Abstract

Incidental catch in traps of the lionfish Pterois volitans (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae) in the Colombian Caribbean. Since 2011, small-scale fishermen from Taganga Bay (Colombian Caribbean) have been catching lionfish in traps in the Tayrona National Natural Park, which had caused them to believe that the lionfish is the cause of the decrease in overall fishing. In order to determine the changes in the species captured and to know the abundance of the lionfish in this fishing method, we analyzed the historical landings in traps between 1993 and 2014, as well as the landing of three fishing units between March 2012 and July 2014. The historical analysis showed that the decline in species and kilograms landed has been occurring since 2000. A total of 4 913 specimens were landed between March 2012 and July 2014, of which 85 % were species of commercial interest, and the rest were used by fishermen for consumption. Landings between 2012 and 2014 were conditioned by climatic conditions, where the co-occurrence between Pterois volitans and the main commercial species and self-consumption did not provide evidence of the lionfish affecting its abundance. This confirms the presence of the lionfish as a new member in the landings in traps the Taganga Bay.

Highlights

  • La invasión biológica en el Caribe del pez león Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758) ha sido exitosa (Albins & Hixon, 2008), con fuertes efectos sobre las comunidades arrecifales (Sutherland et al, 2010; Albins & Hixon, 2011)

  • them to believe that the lionfish is the cause of the decrease

  • In order to determine the changes in the species captured

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Summary

Introduction

La invasión biológica en el Caribe del pez león Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758) ha sido exitosa (Albins & Hixon, 2008), con fuertes efectos sobre las comunidades arrecifales (Sutherland et al, 2010; Albins & Hixon, 2011). Para el caso de los pescadores artesanales de la bahía de Taganga registran desde el 2011 la presencia de P. volitans en nasas que son distribuidas en áreas del Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona (PNNT), por lo cual, han atribuido la disminución de sus capturas a la presencia del pez león.

Results
Conclusion

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