Title
Artisanal green turtle (Chelonia mydas) fishery of Caribbean Nicaragua: II. Characterization and trends in size, sex, and maturity status of turtles killed, 1994–2011
Author(s)
Lagueux, C.J.;Campbell, C.L.;Strindberg, S.
Published
2017
Publisher
Marine Biology
Abstract
One of the largest legal green turtle, Chelonia mydas, fisheries in the world occurs in Caribbean Nicaragua, where annually thousands of endangered turtles are captured for consumption. Understanding characteristics of turtles caught and assessing trends can provide insights into population status and resource management needs. From 1994 to 2011, green turtles caught in this artisanal fishery (12.33–14.66°N and 82.50–83.48°W) were characterized by size, maturity status, and sex. Temporal trends in curved plastron length (PL) differed significantly among three size-sex categories: turtles ≥70.0 cm PL for females (F ≥ 70) and males (M ≥ 70), and all turtles <70 cm PL (PL < 70). For maturity status, the ratio and number of immatures declined suggesting a decrease in recruitment to the Nicaragua foraging ground. Of the mature turtles, males comprised 69% of the catch. Sex ratios of F ≥ 70 to M ≥ 70 differed significantly by region, 1.2F:1M in the north and 0.7F:1M in the south, suggesting sexual segregation on the foraging ground. Additionally, the annual proportion of F ≥ 70 decreased significantly in each region. Declines in immatures and proportion of females in the catch are of concern since these changes have potentially important implications for population growth. Recommendations include improving stakeholder participation in fishery management, establishment of effective closed seasons, and year-around protection for mature females. Although additional information is needed, this study provides evidence of resource population changes and demonstrates the importance of long-term monitoring of resource use.
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PUB22391