DEEP-SEA FISHERY IN THE COLOMBIAN CARIBBEAN SEA: MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION STRATEGIES FOR AN ECOSYSTEM APPROACH TO FISHERIES

Abstract

The aim of this research was to identify the potential of new deep-sea fisheries in the Colombian Caribbean Sea determining their biomass and spatial distribution in order to advice management and conservation strategies, based on ecosystem approach to fisheries management. First, I examine morphological characteristics of the shallow water pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus notialis to investigate stock differentiation, presenting biological data such as size at 50% sexual maturity. The data onF. notialis were obtained from samples collected from June to December 2004, on board of commercial fishing vessels and from a time series of historic landings of catch and effort data. I did not find morphometric variability between the studied regions, which indicates the existence of a single population of F. notialis from a morphometric point of view. This study provides the first complete view, to date, of the stock structure and fishery dynamics of the pink shrimp F. notialis in the Colombian Caribbean Sea. This fishery is a typical case in which high exploitation, combined with non-existent fisheries management, have resulted in the significant depletion of stock.In response to this, I investigate possible new fishing areas, exploring the poorly understood deep sea habitats in the Colombian Caribbean Sea, to determine the potential for a viable deep-sea crustacean fishery. The sampling area extended from 100 m the isobaths to 600 m depth. I found high abundances ofthe giant red shrimp (Aristaeomorpha foliacea), the royal red shrimp (Pleoticus robustus), the pink speckled deep-sea shrimp (Penaeopsis serrata) and the deep-sea lobster (Metanephrops binghami) obtained in two experimental trawl surveys carried out in November and December 2009, all of which are important commercially. The highest biomassess of these deep-sea crustaceans species were found mainly in the northern zone of the Colombian Caribbean Sea, where the local oceanography is modulated by high productive seasonal upwelling. However, further scientific assessment is necessary to determine population life cycle parameters of these deep-sea crustaceans and associated biodiversity before initiating a new commercial fishery. Studies of deep-sea biodiversity are necessary in order to understand the degree of stability and vulnerability of deep-sea environments and enable comparison of conditions before and after exploitation of the fishery. This will enable a better understanding of the ecosystem, to advise ecosystem-based conservation and fisheries management strategies. The aim of thislaststudy was to identify deep-sea fish assemblages across a depth range of 200-550 m from the Colombian Caribbean Sea and their implications for an ecosystem approach to fisheries management. Classification (Cluster analysis) and ordination (non-parametric multidimensional scaling NMDS) were performed to identify deep-sea fish assemblages. A total of 102 species (13 Chondrichthyes and 89 Teleosteans) and 58 families (9 Chondrichthyes and 49 Teleosteans) of deep-sea fish were sampled. This study reveals the existence of three deep-sea fish assemblages and demostrates that depth plays an important role in ichthyofaunal differentiation. I conclude that, the management of the shallow shrimp fishery and the potential new deep-sea crustacean fishery should be based on an ecosystem approach that considers population dynamics and structure, the optimum allocation of catches and effort, protection of nursery and spawning areas, the development of monitoring strategies and the care of ecosystems.