Abstract

The group of rays (Pisces: Elasmobranchii) is a traditional fishing resource, basically exploited in an artisanal manner throughout diverse regions of Venezuela. However, the abundance and biomass levels are unknown for the species most frequently caught in the fisheries. In the present study, we described the artisanal ray fishery from the Cubagua Island, northeastern region of Venezuela. In 2007 and 2008, it was evaluated the activities conducted by a group of artisanal fishing boats from the Boca del Rio community (Margarita Island); that operates around the Cubagua Island. The fleet is composed by wooden boats between 6 and 7 m in length; equipped with one or two outboard engines, commonly 40 hp. Bottom gillnets (mesh size: 10 - 40 cm) is the fishing gear used by this fleet; the operations were conducted in areas between 15 and 20 m depth. A total of six species of rays were registered during the study period; the most taken were Dasyatis guttata (49,01%), Myliobatis freminvillii (18,03%) D. americana (15,73%) and Gymnura micrura (15,90%). On the basis of the lengths at maturity reported for the species caught, the ray fishery conducted in Cubagua Island selected a large number of immature individuals.

PDF Preview