Queen Conch Fishery Management and Conservation in Colombia

Erick Castro (Agriculture and Fishery Secretariat)

Martha C. Prada (CORALINA)Elizabeth Taylor (Min. Ambiente)

Julian Botero (AUNAP)

Queen Conch WorkshopPanama, Oct 2012

AUNAP

Queen Conch Fishing Description

Land

ings

(m

-t)

1990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011

0.0

50.0

100.0

150.0

200.0

250.0

300.0

350.0

400.0

450.0

Artesanal Industrial

Cons

umpt

ion

and

Trad

e

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

ConchasPerlas

20002001

20022003

20042005

20062007

20082009

20102011

020406080

100120140160

filetes (t)

Domestic Comsuption (ASPC)

10 - 16 m-t/year

Fish

ery

Man

agem

ent

Closed areas (San Bernardo, Rosario, Queena)

Annual TAC

Individual Commercial Permits (Quota distribution)Artisanal Collective TAC

Closed Season (Jun 1 – Oct 31)

Minimum Size (100 g clean meat; 225g unclean meat)

SCUBA or Hookah prohibited

Controlled exports meat, shells , pearls (CITES)

QU

EEN

CO

NCH

EBM

Objectives (Since 2007)

To approach an Ecosystem-Based Management which offers the possibility of sustaining conch fisheries by addressing aspects of conch biology that directly support production and are otherwise overlooked in quota-based management.

To be successful applying of the Non Detrimental Findings procedures for the Queen Conch, according to the CITES criteria.

Queen Conch Surveys

YearAdults Juvenals

Density(Ind/ha)

Abundance (No. ind)

Density(Ind/ha)

Abundance (No.ind)

200373.6 1,992,995 200.6 5,431.901

2007165.3 4,475,757 52.3 1,416.154

201063.2 1,711,867 23.8 643,806

2011 123.7 3,349,401 127.3 3,447,866

Spat

ial S

tatu

s St

ock

EBM

& S

tock

As

sess

men

tApplying 8% Rule

Using the rule of 8% harvest at stock sizes (densities) below that of MSY is equivalent to adopting a strategy of constant fishing mortality (Medley, 2008, Appeldoorn 2010). This has the effect of reducing catch proportionally as density declines.

In addition, MPA zones, bank size, Illegal catch, juvenal recruitment, habitat, and deep are considered.

Additional regulations

Temporal Closures (Adaptive TAC System)

Permanent Closed Areas.

Limited Fishing Effort (boats and divers)

Actu

al S

tatu

s St

ock

0 50 100 150 200

-0.2

-1.66533453693773E-16

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

Quenna (7.2)

Roncador(88,7)

Serrana (123,7)

Alice Bank(62,4)

New Bank(33,1)

Serranilla (3,4)

Providence (5,0)

San Andres (1,5)

SSW Cays (4,9)

ESE (3,2)

Density (Adults/ha)

Rela

tive

Catc

h

Biol

ogic

al

stud

ies

tc

ea

f

eg

D

tc

ea

f

eg

D

Reproductive Strategy(Atypical Annual Cycle)

Genetic Connectivity

Studies and Modeling larvae

Pathogenic Parasites & Bacteria

Cons

erva

tion

Environmental Education

Acoustic TelemetryTranslocation, Ranching and Repopulation

Que

en C

onch

Nat

iona

l Pl

an San Andres Rincon del Mar

Santa Marta Bogota

Fina

l Con

side

rati

ons

National progress and developments are threatened by IUU Fishing.

Regional Agreement and Cooperation.

Alternative livelihood projects are necessary for artisanal fishermen.

Saving Seaflower Conch Program

Thanks!