Identifying reef fish spawning aggregations in Alacranes Reef, off northern Yucatan Peninsula,

using the fishermen traditional ecological knowledge

Alfonso Aguilar-Perera1, Carlos González-Salas1, Armín Tuz-Sulub2,Harold Villegas-Hernández1, María López- Gómez1

Departamento de Biología Marina, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán,

Mérida, Yucatán,

México Campus de Ciencias Biológica y Agropecuarias

UADY

Worldwide, 164 sppaggregate to spawn (FSAs) Vulnerable:

predictable space and timeFSAs (140):

60% declining20% no forming20% “stable”(SCRFA 2006)

FSAs (140):60% declining20% no forming20% “stable”(SCRFA 2006)

Trends

How do we know about FSAs first hand?

Fishermen accounts

Body of knowledge (Wisdom) = Traditional Ecological KnowledgeTEK

Trends

Johannes, Berkes

Studies incorporating TEK to know about FSAs (Cuba, Belize, Brazil)

35 aggregating species (mostly snappers & groupers)

Western Atlantic:

Trends

Elusive for managers and government

Scarce studies (Caribbean, Pacific)Lack of Management (exceptions)

FSAs in Mexico

OBJECTIVES

Two Phases:

1) TEK: a) experience (wisdom), b) perception

(presented elsewhere)2) Tracking: standard monitoring

protocol (presented elsewhere)

How many species?

Where?

When (seasonality)?

Phase 1:

TEK: a) experience (wisdom):

How many aggregation sites?

OBJECTIVES

27 km

14 kmStudy Area Desterrada

Isla Pérez

Pájaros y

Chica

Muertos

Alacranes Reef

METHODSSemi-structured interviews based on protocols(Johannes 1999, Colin etal. 2003, Heyman et al. 2005),but adapted to local conditions

(information used with extreme confidence avoiding to reveal precise positions of FSAs to general public)

(1) which species(2) fishing relative importance, (3) fishing gear (4) Seasonality (months), and (5) approximate locations

Spawning Aggregation Spawning Aggregation SitesSites

Camaronero Sandwic

h

Caribbean

Tabasco

Las Columnas

El Puente

H4

Marisol

RESULTSRESULTS

OctSepAugJulJunMayAprMarFebJanDec Nov DecOctSepAugJulJunMayAprMarFebJanDec Nov DecOctSepAugJulJunMayAprMarFebJanDec Nov DecOctOctSepSepAugAugJulJulJunJunMayMayAprAprMarMarFebFebJanJanDecDec NovNov DecDec

Grouper Spawning SeasonalityGrouper Spawning Seasonality

OctSepAugJulJunMayAprMarFebJanDec Nov Dec

L. jocuO. chrysurus

L. apodus

L. griseusL. mahogoni

C. sufflamen

Snapper (and others) Snapper (and others) SeasonalitySeasonality

RESULTSRESULTS

13 species (mostly snappers and groupers)

8 sites (6 along leeward)

3 multi-specific aggregation sites (> 5 spp)

Most important seasons: Spring & Summer

While, confirming info through SCUBA incursions isstill necessary, TEK shows to be reliable since the seasonal patterns in Alacranes Reef are relatively similar to other areas (Cuba, Belize, Puerto Rico)

Additionally, elaborate studies among sites involving: 1) tracking movements (of main species) using acoustics (telemetry), and 2) genetics

Next step: confirming (following protocols, Colin et al., Heyman et al) FSAs and study their dynamics

Thank you!