Costa Maya, Q.R. — The Institute of Biodiversity and Protected Natural Areas of Quintana Roo (Ibanqroo) participated in the 13th Connectivity Exercise in the Mesoamerican Reef.
The exercise was carried out in the Zaragoza Channel within the Manatí-Bahía Sanctuary State Reserve from Chetumal.
According to Javier Alberto Carballar Osorio, General Director of Ibanqroo, the monitoring is a regional effort developed in the Mesoamerican Reef System where 13 Marine Protected Areas of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras work simultaneously with the objective of obtaining greater knowledge about connectivity of reef fish in their early stages of life, indicated Tomás Sánchez, director of Protected Natural Areas.
In this sense, only for the Manatí Sanctuary State Reserve – Chetumal Bay, a capture of 52 postlarvae of fish was recorded among which snappers, mojarras and barracudas stand out, all of which are important in artisanal fishing in the region.
In addition and for the first time, the entry of tarpon larvae (Megalops atlanticus) was recorded, an important species for catch-and-release sport fishing or “flyfishing,” reported Lourdes Vásquez Yeomans, Ecosur researcher.
This monitoring opens a window of opportunities to establish multilateral alliances with other countries aimed at planning and executing regional management. It also increases knowledge about the functionality of the system and, with it, allows them to propose conservation measures aimed at sustainable development.
Some of these sustainable projects include flyfishing on which dozens of families living in the southern part of the state depend, indicated Miguel Mateo Sabido Itzá, Head of the Department of Protected Natural Areas in the southern part of the Ibanqroo.
With these actions, respectful policies are implemented with the care of the environment and the conservation of natural resources, favoring sustainability, as well as better living conditions for the population, as established in the New Agreement for the Well-being and Development of Quintana Roo .
The exercise was carried out in coordination with the Colegio del Frontera Sur Unidad Chetumal (ECOSUR) and the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas – Arrecifes de Xcalak National Park.
