Abstract

The development of the turism and the high demand have contributed to the overexploitation of natural populations of the snail (Strombus spp.), which have shown drastic declines in the Caribbean. Mexico is no exception, and the resources of the snail have diminished dramatically from 1982. The Strombus genus, is represented by six species in the Gulf and the Caribbean, Strombus gigas L., S. costatus Gmelin, S. raninus Gmelin, S. pugilis L., S. alatus Gmelin, S. gallus L. In the Yucatan Península, Mexico, are six species of commercially important gastrópodos. All have declined due to overfishing and S. gigas, S. costatus and S. pugilis is the species that more have been operated being the species of more high commercial value. Due to the overfishing and before the increasing danger of the extinction of the snail, the Mexican government prohibited in 1987 the fishing of the snailin the state of Yucatan and in Quintana Roo permanent total prohibition in the North Zone exists and single Center and allows the fishing in the South Zone regulated by: quotas of fishing, seasonal, so large prohibition and art of fishing. Nevertheless, the fishermen continue capturing adult and youthful, putting to the populations of the snail in critical levels of survival. But in spite of the indiscriminate capture by the illegal fishing, like example, in the case of Reef of Scorpions some fishermen are captured with 500 kg of captured soft weight of two or three days; What makes suppose that the contribution comes from deep water populations. This fact happens has to weigh to have imposed a permanent prohibition by 15 years and this is one of the reasons have not recovered populations as it were expected (personal Communication with the CRIP in Yucalpetén, Yucatan, and the CRIP of Port Morelos, Quintana Roo, January of 1999). At the present time a strong social pressure on the part of the fishermen so that pesquería reopens again and the govemment of Mexico exists before this summoned situation to by means of the sectorial bottom of SAGARP ACONACYT to the establishment of the culture like an alternative to the problem. Before this situation, the present work analyzes that species potentially are recommended for their culture in each site of the coast of the Yucatan Península and island taking in whichever several aspects like: biological, the region, the consumer,technical and economic feasibility of the intensive culture, social impact and sectors that promote the investigation, production, and commercialization. Although the fishing regulation is one of means to recover the operated populations, the maricultura is an altemative very bard that must be considered and within this practice also the disciplines are considered in this work that have been generated in the region and which they support his culture.

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