fish spawning aggregations in alacranes reef off northern yucatan peninsula
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
Identifying reef fish spawning aggregations in Alacranes Reef, off northern Yucatan Peninsula,
using the fishermen traditional ecological knowledge
Alfonso Aguilar-Perera1, Carlos González-Salas1, Armín Tuz-Sulub2,Harold Villegas-Hernández1, María López- Gómez1
Departamento de Biología Marina, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán,
Mérida, Yucatán,
México Campus de Ciencias Biológica y Agropecuarias
UADY
Worldwide, 164 sppaggregate to spawn (FSAs) Vulnerable:
predictable space and timeFSAs (140):
60% declining20% no forming20% “stable”(SCRFA 2006)
FSAs (140):60% declining20% no forming20% “stable”(SCRFA 2006)
Trends
How do we know about FSAs first hand?
Fishermen accounts
Body of knowledge (Wisdom) = Traditional Ecological KnowledgeTEK
Trends
Johannes, Berkes
Studies incorporating TEK to know about FSAs (Cuba, Belize, Brazil)
35 aggregating species (mostly snappers & groupers)
Western Atlantic:
Trends
Elusive for managers and government
Scarce studies (Caribbean, Pacific)Lack of Management (exceptions)
FSAs in Mexico
OBJECTIVES
Two Phases:
1) TEK: a) experience (wisdom), b) perception
(presented elsewhere)2) Tracking: standard monitoring
protocol (presented elsewhere)
How many species?
Where?
When (seasonality)?
Phase 1:
TEK: a) experience (wisdom):
How many aggregation sites?
OBJECTIVES
27 km
14 kmStudy Area Desterrada
Isla Pérez
Pájaros y
Chica
Muertos
Alacranes Reef
METHODSSemi-structured interviews based on protocols(Johannes 1999, Colin etal. 2003, Heyman et al. 2005),but adapted to local conditions
(information used with extreme confidence avoiding to reveal precise positions of FSAs to general public)
(1) which species(2) fishing relative importance, (3) fishing gear (4) Seasonality (months), and (5) approximate locations
Spawning Aggregation Spawning Aggregation SitesSites
Camaronero Sandwic
h
Caribbean
Tabasco
Las Columnas
El Puente
H4
Marisol
RESULTSRESULTS
OctSepAugJulJunMayAprMarFebJanDec Nov DecOctSepAugJulJunMayAprMarFebJanDec Nov DecOctSepAugJulJunMayAprMarFebJanDec Nov DecOctOctSepSepAugAugJulJulJunJunMayMayAprAprMarMarFebFebJanJanDecDec NovNov DecDec
Grouper Spawning SeasonalityGrouper Spawning Seasonality
OctSepAugJulJunMayAprMarFebJanDec Nov Dec
L. jocuO. chrysurus
L. apodus
L. griseusL. mahogoni
C. sufflamen
Snapper (and others) Snapper (and others) SeasonalitySeasonality
RESULTSRESULTS
13 species (mostly snappers and groupers)
8 sites (6 along leeward)
3 multi-specific aggregation sites (> 5 spp)
Most important seasons: Spring & Summer
While, confirming info through SCUBA incursions isstill necessary, TEK shows to be reliable since the seasonal patterns in Alacranes Reef are relatively similar to other areas (Cuba, Belize, Puerto Rico)
Additionally, elaborate studies among sites involving: 1) tracking movements (of main species) using acoustics (telemetry), and 2) genetics
Next step: confirming (following protocols, Colin et al., Heyman et al) FSAs and study their dynamics
Thank you!