Insights into the ecology of sea turtles and the fisheries of eastern Guajira from the traditional knowledge of fishermen

Abstract

The productive waters of the Guajira peninsula (Colombia) support unique marine ecosystems and fisheries with high levels of biodiversity upon which Wayuu indigenous communities rely for subsistence. However, climate change has affected local people’s livelihoods and dependence on fisheries has increased as a result in this area. Socio-ecological knowledge to understand the fisheries and the ecosystems of Guajira is necessary, however, acquiring such knowledge has been difficult in the past due to the remoteness and harsh environmental conditions of the peninsula that hinder corresponding scientific studies. In this study, we contacted local fishermen during a field expedition of three weeks, to collect their traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) about the local marine species, particularly of sea turtles, as well as the fisheries characteristics in eastern Guajira. Fishing practices in eastern Guajira were artisanal, for subsistence, from small wooden or fiberglass vessels. The types of fishing gear varied, the most common of which were chinchorros and entanglement nets. Catch included diverse taxonomic groups such as finned fish, cartilaginous fish, sea turtles and crustaceans. Four sea turtle species occurred at eastern Guajira, the most common of which is the green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas. The sea turtles were mostly juveniles and subadults of both sexes, present year-round and with a peak in the months of May through September. After confirming the accuracy of collected TEK through field observations, we concluded these findings add knowledge to and can support fisheries and biodiversity management in Guajira, particularly in the face of regional climate-imposed challenges to human communities and marine ecosystems.