RESUMO
Small-scale shark and ray fisheries are conducted throughout Central America's Caribbean coast. Yet, there is limited information regarding catch composition and diversity of these fisheries, especially in Guatemala. Surveys of catch landings were conducted in two of Guatemala's primary Caribbean coastal shark and ray fishing communities, El Quetzalito and Livingston, between January 2015 and July 2017. Biological data from 688 landed chondrichthyans were collected, with 31 species (24 sharks, six rays and one chimaera) identified. The four most frequently captured species included Carcharhinus falciformis (30.2%), Sphyrna lewini (12.7%), Hypanus guttatus (12%) and Rhizoprionodon spp. (6.7%). Landed sharks contained most size classes with a high proportion of juveniles of species with low productivity. The large-bodied species C. falciformis and S. lewini were often recorded at sizes below known maturity; 96.6% and 85.1%, of the captured individuals were immature, respectively. This study can serve as a baseline to determine future trends in the elasmobranch fisheries conducted by Guatemala's Caribbean coastal communities and support assessments on the persistence of the fisheries.
Assuntos
Pesqueiros , Animais , Biodiversidade , Tamanho Corporal , Feminino , Guatemala , Masculino , Tubarões/fisiologia , Rajidae/fisiologiaRESUMO
El mar Caribe de Guatemala forma parte del Sistema Arrecifal Mesoamericano (SAM), el cual alberga una alta diversidad de especies marinas. Dichas poblaciones son importantes para el bienestar de las comunidades humanas que habitan en la zona marino-costera de los países que conforman el SAM, y que dependen de manera directa o indirecta de estos recursos. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la riqueza y abundancia tanto de las especies de peces herbívoros presentes en el área, como de aquellas que son atraídas por carnada de sábalo y atún, utilizando la metodología de Estaciones Remotas de Video Subacuático con Carnada BRUVS en sitios con presencia de arrecifes. El muestreo se realizó en siete sitios ubicados fuera de la Bahía de Amatique, Izabal, en abril, junio y septiembre de 2016. Se grabaron 26.06 h, en 21 sets de BRUVS. Se contabilizaron 778 organismos, correspondientes a dos clases, 20 familias, 31 géneros y 59 especies. Las especies más abundantes en el estudio fueron Scarus spp. (19.67 %), Clepticus parrae (9.64 %), Aluterus scriptus (6.04 %), Scarus iserti (5.14 %) y Caranx ruber (5.01 %). Los sitios Quetzalito 1 y 2 presentaron una riqueza de especies significativamente mayor (p < 0.006) al resto de sitios de muestreo. Quetzalito 1, 2 y King Fish presentaron una abundancia significativamente mayor (p < .038) al resto de sitios. El dendrograma derivado de la abundancia por especie para los sitios de muestreo, mostró cinco agrupaciones (similaridad de Bray-Curtis del 43 %). Finalmente se observó una baja presencia de peces de importancia comercial en los siete puntos evaluados.
The Guatemalan Caribbean Sea forms part of the Mesoamerican Reef System (MAR), which harbors a great marine biodiversity. These populations are important for the wellness of humans who live in communities at coastal areas located in the MAR region, and who directly or indirectly depend on these resources to survive and thrive. The main objective of this study was to determine not only species richness and abundance of herbivorous fish, but also those who are attracted by shad and tuna bait when used in the Baited Remote Underwater Video Stations (BRUVS) in sites with coral reef presence. Monitoring was held at seven spots located outside Bahía de Amatique, Izabal, in April, June and September 2016. In 21 sets of BRUVS, 26.06 h of video were recorded, counting a total of 778 organisms which belongs to two classes, 20 families, 31 genera and 59 species. The most abundant species were Scarus spp. (19.67 %), Clepticus parrae (9.64 %), Aluterus scriptus (6.04 %), Scarus iserti (5.14 %) and Caranx ruber (5.01 %). The sites that presented higher richness of species were Quetzalito 1 y 2 (p < 0.006 compared to the rest of the sampled sites). Quetzalito 1, 2 and King Fish showed higher abundance (p < .038) compared to the rest of the sites. Abundance per specie dendrogram showed five groups (Bray-Curtis similarity of 43 %). Finally, low presence of commercial fish species was seen at the seven monitored sites.
