Enriqueta Velarde
Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Pesquerías, Universidad Veracruzana
Proposal
I would like to propose a session for the N-Gen summit related to the importance of gathering time series (mainly focused on seabird population sizes and breeding success and efforts) and also the problem related to seabird by-catch by the sardine fishing fleet (of course related to seabird population sizes).
Maybe the session could be entitled “Human disturbance and importance of long-time data series in conservation and management of natural resources”, but alternative titles are also possible. Please provide alternative titles if necessary.
Justification
As a result of the long expected monitoring of the by-catch of the sardine fishing fleet off the state of Sonora (flota sardinera) it was found that there is a very high by-catch of California Brown Pelican, Brown and Blue-footed Boobies (mostly, but also several other seabird species) not to mention marine mammals and many fish that are not small pelagic fishes.
As a result of this finding I analyzed some data for nesting population sizes for pelicans and boobies (kindly provided by D.W. Anderson and the Guaymas CONANP office) and detected a downward trend for all species in some of their nesting areas in the Midriff. We are striving to make the fleet implement methods to prevent, or at least, substantially reduce this by-catch. I believe this is an urgent issue to touch at the summit, together with the importance of the gathering of time series for these and other species. This will be important if at least to detect any changes through time.
Products
Directory of interested people and organizations.
Minutes of the session, including list of proposed activities towards solutions.
Letter of declaration of concern about issue, signed by participants in the Summit interested in this issue.
Preceedings of the Session.
Maybe other products not contemplated in this proposal.
Readings
1. Velarde et al. 2004
2. Verarde et al. 2013
3. Velarde et al. 2014 MARSYS_MAIN
4. Vieyra et al. 2009
5. CAP 13 VELARDE ET AL
Velarde et al. 2014 visual abstract