Ministry of Environment and Home Affairs
Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs
Lower Bight Road, Providenciales
Turks and Caicos Island Government
TRAVEL REPORT
Eric F. Salamanca
DEMA, TCIG
Mazatlan, Mexico
April 7-11, 2014
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Ministry of Environment and Home Affairs
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Turks and Caicos Island Government
Prepared by
ERIC F. SALAMANCA, Ph.D.
Environmental Research and Development Officer, DEMA
2nd International Symposium on Mangroves as Fish Habitat
Mazatlan, Mexico, April 7-11, 2014
Technical Background of the Symposium
Mangroves are remarkable ecosystems – highly productive forests built by a small group of
trees and shrubs that have adapted to survive in the harsh interface between land and se. They
are host to a rich and complex array of associated species, and in turn provide considerable
services to human communities.
The complex root systems of mangroves provide habitat for a diversity of terrestrial and aquatic
species. Some marine organisms, such as small crabs and gastropods, spend their entire life
cycle within the mangrove forest. Others, such as lobsters, groupers, and snappers, use
mangrove forests as nursery areas during their early life stages. Still others, such as juvenile
sharks and adult bonefish, use mangroves as foraging grounds. As a result, for much of the
temperate and tropical coastal areas around the world, the mangrove ecosystem serves as the
physical lattice that houses much of the food web systems for many biologically and
economically important marine species. This symposium, which is the second in a series,
brought together scientists from around the globe to share
knowledge on the links between fisheries, ocean health, and
the growing need for protecting the mangrove ecosystem.
The 2nd International Symposium on Mangroves as Fish
Habitat was held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of
the American Fishery Society with a theme “Rethinking
Fisheries Sustainability – The Future of Fisheries Science”.
Approximately 15-20% of the animal protein consumed by the
world human population comes from fisheries.
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Nature of participation/attendance:
The proposal of EF Salamanca to present a paper entitled Mapping
Mangroves as a Management Tool to Enhance Fish
Recruitment & Bird Conservation: The Case of Turks And
Caicos Islands, British West Indies was accepted by the organizing
Committee. EF Salamanca opted to present at the Poster session. A
copy of the poster is presented below.
During the Poster session, there were interesting comments and suggestions such as
(1) the connectivity of mangrove, seagrass and coral reefs in terms of their effect on fish
population. (2) The effect of healthy mangrove, seagrass and coral reef on recreational
and commercial fishing. It has been emphasized that mangrove-based eco-tourism such
as snorkeling and bird watching support the local economy.
The Symposium Organizers will prepare a Report/Proceedings and EF Salamanca was
asked to submit an extended abstract/short paper (see below the draft extended abstract)
for possible inclusion to the peered reviewed Symposium Proceedings as a special Issue
American Fisheries Society publication.
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MAPPING MANGROVES AS A MANAGEMENT TOOL TO ENHANCE FISH
RECRUITEMENT & BIRD CONSERVATION: THE CASE OF TURKS AND
CAICOS ISLANDS, BRITISH WEST INDIES
Eric F. Salamanca*, Kathleen Wood*, Luc Clerveaux*, Zev Cariani**, Margaret
Wisniewski,** Leila AtallahBenson,**
*Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs, Turks and Caicos Islands
**Biology Department, Northeastern University, Boston, USA
Introduction:
The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) are an Overseas Territory of the UK, which comprise
40 islands, 10 of which are inhabited. The territory is situated on shallow banks, with a
total land area of 193 square miles (430 sq km). The TCI’s mangrove forest (236 km2) is
about 70% of the total forested area (Spalding, et. Al., 2010). The rich and diverse marine
and terrestrial environment of TCI supports the two main industries: tourism and fisheries.
TCI has an extensive system of coral reefs, the third largest in the world, and the best
preserved in the Caribbean Region. The wealth of mangrove forests and sea grass beds
support abundant reef fish and crustacean populations and provide protection against
natural extreme events. It is therefore imperative that they are protected from both natural
and human-induced hazards.
Mangroves in the Caribbean strongly influence the community structure of fish on
neighboring coral reefs and the biomass of several commercially important species is
more than doubled when adult habitat is connected to mangroves. (Mumby, et al., 2003).
