WP5 OBJECTIVES

Deliverable 5.1• Review nature, role and effectiveness of MPA• Examine need and potential role of new MPA

Gulf of California – Mar de Cortés• 282 000 km2 – 232 islands

• Latitudinal range: 24º - 32º N

• Depth: 180m (north) - 4000 m (central)

• Mean SST: 23.5 ªC N, 26.5 ªCS

• Subtropical most productive and diverse ecosystem

• Mean productivity: 477 gCm-2yr-1

MARINE SPECIES DIVERSITY IN THE GULF OF CALIFORNIAInvertebrates (excluding copepods and ostracods): 4,852 species (767 endemic) Fishes: 891 species (88 endemic to the Gulf)Non-fish Vertebrates: 222 species (4 endemic to the Gulf)

Total: 5,965 species (859, 14.4%, endemic to the Gulf)

FISHERIES IN THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA

50 % of Mexico's total catches 60% of Mexico's total value50 000 direct job•Shrimp•Sardine•Sharks, sciaenidae, serranidae…

Northern Gulf of California

•One of the most productive and diverse region inside the Gulf•36000 km2

•Colorado river mouth + delta•Mean depth: 180m north, 4000 m central trenches•Mean SST: 23.5 ªC N, 26.5 ªCS•3 fishing ports

satellite view from USA

bathymetry

MARINE SPECIES DIVERSITY IN NORTHERN GULF OF CALIFORNIA

1. Invertebrates: 2,257 species (128 endemics)2. Vertebrates: 516 species (10 endemics)3. Mammals: (1 endemic; the vaquita Phocoena sinus)4. Fishes: 367 (12 endemics)5. Seabirds: 145 (no endemics)6. Marine reptiles: 6 (no endemics)

FISHERIES IN NORTHERN GULF OF CALIFORNIA

1. Invertebrates: 2,257 species (128 endemics)2. Vertebrates: 516 species (10 endemics)3. Mammals: (1 endemic; the vaquita Phocoena sinus)4. Fishes: 367 (12 endemics)

Phocoena sinus (Norris & McFarland, 1958 )

• Critically endangered: IUCN• Smaller cetacean: 1.5 m – 55kg• Endemic to the Upper Gulf• Very reduced distribution: 600 inds.• Bycath in gill nets of various sizes

Totoaba macdonaldi (Gilbert, 1890)

• Endangered – totally banned• Largest Sciaenidae: 2 m - 135 kg• Endemic to the Gulf of California• Ontogenetic migration pattern• Historic stock depletion• Illegal adult fishing• Juveniles bycath in shrimp trawl

ENDENGERED SPECIES IN NORTHERN GULF OF CALIFORNIA

Marine Protected Area – UGC&CRDBR• Status: Upper Gulf of California / Colorado river Delta

• Biosphere Reserve: 1993 UNESCO-MAB

• Size and placement: 9348 km2

• 31 00' y 32 10' N & 113 30' y 115 15' W.

MARINE SPECIES DIVERSITY IN UPPER GULF BIOSPHERE RESERVE•Invertebrates: 1,048 species (43 endemics)•Fishes: 230 (191 bony fishes, 39 cartilaginous fishes), 1 endemic•Marine Mammals: 15 (14 cetaceans, 1 sea lion), no endemics

Considered as one important Case of a MPA in México with diverse conflicts:

fishing/conservation

binational environmental impact (e.g. Colorado discharge)

Cyprinodon macularius

MPA OBJECTIVES

To conserve and protect:• Ecosystems• Biodiversity• Evolutionary processes• Commercial species critical habitats • Endangered species

1. Conserve the biodiversity and the Sonora desert, upper Gulf of California and Colorado river delta ecosystems.

2. Identify, protect and restore critical areas for endemic and endangered species.3. Protect critical areas (e.g. spawning, nursery) for commercial or ecologically

relevant species.4. Regulate productive activities to match with the conservation objectives.5. Promote sustainable productive activities6. Impulse scientific investigation and environmental education towards the

ecosystem knowledge and the rational use of the natural resources.7. Conserve the genetic diversity to allow the evolutionary processes continuity.8. Conserve the biotic and ecosystem integrity towards the sustainable resource

utilization

MPA MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION PROGRAM: RESERVE OPERATION

