Abstract

Since the lionfish was reported in the Mexican Caribbean (01/2009, Cozumel), there has been concern regarding their impacts on coral reefs and their economic consequences. This prompted a regional work-plan to reduce lionfish abundance through extraction by staff and volunteers, derbies and commercial fishing. Marine protected areas (MPAs) provide condi-tions to study ecological processes, given that anthropic factors are lessened. We present the results of a survey aiming to estimate the lionfish density in six MPAs along the Mexican Caribbean. From July 2012 to March 2013, using SCUBA and free diving, a total of 306 sampling plots (25 m x 10 m) were made at Isla Contoy National Park (NP) n = 36, Arrecifes P. Morelos NP n = 35, Arrecifes Cozumel NP n = 46, Sian Ka´an Biosphere Reserve (BR) n = 62, Banco Chinchorro BR n = 68, and Arrecifes de Xcalak NP n = 59. A total of 333 lionfish were observed, mostly large (58.9%), and mid-sized (33%);and density across MPAs averaged 43.3 ± 79.4 ind/ha (x ? ± sd). Among MPAs, lionfish mean density increased southwards with 24.4 ±84.8 ind/ha in Cozumel and 75.9 ±141.4 ind/ha in Banco Chinchorro. Depth and habitat type also varied bet-ween MPAs. Other fish and invertebrates co-occurring with lionfish were recorded. We proposed our estimates of lionfish densities as the baseline for lionfish density in these MPAs at depths ? 20 m. Further monitoring in deeper waters (>20 m) is crucial to lionfish management. This methodology can be applied to evaluate efficacy of the removal efforts in the Caribbean.

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