Mangroves perform a vital function in fisheries and bird conservation. They provide
nursery areas for fish, crustaceans and mollusks, and bird habitat. Mangrove support a
complex community of species and fish play a vital part as they consumed large deposits
of decomposed leaf, bark and twig litter produced by mangrove trees.
Detailed vegetation maps are valuable for the sustainable management of these
ecosystems (Sanchirico and Mumby, 2009). The TCI habitat map (2010), integrates
aerial imagery, remote sensing, ground-truthing and a vegetation classification
system. This study builds on the above work, using GIS (ArcGIS ver. 10) to map
mangrove species, alliances and associations, thereby creating a more detailed layer
in the existing habitat map. Understanding species compositions, locations and legal
infrastructures assists in more-effective mangrove management.
Common fish species observed in the mangrove ecosystems are: 1. Schoolmaster
Snapper (Lutjanus apodus ); 2. Great Baraccuda (Sphyraena barracuda); 3. French Grunt
(Haemulon flavolineatum). On the other hand, the following birds were frequently
observed in mangrove ecosystem are: 1. Green Heron (Butorides virescens); 2. Great
Egret (Ardea alba) ; 3. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias); 4. Brown Pelican (Pelecanus
occidentalis )
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A
B
Map showing the (a) mangroves and (b) the fishing zones.
The height and density of mangroves in TCI
TREE HEIGHT (mean)
DENSITY (m-2)
Tall: 3.7 (2.0-7.0)
Short: 1.1 ((0.5-2.0)
Low density: 0.3 (0.2-0.5)
High density: 8.0 (6.0-10.0)
BLACK MANGROVE
2.6 (0.8-6.0)
0.6 (0.2-1.0)
GREEN BOTTONWOOD
2.4 (1.8-4.5)
0.6 (0.5-1.0)
WHITE MANGROVE
3.8 (3.5-4.0)
2.2 (0.5-4.0)
SPECIES
RED MANGROVE
Source: TCI, Biodiversity, the UK Overseas Territories , JNCC 1999.
A composite landed (fish plants) scale fish in TCI for 3 years are as follows: 15,668 lbs,
12,494 lbs, and 18,896 lbs for 2010-11, 2011-12, and 2012-13, respectively.
Challenges and Issues:
There are challenges and issues that are affecting mangrove stability and developments
in Turks and Caicos, such as: 1) Infrastructure & tourism developments, 2)
Cutting/destruction of mangroves, 3) Altered water flow & sedimentation from road
construction, drainage canals, and sea defences, 4) Carelessness and ignorance, 5)
Improper waste management, 6) Climate change, extreme weather events and wave
actions, and 7) Inadequate legislative protections
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Concluding Remarks:
Mangrove species have high economic values in TCI, supporting the tourism and fishing
industries. The GIS-based mapping tool allows for more effective management, influencing
policy decisions by government and end-users.
References:
FAO. 2010. Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010 Main Report. FAO Forestry Paper
163.
JNCC. 1999. TCI, Biodiversity, the UK Overseas Territories , JNCC
Mumby, P.J. Edwards, A.J., Arias-Gonzales, J.E., Gorczynska, M.I., Harborne, A.R.,
Pescod, C.L., Renken, H., Wabnitz, C.C., & Llewellyn, G. 2003. Mangroves enhance the
biomass of coral reef fish communities in the Caribbean. Nature, 427: 533-536.
Sanchirico,J.N. and P. Mumby. 2009. Mapping ecosystems functions to th evaluation of
ecosystem services: implications of species-habitat associations for coastal land-use
decisions. Theor. Ecol. (Published online: 08 January 2009).
Spalding, M., Kainima, M., and L. Collins, 2010. World Atlas of Mangroves. Earthscan.
pp319
2nd International Symposium on Mangroves as Fish Habitat
Mazatlan, Mexico, April 7-11, 2014
List of presentations:
No.