Generates actions towards the mentioned objectives: 6 subprograms

1. Protection: inspection, vigilance and contingency response

2. Management

1. Management of economically important species

2. Ecosystems management

3. Make conservation a profitable activity

4. Promote ecotourism: increase income to local families

5. Others…

3. Restoration

1. Restore specific areas within the reserve

2. Restore vaquita and totoaba populations

3. Restore freshwater availability

4. Knowledge: promote research, monitoring

5. Culture: environmental education

6. Administration: human and economic resources, funding

STAFF•Director: 1 •Sub director: 1•Project manager: 1•Promoters: 2•Assistant: 1

BUFFER ZONE: 7709,8 km2

Productive activities ALLOWED: subzonification•Traditional uses•Sustainable use of natural resources•Agroecosystems•Special use: salt extraction•Public use: beaches, camping•Human populations•Restoration areas

CORE ZONE = COLORADO RIVER DELTA: 1647,8 km2•Includes best preserved areas•Critical areas: spawning, nursery, nesting•Relevant ecological processes: nutrient enrichment (tidal mix), saline gradient, etc.•All extractive activities are PROHIBITED*

ECOLOGICAL PLANING AND ZONIFICATION: RESERVE OPERATIONZonification criteria: natural features (e.g. wetlands, endemic species), land and marine resources employment.

PARTICULAR FIHERIES ASPECTS

• Incidental catch < target catch no endangered species

• Benthic resources: manual, diving or traps

• Pelagic species: 1200 m longlines “cimbras”

• Other species: 500 m gillnets 15 cm mesh. Engine < 75HP

• Aquaculture: only native species

PROBLEMS

•Effects of fishing: illegal fishing inside the core zone (ecospace scenario)

•Habitat degradation: Colorado river flow and contamination

•Vaquita and totoaba incidental catch still continues: need for a new MPA

•ECTIVENESS: No publications in scientific journals nor in gray literature,

showing biological or ecological benefits of this MPA.

Monitoring program working?

SITE ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE

• First official Management Program developed in México

• Involvement of small-scale fishing's sectors

• Enforcing regulations in coastal activities

• Promotion of the Recovery Strategy for the endangered vaquita

• Promotion and managing ecotourism pilot projects

• Promotion of environmental education campaigns

• Promotion of binational agreements to protect existing Colorado delta wetlands

• Promotion of alternative fishing activities such blue crab and hooka diving

• Include the Reserve in national, regional and international conventions and cooperative agreements (Ramsar, AICAS, MAB, NAWMP)

Examine need and potential role of new MPA

Continuing incidental capture of vaquita and totoaba.

Natural Resources Defence Council (USA) impulse shrimp fishery without affecting the vaquita or promote a campaign against Mexican shrimp.

Ample consensus to implement a new MPA.

Refuge for the conservation of the vaquita (Phocoena sinus)

1,245.85 km²

897.09 km² inside the buffer zone

366.76 km² outside, adjacent to the reserve, completing the entire vaquita´s sighting region including Rocas Consag.

Restriction in activities directly related to vaquita protection: gillnets and trawling.

No management plan nor detailed design yet: opportunity to ecospace

Deliverable 5.2

Run simulations of MPA effectiveness with Ecospace

1- ecopath model:2- ecosim model: calibration: basic simulations3- ecospace model: construction

Examine effects of size and placement on the effectiveness of MPAs

EXISTING ECOPATH MODELS

• NGC 1970-1980

• NGC 1990-2000

GRUP COMMON NAME SPECIES1 Elasmobranchi SHARKS Tiburón tripa, bironcha Mustelus lunulatus; Rhizoprionodon longurio2 Zalophus c. Lobo marino Zalophus californianus3 Totoaba m. AD Totoaba Totoaba macdonaldi4 Aves marinas Aves marinas Sula leucogaster; Pelecanus occidentalis5 Odontoceti Delfines Tursiops truncatus; Delphinus delphis6 Phocoena s. Vaquita Phocoena sinus7 Totoaba m. JU Machorros Totoaba macdonaldi8 Merluccidae Merluza Merluccius productus 9 Mysticeti Ballenas Balaenoptera physalus; Balaenoptera edeni

