Abstract

The shrimp is an important biological and social-economical resource in the Mexican coastal lagoons, but despite it is relevance, some fishery evaluations have focused on bio-ecological analyses, minimizing the social-economical component. This study shows how integral studies can be developed with the participation of the fishermen. The study was carried out in the lagoon of Chelem, Yucatan, Mexico. The objectives of this work were included: to evaluate the profitability of the activity, to determine the specific composition of shrimps and the environmental factors that are related to their distribution. The economic analysis was developed of information coming from binnacles of fishing in the period 2004-2005, generated by the fishery communities. For the biological component, seven stations were monthly sampled, from October 2008 to April 2009; data was also collected about the environmental variables. The organisms samples were processed and identified to the minimum taxonomic level possible. Bi-varied and multi-varied statistical analyses were used for the analysis of the data. The results showed that the captures were integrated by shrimp, blue crab and Cupleid, beside other species of smaller commercial value. Two shrimp species were identified in the lagoon, Farfantepenaeus duorarum and Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis as the dominant specie. It was determined that the month of most abundance of shrimp was December, when equally more juvenile organisms were collected. Due to the low operation costs, the fishery is profitable although it is a seasonal activity. It is important to stand out the organization of the communities in the management of the resource.