Title of paper
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Mangroves in National Parks: Protecting fish habitat and securing fisheries for the future
Recreational fisheries as conservation tools for mangrove habitats
Caribbean-wide patterns of reef fish occurrence and abundance in relation to mangrove forest area Small-scale fishery within a lagoon system in the Gulf of California.
Habitat zonation and fish assemblages between and within three adjacent coastal tidal creeks on
Cape Eleuthera, The Bahamas: Implications for monitoring and conservation
6. The conservation implications of spatial and temporal variability in the use of Caribbean tidal
mangrove creeks by transient predatory fishes
7. Assessing mangrove habitat complexity and its implications for fisheries
8. Coastal and Mangrove Eco-Tourism in Catanduanes island (Philippines): Amenace or a bonus?
Minerva Morales
9. Conservation of mangrove ecosystems in Mexico: challenges and perspectives 10. A comparison of the trophic structure of Terminos lagoon and continental shelf for three seasons11. Site fidelity and homing behavior in the four-eyed fish Anableps anableps (Anablepidae): A study in a
Brazilian mangrove revealed by radio-frequency identification and visual census -
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Presentor
Eric Carey
Aaron Adams
Joseph E Serafy
Mauricio Carrasquilla (s)
Karen Murchie
Brendan Talwar
Shing Yip Lee
Minerva Morales
Eric Knudsen
Javier A. Romo-Ríos (s)
Marianna Audfroid
Calderon (s)
Ministry of Environment and Home Affairs
Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs
Lower Bight Road, Providenciales
Turks and Caicos Island Government
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
Processes affecting movement and survival of a juvenile fish in mangrove creeks
Mangroves as Fish Habitat: Ecology and Ecological Services
Highlights on El Conchalito, La Paz, B.C.S. taxonomic diversity indices, a five years case of study
Assessing seasonal hyperspectral estimation of leaf pigments for dominant mangrove species of the
Pacific coast of Mexico Colonization of Robinson Preserve: An evaluation of restoration efforts in an estuary in Tampa Bay,
Florida Spatial and temporal variation of fish assemblage associated with mangroves in a coastal lagoon of
Cayo Coco, Cuba Primary producers and their relationship to sedimentary organic matter in Terminos lagoon and
continental shelf
Intertidal fish community structure in mangrove-lined and unvegetated creeks of Qeshm Island,
Persian Gulf
Mangroves and the Deep Blue C: Exceptionally valuable ecosystems in exceptionally vulnerable
times
Responses of mangrove fish to climate change
Climate extremes create legacies on tropical floodplain fish subsidies in a mangrove coastal riverSealevel rise impacts and its implication on mitigation & adaptation of mangrove ecosystem in
Indaramayu, West Java
Biogeography of mangrove fish assemblages in the Neotropics
Andrew Barbour
Eric Knudsen
J. A. Payan-Alcacio (s)
Francisco Flores de
Santiago
Amanda Croteau (s)
Héctor Miguel SalvatTorres
Javier.A. Romo-Ríos (s)
Maryam Shahraki (s)
Boone Kaufman
25. A meta-analysis approach to mangrove-fishery linkage
26. Puffed and bothered: the effects of stress on the behaviour of a mangrove- associated fish, the
Aaron Shultz (s)
Ross Boucek (s)
Agustinus Mangaratua
Samosir
Gustavo Adolfo
Castellanos-Galindo (s)
Mauricio Carrasquilla (s)
Naomi Pleizier (s)
27. Role and quality of refuge habitats for Everglades fishes: coastal natural vs. wetland artificial?
28. Status of mangrove biodiversity and conservation in the typhoon-prone island of Catanduanes,
Jennifer Rehage
Jimmy T. Masagca
29. Environmental considerations for the conservation and restoration of mangrove forests
30. Concepts of vulnerability as drivers of conservation priorities: an applied study of fish communities in
Francisco Verdugo
Katherine Kaplan (s)
31. Fish and mangroves, functional restoration in the Yucatan Peninsula
32. Review of the decline of artisanal fisheries along the Arabian Sea coast, Pakistan
33. Characterization of small-scale fisheries in mangrove habitats of Puerto Pedregal, Chiriquí Gulf,
Daniel Arceo-Carranza
Muhamm ad Naee
Hans J. Hartmann
34. Selecting potential restoration sites based on carbon sequestration estimates of red mangrove flats
Pedram P Daneshgar
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
James Hutchison
Daniel Benitez-Pardo
Joseph Patten
Eric Knudsen
Ken Dorsett
24.
