Abstract

Diver-fishermen volunteering provided an early and fast response to detect the presence of the invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans miles) in the Alacranes Reef National Park (ARNP), in the southern Gulf of Mexico. Lobster diver-fishermen are now actively collaborating voluntarily not only to collect lionfish, but also for recording basic information from the collection sites. Specially designed workshops were applied to 95 fishermen during July 2010 for presenting them information on the morphology of the fish, invasion chronology to the Western Atlantic, and potential threats to commercial fishes and human health; plus instructions on how to collect samples. From July 2010 to February 2011, about 269 lionfish were caught by 40 diver-fishermen. Up to now a database, which includes collection site, depth, date, bottom type, and additionally size of fish, would allow us to build a chronological sequence of the invasion from ARNP based on collections from fishermen. The participation of lobster diver-fishermen was promoted through the Conservation and Sustainable Development Program (PROCODES) from the Comisicion Nacional de Areas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP). This outreach initiative represents a major step forward to elaborate a management link between fishermen, managers and academia in order to deal with the lionfish invasion. Data generated from this initiative provided a valuable baseline resource and continually updated monitoring information, and may also represent the first decisive effort in early detection and mitigation of lionfish in the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula