Ault, J.S.

Debrot, D.

González, J.F.

Larkin, M.F.

Posada, J.M.

Aquatic Commons

Promoting a bonefish tag and recapture program in Los Roques Archipelago National Park: a collaborative effort between professional fishing guides and scientists

Promoting a Bonefish Tag and Recapture Program in Los Roques Archipelago National Park: A 
Collaborative Effort Between Professional Fishing Guides and Scientists  
 
JOSE F. GONZÁLEZ1, DENISE DEBROT2, MICHAEL F. LARKIN1, JUAN M. POSADA2 AND JERALD S. AULT1 
1Division of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science,  
University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33149 U.S.A. 
2Departamento de Biología de Organismos, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Apartado 89000, Caracas 1080-A, Venezuela 
 
ABSTRACT 
Bonefishes, Albula spp., are highly valuable game fish that supports economical important recreational fisheries throughout the 
wider Caribbean Sea.  Since 1998, the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science has been leading 
a collaborative tag and recapture research program that involves scientist and professional fishing guides.  To date, more that 4,000 
bonefish have been tagged and an annual bonefish population census has been conducted for the past five years in South Florida.  A 
similar research program is being developed at Los Roques Archipelago National Park, a location considered one of the most 
popular recreational fishing destinations in the Caribbean for bonefish.  With the economical support from the UNEP-Caribbean 
Environmental Program, a knowledge exchange initiative between fishing guides and scientists was conducted at the archipelago in 
June, 2008.  Workshops, seminars, open discussions and field trips were conducted during five days of intensive activities in order to 
inform the local fishing guides about the scientific findings on the biology and population dynamics of this species in the area, 
provide training on tagging and visual census methodology, and exchange ideas on the sustainable use of this important resource.  
Similar programs could be conducted in other location within the region to promote the co-responsibility in the resources manage-
ment. 
 
KEY WORDS:  Recreational fishery, bonefish, tag and recapture, Los Roques, Venezuela 
 
Promoviendo el Programa de Marcaje y Recaptura para el Pez Ratón en el Parque Nacional 
Archipielago de Los Roques: Un Esfuerzo de Colaboración entre Guías de Pesca e Investigadores  
 
El pez ratón, Albula vulpes, es un recurso altamente apreciado en las pesquerías recreativas del Caribe y base de una 
importante actividad económica.  Desde 1998, la Escuela Rosenstiel de Ciencias Marinas y Atmosféricas (Universidad de Miami) 
lleva a cabo un programa de investigación sobre el pez ratón que involucra la activa participación de los guías de pesca deportiva del 
sur de La Florida.  A la fecha, más de 4.000 peces ratón han sido marcados y un censo poblacional anual se ha venido desarrollando 
a lo largo de los últimos 5 años.  Un programa similar esta empezando a ser implementado en el Parque Nacional Archipiélago Los 
Roques, considerado uno de los destinos más populares del Caribe entre los pescadores deportivos de la especie.  Gracias al apoyo 
económico del Programa Ambiental del Caribe de las Naciones Unidas (UNEP-CEP, por sus siglas en Inglés), en Junio de 2008 se 
llevó a cabo una iniciativa para fomentar el intercambio de conocimiento entre guías de pesca deportiva e investigadores.  Talleres, 
seminarios, discusiones abiertas y salidas de campo fueron llevadas a cabo durante cinco días de intensas actividades, con el objetivo 
de informar a los guías locales sobre el conocimiento que se tiene sobre la biología y la dinámica poblacional de este recurso en el 
área, así como para entrenar a los guías locales en  técnicas de marcaje y realización de censos visuales.  Programas similares 
podrían ser implementados en otras localidades de la región, con la idea de promover la co-responsabilidad en el manejo de los 
recursos. 
 
PALABRAS CLAVES:  Pesquería recreativa, pez ratón, marcaje y recapture, Los Roques, Venezuela 
 
En Promouvant le Programme Marquage et Recaptura pour le Poisson Souris dans le Parc  
National Archipel des Roques : Un effort de Collaboration entre des Guides Pêche et Chercheurs  
 
 Le poisson souris, Albula vulpes, est une ressource hautement appréciée dans les pêcheries récréatives de Des Caraïbes et du 
de base d'une importante activité économique.  Depuis 1998, l'École Rosenstiel de Sciences Marines et Atmosphériques (Université 
de Miami) mène à bien un programme de recherche sur le poisson souris qui insère la participation active des guides de pêche 
sportive du sud de la Floride.  À la date, plus de 4.000 poissons souris ont été marqués et un recensement démographique annuel a 
été développé tout au long des dernières 5 années.  Un programme semblable commence à être mis en oeuvre dans le Parc National 
Archipel les Roques, considérés un des destins les plus populaires que les Caraïbes entre les pêcheurs sportifs de l'espèce.  Grâce à 
l'appui économique du Programme Environnemental des Caraïbes des Nations Unies (UNEP-CEP, par ses sigles en Anglais), en juin 
2008 on a mené à bien une initiative pour favoriser l'échange de connaissance entre des guides de pêche sportive et investigateurs.  
Des ateliers, séminaires, discussions ouvertes et sorties de domaine ont été menés à bien pendant cinq jours d'activités intenses, dans 
le but d'informer aux guides locaux sur la connaissance qu'on a sur la biologie et la dynamique démographique de cette ressource 
dans le secteur, ainsi que pour former aux guides locaux dans des techniques marquage et réalisation de recensements visuels.  Des 
programmes semblables pourraient être mis en oeuvre dans d'autres localités de la région, avec l'idée de promouvoir CO- la 
responsabilité dans le maniement des ressources.  
 
MOTS CLÈS:   Pêcherie récréative, poisson souris, marquage et recapture, les Roques, le Vénézuéla 
Proceedings of the 61st  Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute     November 10 - 14, 2008   Gosier, Guadeloupe, French West Indies 
 Gonzalez, J. et al.   (GCFI:61  (2009)      Page 49 
 
INTRODUCTION 
Bonefish, Albula spp., is a highly valuable game fish 
that supports economical important recreational fisheries in 
the wider Caribbean Sea.  Despite its importance through-
out the region, various aspects of bonefish’s population 
dynamics, that are essential to improve the management of 
these fisheries, are poorly understood.  
In the state of Florida, the University of Miami 
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science has 
developed a multi-year tag and recapture research program 
that involves both scientist and professional bonefish 
guides in a cooperative efforts to obtain management-
relevant information on population dynamics.  This 
program has resulted in more than 4,000 tagged bonefish, 
providing a wealth of information on Florida’s stocks-wide 
movements. 
The aim of this study was to extend this successful 
initiative to Los Roques Archipelago National Park, a 
location considered one of the best destinations in the 
Caribbean for bonefish recreational fishing.  
 
MATERIALS AND METHODS 
With the economical support from the UNEP-
Caribbean Environmental Program, a knowledge exchange 
between professional fishing guides from Los Roques and 
Florida and scientists was conducted in Los Roques in 
June, 2008.   
A professional fishing guide from the Biscaine Bay in 
Florida, Captain Joe Gonzalez, visited Los Roques to 
participate in the exchange program with the local fishing 
guides and scientist from the Universidad Simón Bolívar. 
Workshops, seminars, open discussions and field trips were 
conducted during five days of intensive activities. 
Capt. Joe Gonzalez shared his experiences of collabo-
rating with scientist of the University of Miami in bonefish 
research studies and conducted a workshop to train the 
local fishing guides on tag and recapture methods.  Also, 
another workshop was conducted by the scientist to inform 
the local fishing guides about the biology and population 
dynamics of bonefish in Los Roques.  After the workshops, 
scientist, fishing guides, and the Park’s authoroties, 
exchanged ideas in an open discussion on the sustainable 
use of this important resource.  
Indicators of success of this knowledge exchange 
included opinion polls that where carried out to all the 
participants, before and after the event. 
 
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
Fifty percent of the local fishing guides participated in 
all the activities that were programmed for this knowledge 
exchange.  None of them had previously received any 
information about the biology of the bonefish.  Although 
the opinions polls revealed that the expectations before the 
event were not high, and that the fishing guides were 
reluctant to participate in discussions with the Park’s 
managers, 80% of them were very satisfied with the results 
and lessons learned. Also, 100% of the local fishing guides 
that participated in the program are now committed to 
collaborate with scientist and managers in research studies, 
as well as in the design of a management plan for the 
bonefish recreational fishery in Los Roques. 
As a result of this initiative, the scientist engaged in 
this project were awarded a research grant by Bonefish and 
Tarpon Trust to start a bonefish-tagging program with the 
collaboration of the local recreational fishing guides and 
the managers of Los Roques Archipelago National Park. 
Also, a documentary film about this initiative was pro-
duced to promote a sustainable bonefish recreational 
fishery as an alternative livelihood for other fishermen in 
Los Roques and the rest of the Caribbean. 
This knowledge exchange programme has exceeded 
our expectations, since most of the activities were accom-
plished successfully, and perhaps more importantly, this 
initiative opened an effective communication channel 
between local fishing guides, scientists and managers. 
Similar programs could be conducted in other locations 
within the region to promote the co-responsibility in the 
resources management. 
 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
We would like to thank the Small Grants Fund for promoting 
sustainable fishing practices and alternative livelihoods for fishers, 
awarded by the Caribbean Environment Programme of the United Nations 
and the Golf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute, for funding this project. 
Also, Fundación Científica Los Roques, Universidad Simón Bolívar, 
University of Miami and Instituto Nacional de Parques (INPARQUES) 
for their support. Villa Caracol, Cap. Alejandro Gonzalez and Mediterra-
neo Lodge, for their hospitality. To all the recreational fishing guides from 
Los Roques who enthusiastically participated in this initiative and made 
this project possible.  


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Promoting a bonefish tag and recapture program in Los Roques Archipelago National Park: a collaborative effort between professional fishing guides and scientists

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