checkered puffer (Sphoeroides testudineus)
Luzon, Philippines
the Galapagos Marine Reserve
Panama
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
in the Bahamas Building a global model of mangrove fisheries value Mangrove restoration in Sinaloa: ecological dynamics to assist in maintaining fisheries Mangrove protection in the Bahamas and United States: A comparative analysis Science-based mangrove restoration techniques for long-term benefits –
How our conservation efforts for mangroves will shape the economic and environmental future of the
Bahamas Toning up critical mass for mangroves nurseries for fisheries in Sundarban
Loss of coastal mangroves on the island of new providence, the Bahamas
Coastal wetlands as fish habitat in Marismas Nacionales, West Mexico Factors impacting regeneration of and coastal protection by Rhizophora mangle
ARAMCO-Saudi Arabia: Mangrove restoration in the Gulf
Predicting the effect of MPAs on nearby ecosystems: Habitat connectivity of seagrass bed and the
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Tushar Kanti Saha
Lindy Knowles
John Tiedeman
Elise Granek
Ronald Laughland
Rosel T. Ibardaloza (s)
Ministry of Environment and Home Affairs
Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs
Lower Bight Road, Providenciales
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protected mangroves as shown in the intertidal molluscan diversity
Catanduanes, Philippines -
and fish assemblage in
List of Poster
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Structure of a fish community associated with Fringe Red Mangrove in Carmen Island, Terminos
Lagoon, Campeche, Mexico
Reproductive strategies of four native species associated with mangrove areas of the Yucatán
Ichthyoplankton and meroplankton community composition of a restored mangrove and salt marsh
aquatic preserve in Tampa Bay Florida
Occurrence and distribution of fish populations in areas with different influence of mangroves in the Baía
de Todos os Santos, Bahia, Brazil
Power of a multi-year monitoring program to detect change in mangrove fish communities adjacent to a
nuclear power plant
Mollusks secondary productivity in mangroves of the Ensenada de La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Evidence of panmixia in Guavina guavina (Teleostei: Eleotridae) along the Brazilian coastline,
considering possible barriers to gene flow
The effects of non-native mangroves on near-shore marine fisheries
Effects of nesting waterbirds on nutrient levels in Honduran mangroves
Comparison of community structure between intact and restored mangroves in Biscayne Bay, Florida
Microgobius meeki as an ecological indicator of habitat disturbance in shallow estuarine areas: a useful
tool for quality estuarine assessment
Mapping mangroves as a management tool to enhance fish recruitment and bird conservation: the case of
the Turks and Caicos Islands
of Turks and
Caicosand
Islands,
British West
Mangrove
research
rehabilitation
as aIndies
collaborative outreach tool
Characterizing the fisheries of a mangrove restoration site north of the Yucatan Peninsula
Connectivity between protected areas: strategy for biodiversity conservation
Luis Enrique Amadordel Ángel
Maribel Badillo-Alemán
Amanda Croteau (s)
Alexandre Clistenes de
Alcântara Santo
Tara Dolan (s)
Esteban F Félix-Pico
Aurycéia Guimarães (s)
Andrew Harwood (s)
Tyler McFadden (s)
Joseph Peters (s)
José Amorim Reis-Filho
(s)
Eric Salamanca
Aaron Shultz (s)
Wendy Solano-Baak (s)
Ma. Eugenia VegaCendejas
Participants to the 2nd International Symposium on Mangrove as Fish Habitat
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Field visit: Mangrove Ecology, Management, Conservation, and Restoration
Coordinator: Dr. Francisco Flores, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mazatlán, México
When: Friday April 11th, 2014
This workshop and field trip provided the basic concepts of the functional characteristics, services, and attributes of
mangrove ecosystems, including their relationship to fisheries. Evaluation of human impacts as well as the strategies
for mitigation were highlighted. Participants travelled to the Urias estuarine complex near Mazatlán where several
ongoing experimental restoration projects are occurring. Participants learned species identification and physiognomic
types as well as the application of strategies for the management, conservation and restoration of these ecosystems
from a hydrological point of view. Research on mangroves as sewage control and as carbon sinks were explored.
