Abstract

Coastal marine ecosystems by La Guajira peninsula, Colombia are very productive and sustain a diversity of marine resources from small invertebrates to large marine turtles. Coastal Wayuu indigenous settlements rely upon these ecosys-tems for food and subsistence. However, La Guajira peninsula’s renowned remoteness and arid conditions have limited coastal development and long-term ecological studies of its natural ecosystems and resources. A synoptic survey of the Wayuu, artisanal fishers was conducted to understand their current fishing practices and the characteristics of different coastal ecosystems and species they overlap with; of particular interest was the occurrence and habitat use of sea turtles in fishing areas. Fishers were surveyed at both their homes and at points of landing on the eastern side of the peninsula. Forty-six male fishers from ten coastal communities within Uribia municipality of La Guajira were surveyed. Surveys revealed that fishing is done in shallow neritic zones, from wood canoes or from wooden or fiberglass motor launches. Fishing occurs early in the morning and late in the afternoon, as well as overnight when the “lanceo” technique is used. The most commonly used gear are gillnets. The desired catch species are small fish, sharks and rays, caught primarily for local consumption. Common caught species were jacks (Caranx sp.), mackerels (Scomberomorus sp.), sharks (Mustelus sp.) and rays (Dasyatis sp). The most common bycaught species was threatened green sea turtle Chelonia mydas. Juvenile, subadult and some adult C. mydas, of both sexes, ranging in size from 16 to 87 cm SCL, are more frequently bycaught from May to September. Fishermen described the fishing grounds as rocky or sandy, and often covered with “jimoura” (submerged aquatic vegetation).

PDF Preview