Abstract

ESCOTO-MURILLO, Andrés; CAMPOS-MONTERO, Jorge  and  PEREIRA-CHAVES, José. Characterization of the biological factors of the most common elasmobranch populations in Bahía Santa Elena. InterSedes [online]. 2023, vol.24, n.49, pp.173-195. ISSN 2215-2458.  http://dx.doi.org/10.15517/isucr.v24i49.50627.

This article analyzes the biological factors of the most common elasmobranchs in Bahía Santa Elena, in the Guanacaste Conservation Area in the north Pacific of Costa Rica. Due to a lack of marine-coastal scientific information there is a system failure of management, leaving without a resilience approach to the populations subject to conservation. The monthly sampling method was used from September 2015 to August 2016, diversity, relative abundance, species distribution, biometric aspects, reproductive biology and catch size structure were determined by means of an underwater census, the use of a trammel net and a visit to the Cuajiniquil fish reception posts. A survey was applied to 120 fishermen to know the social perception regarding the factors of sustainable development. I worked with a sample of 289 individuals, among the main results, it was obtained that the months with the highest rainfall are related to peaks of the diversity indices, with little spatial distribution. A seasonal replacement of species is presented, highlightingthe arrival of Rhinopterasteindachneri, Mobulamunkiana, during the rainy months and Mustelushenlei and Sphyrnalewini during the Trade Winds. The main spawning period for Myliobatiformes is located before December, however Urotrygonnana presents a second period in July. It is concluded that biometry indicates a greater number of juvenile organisms for sharks and adults for rays, bottom gillnet fishing was characterized by low economic performance, which affects the capture of juveniles of S. lewini, this economic income does not benefit from the intangible natural assets present in BSE that are State assets.

Keywords : Sharks; rays; management; ACG.

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