10 Coastal birs Aves costeras Limosa fedoa; Calidris mauri11 Sciaenidae Curvinas, Chano Cynoscion othonopterus; Micropogonias megalops; Menticirrhus nasus12 Rhinobatidae Guitarra Rhinobatos productus13 Serranidae Extranjero, Baqueta Paralabrax auroguttattus; Epinephelus acanthistus14 Elasmobranchi RAYS Mantas, Angelito Dasyatis brevis; Gymnura marmorata; Squatina californica15 other fishes Otros peces Prionotus; Sphoeroides annulatus; Scomberomorus sierra16 Haemulidae Rayadito Orthopristis reddingi17 Sicyonia p. Camarón de roca Sicyonia penicillata18 small pelagics Sardinas, Anchoa Cetengraulis mysticetus; Opisthonema libertate; Anchoa helleri19 Farfantepenaeus c. JU C.cafe poslarva Farfantepenaeus californiensis20 Lytopenaeus s. JU C.azul poslarva Litopenaeus stylirostris21 Cephalopoda Pulpo, Calamares Octopus22 flat fishes Lenguados Paralichthys aestuarius; Etropus23 Myctophidae Linterna Triphoturus mexicanus24 Mojarras Mojarras Calamus brachysomus; Eucinostomus dowi25 Callinectes sp Jaibas Callinectes bellicosus26 Polychaeta Poliquetos Aricidea, Spionidae27 Stomatopoda Cucaracha Squilla bigellowi28 Lytopenaeus s. AD Camarón azul Litopenaeus stylirostris29 Benthic inv.30 Farfantepenaeus c. AD Camarón café Farfantepenaeus californiensis31 Zooplankton Copepoda, Calanoidea32 Fitoplankton Thallassiosira, Gymnodinium33 Macrofita Algas34 Detritus

