Volume 60

Sea cucumber population and biomass estimate for fishing quote assignation in Sisal Fishing Cooperative, through the Yucatan State coast


Authors
Rodriguez-Gil, L.A., C.F. Reyes Sosa, R. Alpizar Carrillo and J.Tello Zetina.
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Other Information


Date: November, 2007


Pages: 547-553


Event: Proceedings of the Sixtieth Annual Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute


City: Punta Cana


Country: Dominican Republic

Abstract

Three are the main fisheries developed across the coast of Yucatan; Grouper, Lobster and Octopus. Coastal Fisheries in the last years has notably diminished, due to a growing fishing effort. Facing this situation, sea cucumber fishery in Yucatan State waters, has resulted as a potential alternative in order to diversify fisheries in the state, due to the increasing demand for this product in the Asian market. In order to participate in this fishery is necessary to evaluate its situation. Reason why, the purpose of this study is to present an abundance and biomass estimation for sea cucumber in order to assign a proper fishing limit, being the only way to manage this resource through a promotional fishery permit. A 25 station network was established in order to dive and study population, separated 4 nautical miles from each other, all through the zone assigned to this cooperative. Information was obtained through submarine observation using SCUBA, running a lineal distance (transect) of 150 m, and a wide spread of 4 m. To estimate total zone population and biomass, consideration of the amount observed was accounted. The estimation of biomass to be exploited was 438.62 T, considering 2 % of the total biomass in a granted fishing area of 114,747.67 Hectares. It is recommended to evaluate sea cucumber population answer capacity to this promotional fishery and also to estimate an annual quota before open fisheries is granted, in order to maintain the resource in a responsible and sustainable way

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