Abstract

In recent decades there has been a significant increase in the holothurian fishery, due to the great demand they have in the market. As a result, intense fishing has been generated on the Yucatan coast, causing a decrease in the abundance of sea cucumber. Given this scenario, it is necessary to evaluate population restoration techniques, an alternative is the capture of larvae and juveniles through artificial collectors in the natural environment with the aim of implementing repopulation actions in fishing refuge areas. The aim of the study is to evaluate the settlement of sea cucumber larvae and young in artificial collectors. Six artificial collectors will be placed off the Yucatan coast at two different depths. A total of 3100 individuals belonging to six Phyla were obtained (Mollusca, Arthropoda, Annelida, Porifera, Chordata and Echinodermata). Holothurians of the Euapta lappa species were collected in one season in a harvester (10 juveniles and 17 larvae). The species of fishing importance was not found in the Isostichopus badionotus region, however, given the presence of holothurians in the collectors, it is recommended to expand the spatial range and temporality of the study in order to explore a possible recruitment of commercially important holothurians.

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