View in EDS

Evaluating management and conservation strategies in a tropical fishery: insights from environmental variables affecting demersal fish assemblages.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Evaluating management and conservation strategies in a tropical fishery: insights from environmental variables affecting demersal fish assemblages.
Authors: Mejía-Mercado, Beatriz E.1 (AUTHOR) bmejiamercado@fsu.edu, Rueda, Mario2 (AUTHOR) mario.rueda@invemar.org.co, Rodríguez-Zaragoza, Fabián A.3 (AUTHOR) fabian.rzaragoza@academicos.udg.mx
Source: Hydrobiologia. Jan2026, Vol. 853 Issue 2, p625-646. 22p.
Subjects: Species diversity, Small-scale fisheries, Sustainability, Fishing equipment, Stakeholder analysis, Abiotic environment, Groundfishes
Geographic Terms: Colombia
Abstract: Global depletion of fishery resources has intensified stakeholder conflicts, highlighting the need for innovative management and conservation measures. This study evaluates two initiatives along Colombia's northern Pacific coast: the Exclusive Zone of Artisanal Fishing (ZEPA), created to mitigate conflicts between artisanal and industrial fishers, and the Regional Integrated Management District (DRMI), a conservation strategy integrating marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Using ecological and fisheries data, we analyzed fish assemblage structures across zones and depths to assess their effectiveness. Seventy-eight fishing sets were conducted during research cruises from November 2012 to January 2013, using bottom trawls at depths of 23 to 235 m. Over 102,000 kg of fish were collected, comprising 115 species from 61 families and 27 orders. Bony fishes dominated in richness and biomass, particularly from the orders Perciformes, Eupercaria incertae sedis, Scombriformes, Ophidiiformes, Gadiformes, and Pleuronectiformes. Cartilaginous fishes, although less abundant, included rays and sharks from six orders. Biomass varied by depth, peaking in deeper waters (121–235 m). Species richness, Shannon diversity, and Simpson dominance showed no significant differences between zones, depths, or their interaction. However, assemblage structure differed significantly with depth as the primary driver. Salinity and dissolved oxygen emerged as key environmental variables shaping assemblage patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Hydrobiologia is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
Description
Abstract:Global depletion of fishery resources has intensified stakeholder conflicts, highlighting the need for innovative management and conservation measures. This study evaluates two initiatives along Colombia's northern Pacific coast: the Exclusive Zone of Artisanal Fishing (ZEPA), created to mitigate conflicts between artisanal and industrial fishers, and the Regional Integrated Management District (DRMI), a conservation strategy integrating marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Using ecological and fisheries data, we analyzed fish assemblage structures across zones and depths to assess their effectiveness. Seventy-eight fishing sets were conducted during research cruises from November 2012 to January 2013, using bottom trawls at depths of 23 to 235 m. Over 102,000 kg of fish were collected, comprising 115 species from 61 families and 27 orders. Bony fishes dominated in richness and biomass, particularly from the orders Perciformes, Eupercaria incertae sedis, Scombriformes, Ophidiiformes, Gadiformes, and Pleuronectiformes. Cartilaginous fishes, although less abundant, included rays and sharks from six orders. Biomass varied by depth, peaking in deeper waters (121–235 m). Species richness, Shannon diversity, and Simpson dominance showed no significant differences between zones, depths, or their interaction. However, assemblage structure differed significantly with depth as the primary driver. Salinity and dissolved oxygen emerged as key environmental variables shaping assemblage patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00188158
DOI:10.1007/s10750-025-05961-8