Mazatlán is located in the Sinaloa State in the Northwest Region of México on the Pacific
Coast, almost directly across from the tip of the Baja California peninsula. Is one of the
Mexican Riviera’s premier resort areas and its remarkable scenic beauty is
complemented by a delightful festive atmosphere and a wealth of exciting activities.
Although Mazatlán is one of México’s most popular vacation destinations, it has another
identity as the largest fishing port in México. The most important shrimp fleet of the
Mexican Pacific is located here, with a bustling economy independent of the tourism
industry. This duality adds an interesting cosmopolitan flavor to this unique city that you
are sure to savor.
The City is concentrated in two areas: In the north, there is the Zona Dorada (Golden
Zone) where the majority of hotels and restaurants are located. In the south there is El
Centro (downtown), also known as Old Mazatlán, that is the heart of the cultural activities
in Mazatlán. These two areas are linked by Avenida del Mar, also known as the Malecón,
which is a scenic beach-front avenue that bridges the gap between the two areas.
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Fisheries in Mazatlán
Mazatlán is the main fishing port of
Sinaloa and the second most
important at national level, counts on
a length of dockage of 2,684 meters
of which 334 m are destined to the
tuna fleet operations, 465 m for small
pelagics and 1,885 m for shrimp. The
fishing fleet of Mazatlán counts with
more than 500 ships focused on
shrimp fishery, 30 ships focused on
tuna fishery, 10 for sardines, 24 for
demersal fishes and shark, and
around of 10,000 boats dedicated to
the near shore shrimp fishery.
Mazatlán catches the 69% of the
national production of tuna and
around 37% of the shrimp. In the
industrial section of the city there are the 16.2% of the industrial marine plants of
Sinaloa dedicated mainly to the shrimp processing, tuna and sardine. Of each 10 tins of
tuna that are consumed in México, 6 are produced in Mazatlán.
Also Mazatlán has an important sport fishing industry. The sport fishing fleet of
Mazatlán is the second largest of México after the one at Los Cabos. Moreover, the
state of Sinaloa is one of the main states in the country’s most important aquaculture
region, with more than 1,350 hectares destined to culture farms, mainly of white
shrimp.
Lessons Learned:
1. The importance of mangrove, seagrass and coral reefs in terms of their effect on
fish population are significantly correlated. The healthier the three ecosystems the
more sustainable fish production.
2. The recreational and commercial fishing value of healthy mangrove, seagrass and
coral reef are well understood.
3. Mangrove-based eco-tourism such as snorkeling and bird watching support local
livelihood, hence enhance local economy.
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Actions to be taken as a results of the lessons learned from the Symposium
1.
2.
3.
4.
Continue the mangrove enhancement project of DEMA.
Continue the mangrove mapping activities.
Look into how seagrass and coral reef ecosystem will be mapped.
Support initiatives that look into the connectivity of mangrove, seagrass, coral reef
and fish productivity.
5. Support mangrove based eco-tourism in TCI such as eco-walks, bird watching,
kayaking and snorkelling.
Conclusion and Recommendation:
Participation on said symposium is very important because leading researchers from all
over the globe (US, UK, Australia, Canada, etc.) were present and shared their insights on
how to increase fish productivity by protecting/conserving/enhancing the fish
habitats/ecosystems such as mangrove, seagrass and coral reef.
Acknowledgement:
The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) of the UK government has provided a Travel
Grant to EF Salamanca to present this paper to the 2nd International Symposium on Mangroves
as Fish Habitat, held in Mazatlan, Mexico. Special mention is accorded to Ms. Tara Pelelmbe and
Mr. John Henson for their untiring assistance at the different stages of this grant. The Turks and
Caicos Government, through the Ministry of Environment and Home Affairs (MEHA) had granted
EF Salamanca official time while in attendance to the Symposium.
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