ECONOMIC VALUE OF CARIBBEAN FLAMINGO (PHOENICOPTERUS RUBER) AT CELESTUN BIOSPHERE RESERVE, YUCATAN, MEXICO: A BIRDWATCHING TOURISM APPROACH

Abstract · Bird watching activities are increasing worldwide, allowing for a closer citizen-nature experience. These activities are considered to promote biodiversity conservation values. We assessed the economic value of the Caribbean Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) at the Celestun Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan, Mexico. Celestun has become an important destination for birdwatching-based tourism because of the presence of flamingo flocks in its coastal lagoon. Flamingos at Celestun attract approximately 50,000 national and international visitors yearly. The human population of Celestun is approximately 6,800 inhabitants; their livelihoods mainly depend on fishing, and more recently on bird watching tourism. In order to assess the economic value of flamingo-watching at Celestun, we interviewed 427 visitor groups after they took a flamingo-watching motorboat tour. We conducted the interviews during three of the highest tourism seasons within a year period (2012–2013). The interview questions were directed towards the visitors’ place of origin, their main reasons for visiting Celestun, and how much money they spent traveling, using a direct questionnaire with a total of 37 items. We applied the Travel Cost Method in order to estimate the economic value for flamingo-watching at Celestun. For approximately 80% of the interviewed visitors, flamingos were the main reason to visit Celestun. We obtained a total of US$16,542,004 as the “Flamingo value” placed by visitors.Resumen · Valor recreativo de la observación de Flamencos del Caribe (Phoenicopterus ruber) en Celestún, Yucatán, México Las actividades de observación de aves han aumentado a nivel mundial, permitiendo una experiencia más cercana entre ciudadanos y naturaleza. Se considera que estas actividades promueven los valores de la conservación de la biodiversidad. Estimamos el valor económico del Flamenco del Caribe (Phoenicopterus ruber) en la Reserva de la Biosfera de Celestún, Yucatán, México. Celestún se ha convertido en un importante destino para el turismo basado en la observación de aves, debido a la presencia de parvadas de flamencos en la laguna costera. Los flamencos de Celestún atraen aproximadamente 50,000 visitantes nacionales e internacionales al año. La población en Celestún es de aproximadamente 6,800 habitantes, que viven principalmente de la pesca y más recientemente del turismo de observación de aves. Para estimar el valor económico de la observación de flamencos en Celestún, entrevistamos a 427 grupos de visitantes después de que tomaron el recorrido para observación de flamencos en lanchas de motor. Cubrimos tres temporadas altas de turismo en un periodo anual (2012–2013). Preguntamos acerca del lugar de origen de los visitantes, principal razón para visitar Celestún y cuál fue la cantidad de dinero gastada en su viaje, utilizando un cuestionario directo con un total de 37 ítems. Aplicamos el Método de Costo de Viaje para estimar el valor económico para la actividad de observación de flamencos en Celestún. Para cerca del 80$ 16,542,004.00 como el “valor del flamenco” en función de la tasa de visitación

Spatio-Temporal Determination of Small-Scale Vessels’ Fishing Grounds Using a Vessel Monitoring System in the Southeastern Gulf of Mexico

In most small-scale fisheries (SSF), there is limited or null information about the distribution and spatial extent of the fishing grounds where the fleets operate, due to the lack of explicit spatial and temporal data. This information is key when addressing marine spatial planning and fisheries management programs for SSF. In addition to technical or biogeographic restrictions, environmental conditions in the area influence the way fishers operate. Making use of data from a pilot Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) project tested in a small-scale fleet in the Southeastern Gulf of Mexico (SGoM), for the first time in the region, we were able to learn what role environmental factors play in the distribution of potential fishing grounds for this fleet. We got tracking information of 1,608 daily fishing trips from vessels operating in four states using the VMS for 7 months. We used a correlative modeling approach to identify potential fishing grounds where this fleet operates along the SGoM, accounting for environmental variables. We assumed that environmental conditions can shape the spatial distribution of species targeted by this fleet and hence influence fishers’ operations. The results indicated that net primary production and sea surface temperature were the main drivers that shape the spatio-temporal potential distribution of fishing grounds in the study site. The approach employed here seems appropriated and opens an opportunity to learn more about the factors that define the spatial distribution of small-scale fleets and their potential fishing grounds

Environmental and anthropogenic factors affecting the probability of occurrence of Oncomegas wageneri (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha) in the southern Gulf of Mexico

BACKGROUND: Understanding the environmental and anthropogenic factors influencing the probability of occurrence of the marine parasitic species is fundamental for determining the circumstances under which they can act as bioindicators of environmental impact. The aim of this study was to determine whether physicochemical variables, polyaromatic hydrocarbons or sewage discharge affect the probability of occurrence of the larval cestode Oncomegas wageneri, which infects the shoal flounder, Syacium gunteri, in the southern Gulf of Mexico. METHODS: The study area included 162 sampling sites in the southern Gulf of Mexico and covered 288,205 km(2), where the benthic sediments, water and the shoal flounder individuals were collected. We used the boosted generalised additive models (boosted GAM) and the MaxEnt to examine the potential statistical relationships between the environmental variables (nutrients, contaminants and physicochemical variables from the water and sediments) and the probability of the occurrence of this parasite. The models were calibrated using all of the sampling sites (full area) with and without parasite occurrences (n = 162) and a polygon area that included sampling sites with a depth of 1500 m or less (n = 134). RESULTS: Oncomegas wageneri occurred at 29/162 sampling sites. The boosted GAM for the full area and the polygon area accurately predicted the probability of the occurrence of O. wageneri in the study area. By contrast, poor probabilities of occurrence were obtained with the MaxEnt models for the same areas. The variables with the highest frequencies of appearance in the models (proxies for the explained variability) were the polyaromatic hydrocarbons of high molecular weight (PAHH, 95 %), followed by a combination of nutrients, spatial variables and polyaromatic hydrocarbons of low molecular weight (PAHL, 5 %). CONCLUSIONS: The contribution of the PAHH to the variability was explained by the fact that these compounds, together with N and P, are carried by rivers that discharge into the ocean, which enhances the growth of hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria and the productivity and number of the intermediate hosts. Our results suggest that sites with PAHL/PAHH ratio values up to 1.89 promote transmission based on the high values of the prevalence of O. wageneri in the study area. In contrast, PAHL/PAHH ratio values ≥ 1.90 can be considered harmful for the transmission stages of O. wageneri and its hosts (copepods, shrimps and shoal flounders). Overall, the results indicate that the PAHHs affect the probability of occurrence of this helminth parasite in the southern Gulf of Mexico. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-015-1222-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Bycatch species composition over time by tuna purse-seine fishery in the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean.

Post-print

ECONOMIC VALUE OF CARIBBEAN FLAMINGO (PHOENICOPTERUS RUBER) AT CELESTUN BIOSPHERE RESERVE, YUCATAN, MEXICO: A BIRDWATCHING TOURISM APPROACH

Abstract · Bird watching activities are increasing worldwide, allowing for a closer citizen-nature experience. These activities are considered to promote biodiversity conservation values. We assessed the economic value of the Caribbean Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) at the Celestun Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan, Mexico. Celestun has become an important destination for birdwatching-based tourism because of the presence of flamingo flocks in its coastal lagoon. Flamingos at Celestun attract approximately 50,000 national and international visitors yearly. The human population of Celestun is approximately 6,800 inhabitants; their livelihoods mainly depend on fishing, and more recently on bird watching tourism. In order to assess the economic value of flamingo-watching at Celestun, we interviewed 427 visitor groups after they took a flamingo-watching motorboat tour. We conducted the interviews during three of the highest tourism seasons within a year period (2012–2013). The interview questions were directed towards the visitors’ place of origin, their main reasons for visiting Celestun, and how much money they spent traveling, using a direct questionnaire with a total of 37 items. We applied the Travel Cost Method in order to estimate the economic value for flamingo-watching at Celestun. For approximately 80% of the interviewed visitors, flamingos were the main reason to visit Celestun. We obtained a total of US$16,542,004 as the “Flamingo value” placed by visitors.Resumen · Valor recreativo de la observación de Flamencos del Caribe (Phoenicopterus ruber) en Celestún, Yucatán, México Las actividades de observación de aves han aumentado a nivel mundial, permitiendo una experiencia más cercana entre ciudadanos y naturaleza. Se considera que estas actividades promueven los valores de la conservación de la biodiversidad. Estimamos el valor económico del Flamenco del Caribe (Phoenicopterus ruber) en la Reserva de la Biosfera de Celestún, Yucatán, México. Celestún se ha convertido en un importante destino para el turismo basado en la observación de aves, debido a la presencia de parvadas de flamencos en la laguna costera. Los flamencos de Celestún atraen aproximadamente 50,000 visitantes nacionales e internacionales al año. La población en Celestún es de aproximadamente 6,800 habitantes, que viven principalmente de la pesca y más recientemente del turismo de observación de aves. Para estimar el valor económico de la observación de flamencos en Celestún, entrevistamos a 427 grupos de visitantes después de que tomaron el recorrido para observación de flamencos en lanchas de motor. Cubrimos tres temporadas altas de turismo en un periodo anual (2012–2013). Preguntamos acerca del lugar de origen de los visitantes, principal razón para visitar Celestún y cuál fue la cantidad de dinero gastada en su viaje, utilizando un cuestionario directo con un total de 37 ítems. Aplicamos el Método de Costo de Viaje para estimar el valor económico para la actividad de observación de flamencos en Celestún. Para cerca del 80$ 16,542,004.00 como el “valor del flamenco” en función de la tasa de visitación.</jats:p

Effects of time-area closure on tropical tuna purse-seine fleet dynamics through some fishery indicators

Time-area closures have become a frequently used tool to control fishing effort and protect feeding and spawning areas. However, because time-area closure strata are mainly based on biological and ecological considerations, and do not accounts for fishermen's behavior-at-sea, this type of regulation tool may not entirely achieve its objectives. With the aim of comparing the impact of two different time-area regulations: (1) a moratorium on Fish Aggregating Devices (FAD) sets (1997-2005) and (2) a no-take area for surface fleets (2005-2010) on the dynamics of the European (EU) tuna purse seine fleet operating in the eastern tropical Atlantic, several fishery indicators were evaluated through a Before-After, Control-Impact (BACI) approach. The results showed that prior to any regulation, the fleet used to be concentrated within the Gulf of Guinea area. During the first years of the moratorium on FAD (from November to January within a large region in the eastern Atlantic) there was a movement towards outside the protected area, increasing the total sets on FAD (restricted fishing activity). In general, this moratorium fulfilled its objectives; however, it was not respected during the last years of this regulation. The no-take time-area closure restricted all tuna catches for the surface fisheries but only in November and within a small area (i.e., the Picolo zone). As a result, there was an increase in activities on free schools outside the no-take area. Our findings suggest the use of some simple fishery indicators to understand fleet dynamics as a complement of ecological information before implementing new time area closures. Furthermore, since tunas are highly mobile species, anticipating the possible re-allocation of effort of purse seiners to adjacent areas in response to the spatial regulation is required to design different candidate time-area closures and to evaluate their effectiveness to protect juvenile tunas

Adaptive responses of tropical tuna purse-seiners under temporal regulations

The failure to achieve fisheries management objectives has been broadly discussed in international meetings. Measuring the effects of fishery regulations is difficult due to the lack of detailed information. The yellowfin tuna fishery in the eastern Pacific Ocean offers an opportunity to evaluate the fishers’ responses to temporal regulations. We used data from observers on-board Mexican purse-seine fleet, which is the main fleet fishing on dolphin-associated tuna schools. In 2002, the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission implemented a closed season to reduce fishing effort for this fishery. For the period 1992–2008, we analysed three fishery indicators using generalized estimating equations to evaluate the fishers’ response to the closure. We found that purse-seiners decreased their time spent in port, increased their fishing sets, and maintained their proportion of successful fishing sets. Our results highlight the relevance of accounting for the fisher behaviour to understand fisheries dynamics when establishing management regulations