GRUP TL B P/B Q/B EEt·km-2·yr-1 yr-1 yr-1

1 Elasmobranchi SHARKS 4.03 0.72 0.27 3.12 0.81

2 Zalophus c. 3.97 0.03 0.55 35.99 0.06

3 Totoaba m. AD 3.96 0.05 0.41 4.86 0.82

4 Marine birds 3.95 0 0.49 41.55 0.01

5 Odontoceti 3.93 0.28 0.24 28.36 0.11

6 Phocoena s. 3.92 0.01 0.56 28.06 0.31

7 Totoaba m. JU 3.82 0.13 0.71 11.12 0.6

8 Merluccidae 3.79 0.49 0.46 1.91 0.59

9 Mysticeti 3.55 0.18 0.19 2.91 0.04

10 Coastal birds 3.45 0.01 0.26 45.56 0.06

11 Sciaenidae 3.44 0.88 2.97 12.48 0.67

12 Rhinobatidae 3.32 0.5 0.7 2.55 0.64

13 Serranidae 3.26 0.08 0.75 3.52 0.92

14 Elasmobranchi RAYS 3.1 1.46 1.01 4.85 0.71

15 other fishes 3.02 2.21 1.85 7.97 0.99

16 Haemulidae 3.01 0.16 3.11 13.98 0.81

17 Sicyonia p. 3 0.05 3.07 8.09 0.75

18 small pelagics 2.97 5.09 3.51 11.2 0.95

19 Farfantepenaeus c. JU 2.88 0.04 8.88 40.17 0.48

20 Lytopenaeus s. JU 2.88 0.12 9.73 37.9 0.2

21 Cephalopoda 2.82 5.94 3.38 11.65 0.77

22 flat fishes 2.77 0.52 0.59 11.04 0.81

23 Myctophidae 2.77 1.09 1.55 8.54 0.98

24 Mojarras 2.64 0.75 1.62 5.88 0.72

25 Callinectes sp 2.53 1.08 2.67 9.47 0.08

26 Polychaeta 2.47 5.05 8.13 27.15 0.94

27 Stomatopoda 2.46 0.12 2.54 9.02 0.73

28 Lytopenaeus s. AD 2.45 0.41 5.21 18.49 0.94

29 Benthic inv. 2.42 3 31.54 81.41 0.48

30 Farfantepenaeus c. AD 2.41 0.2 5.38 20.37 0.75

31 Zooplankton 2.25 28.63 24.26 65.4 0.67

32 Fitoplankton 1 116.11 57.85 - 0.21

33 Macrofita 1 2.36 59.99 - 0.42

34 Detritus 1 88.52 - - 0.06

NGC90 MEAN EDTOTAL FLOWS 15313 13020 10104

CONSUMPTION FLOWS 2362 4781 4529

EXPORTATION FLOWS 5780 2217 2186

RESPIRATION FLOWS 1037 2248 2200

FLOWS TO DETRITUS 6134 4420 3529

TOTAL PRODUCTION 7671 5950 3740

NET PP 6816 5278 3579

TPP/TR 6.6 3.2 3.1

TPP/TB 41.2 22.9 16.6

% PPR 0.5 20 19.7

TLc 2.76 3.25 0.65

CONNECTANCY 0.31 0.27 0.06

OMNIVORY 0.37 0.23 0.09

ASCENDENCY 16823 16019 12506

ASCENDENCY % 44 33 10

OVERHEAD 21846 36564 32355

OVERHEAD % 56 68 7

CAPACITY 38669 52679 44441

II6.1 %

III11.5 %

IV10.8 %

V6.9 %

109 12 1.2IPP

Detritus

967 60.1 7.9 0.79

756

717 35.5 2.8

5378

0.27

1438

356

0.74 0.52 0.19 0.02

EXISTING ECOSIM SETINGS

• Time series fitting

• Vulnerability search

00.10.20.30.40.50.60.70.8

1960 1965 1970 1975

BIO

MA

SA

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A

0.0000.0010.0020.0030.0040.0050.0060.0070.008

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0.010

0.015

0.020

0.025

0.030

1977 1982 1987 1992 1997

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0

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20

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1960 1970 1980 1990

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Blue shrimp

•Effort•Catch•CPUE•PDOI•V >>3 top-down

•Effort•Catch•CPUE•COLORADO RIVER•V >>3 TOP-DOWN

•Censuses •PDOI•V = 1 bottom-up

EXISTING ECOSIM BASIC SCENARIOS: no fishing & doubling fishing

TOP-DOWN

BOTTOM-UP

MIX-DEF

MIX-CALIB

0 2 4 6 8 1 0 1 2 1 4 1 6 1 8 2 0

0 .0 1 0

0 .0 1 5

0 .0 2 0

0 .0 2 5

0 .0 3 0

0 .0 3 5

0 .0 4 0

Bio

mas

a (t·

km2 )

TOTOABA ADLTS

95%

440%

200%

NO FISHING

0 2 4 6 8 1 0 1 2 1 4 1 6 1 8 2 0

0 .0 0 18

0 .0 0 23

0 .0 0 27

0 .0 0 33

0 .0 0 37

Bio

mas

a (t·

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23%

140%

55%

VAQUITA

20 YEARS NO FISHING

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 200.000

0.001

0.002

0.003

0.004

0.005

0.006

0.007

Bio

ma

sa (

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-50%

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0 2 4 6 8 1 0 1 2 1 4 1 6 1 8 2 00 .0 0 02

0 .0 0 04

0 .0 0 06

0 .0 0 08

0 .0 0 10

0 .0 0 12

0 .0 0 14

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ma

sa (

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-16%

-41%

-80%VAQUITA

TOP-DOWN

BOTTOM-UP

MIX-DEF

MIX-CALIB

20 YEARS DOUBLE FISHING

• ECOSPACE DEVELOPMENT• Model construction• Basic exploration

– No MPA– No buffer zone– New refugee zone

1) BASE MAP2) HABITAT DEFINITION

1) > 200 m2) < 100 m3) 100-200m

4) Delta5) Rocky6) Wetlands and bays7) Vaquita

3) MPA DEFINITION

• CORE ZONE• BUFFER ZONE• NEW POLIGON

4) RELATIVE PP•SEAWIFE•ANUAL MEAN

5) HABITAT PREFERENCES AND DISPERSION RATESTODOS > 200 m < 100 m 100-200m DELTA RC ROCOSO BAHIAS VAQUITA

Elasmobranchi TIB +Zalophus c + + + + + +Totoaba m. AD + + + + +Aves marinas +Odontoceti +Phocoena s +Totoaba m. JU + + + +Merluccidae + +Mysticeti + + +Aves costeras + + + +Sciaenidae + + + + +Rhinobatidae + + + + +Serranidae + + +Elasmobranchi RAY + + + + +Otros peces +Haemulidae + + + + + +Sicyonia p + +Pelágicos menores + + + + +Lytopenaeus s JU + + +Farfantepenaeus c JU + + +Cephalopoda +Peces planos + + + + +Myctophidae + + +Mojarras + + + + +Callinectes + + + +Polychaeta +Stomatopoda + + + + +Lytopenaeus s AD + + + +Inv. bentónicos +Farfantepenaeus c AD + + + + +Zooplancton +Fitoplancton +Macrofitas +Detritus +

SHRIMP TRAWLING SHRIMP ARTISANAL FINFISH ARTISANAL

BAYS / WETLANDS X X

SOFT SEA BOTTOM ; 100 m X X X

VAQUITA X X X

BUFFER X X X

CORE X

NEW POLIGON X X X

6) FISHING ACTIVITIES

7) BASIC SIMULATION SCENARIOS

1) ACTUAL2) NO MPA – EFFECTIVENESS3) NEW REFUGEE

ACTUAL SITUATION

ACTUAL SITUATION

NO MPA SITUATION

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