystemiques Fournis par les Zones Marines Protegees en Colombie TATIANA ZARATE y JORGE MALDONADO Universidad de los Andes Carrera 1E 18A-10 Bloque A Of 306 Bogota, 111711 Colombia [email protected] Page 226 RESUMEN El Subsistema de Áreas Marinas Protegidas que se desea implementar en Colombia apunta a la conservación de ecosistemas marinos y costeros claves para la provisión de diversos servicios ambientales, que son la base del desarrollo de distintas actividades económicas en el país. El objetivo de este estudio es valorar los servicios asociados a captura y almacenamiento de carbono provistos por el Subsistema de Áreas Marinas para Colombia. A través de la construcción de una función de beneficios, se busca obtener el valor monetario asociado al servicio de captura y almacenamiento de carbono oceánico. Los resultados indican que los beneficios esperados asociados a la captura y almacenamiento de carbono, provistos por ecosistemas como manglares y pastos marinos, son altamente dependientes de las tasas de pérdida de éstos y de las expectativas frente a las negociaciones sobre la extensión del Protocolo de Kioto. PALABRAS CLAVES: support and regulation services, indirect use value, marine protected areas, blue carbon, Colombia Page THIS PAGE INTENTIONALL LEFT BLANK 227 Book of Abstracts – 65th GCFI 227