Potential Ecosystem Level Effects of a Shrimp Trawling Fishery in La Paz Bay, Mexico

• DOI: 10.4236/ojms.2012.23011
• Publication Date: 2012-07-27T21:39:58Z
• Authors: Luís Antonio Salc...; Pablo del Monte-Luna; Francisco Arreguí...; Víctor Hugo Cruz-...
• Keywords: Bottom trawling; Ecosystem model

The shrimp trawling fishery is the most important one in Mexico value terms and given its putative environmental, societal economical implications, it also difficult to manage. Although this was restricted from national bays estuaries since 1970’s, local fisheries cooperatives recently claimed access stocks within La Paz Bay by using an artisanal fleet a low impact net. This study aiming at simulating some ecosystem level effects of such potential fishing effort release. We explored response three indicators under two different exploitation scenarios: 30% 80% biomass removal. were: relative distribution as function trophic level, replacement interaction strength, all computed outputs mass balance dynamic model (Ecopath with Ecosim) ecosystem. Our results suggest that moderate scenario (30%) would not cause major changes either indicator whilst strong pressure (80%) seems increase only fish resources variability population but overall biomass, hence potentially reducing stability.