Abstract
Isostichopus badionotus and Isostichopus sp. are two holothuroids exploited in the Caribbean region of Colombia. Until recently, they were considered a single species. During one year, 222 individuals of Isostichopus sp. and 114 of I. badionotus were collected in two bays of the Santa Marta region to study their reproductive biology and collect information on their size, weight and habitat. Both sea cucumber morphotypes showed an annual reproductive cycle, with a reproductive season from September to November, closely related to the increase in water temperature and rainfall. In both sea cucumbers the population structure exhibited a unimodal distribution composed of mature individuals and a sex ratio of 1:1. Isostichopus sp. had an average size and weight (193 ± 52 mm and 178 ± 69 g) and size and weight at first maturity (175 mm and 155 g) that was much lower than I. badionotus (respectively, 324 ± 70 mm and 628 ± 179 g; 220 mm and 348 g). While 98% of Isostichopus sp. individuals were collected in the upper 2.5 m, on rocky bottoms between cracks, 73% of I. badionotus individuals were found between 3 and 7.8 m depth, exposed on sandy bottoms. These differences imply that management measures (e.g. minimum catch size) should not be the same for both sea cucumbers morphotypes.
Highlights
Sea cucumber fishing is not a traditional activity in Colombia, for almost two decades it has become an additional source of income for indigenous communities and fishermen on the Colombian Caribbean coast, who extract this resource with practically no regulation [1,2,3,4]
The present study describes aspects of the reproductive biology of the holothuroids I. badionotus and Isostichopus sp. in the Santa Marta Region using the gonadal index (GI) and histological examination of the gonads
No significant differences were observed between morphotypes in relation to the percentage of organic carbon in the sediment (Isostichopus sp. = 0.33% and I. badionotus 0.34%) (n = 31; F1,29 = 0.24; p = 0.629)
Summary
Sea cucumber fishing is not a traditional activity in Colombia, for almost two decades it has become an additional source of income for indigenous communities and fishermen on the Colombian Caribbean coast, who extract this resource with practically no regulation [1,2,3,4]. Fishing experience in neighboring countries, such as Panama, Mexico and Ecuador have shown the vulnerability of sea cucumbers to over-exploitation due to low recruitment rates, late maturity and density-dependent reproduction [5,6,7]. Reproductive characteristics of two sea cucumbers in Colombia
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
