Abstract

The Chinchorro Bank Biosphere Reserve has been identify as a site where fish spawning aggregations traditional has been taking place for different species like: grouper, snapper, parrot fish, bar jack. This study is part of a general prospecting of the traditional sites that have been used by fishers. The implemented methodology is based on the monitoring manual for spawning fish aggregations published by the Mesoamerican Barrier System Project which includes: fish length, number of fishes, habitat and reproductive conduct. The site that was studied has been sample monthly three days before full moon, during full moon and three days after full moon. As the most important species in this site we found: Kyphosus sectatrix (Bermuda chub, cagona),Haemulon sciurus (Bluestriped Grunt, Chacchi cola negra), Caranx ruber (Bar Jack, Cojinuda) Haemulon flavolineatum (French Grunt, Chacchi ojón), Ocyurus chrysurus (Yelow Tail Snapper, rubia), Epinephelus striatus (Nasau Gruper, mero del caribe), Scarus coeruleus (Bule Parrot, loro azúl), Scarus coelestinus (Midnight Parrot Fish, pez loro), Lutjanus apodus (Schoolmaster, canxic), Haemulon carbonarium (Caesar grunt, canxic amarillo); the most abundant are: Lutjanus apodus, Scarus coeruleus, Kyphosus sectatrix, Hemulon sciurus y carbonarium. We consider that the presence of all those species is because of its depth (22m) no one is able to disturb them, other important issue is presence of gorgonian corals and that this site has a great biodiversity we have been able to see: turtles, conch, and lobster and nurse shark

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