SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF SUMMER RECREATIONAL FISHERY IN SAN BLAS BAY (ARGENTINA)

LLOMPART F.; COLAUTTI D.; BAIGÚN C.; MOLINA J. M.; LÓPEZ CAZORLA A. C.; SUQUELE P.; CALVO S.; OÑATIBIA H.; CUADRADO D.

Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Simposio; ECSA 44 Symposium: Science and management of estuaries and coasts: A tale of two hemispheres,; 2008

Estuarine and Coastal Sciences Association , Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía

San Blas bay is located in the southern of the Buenos Aires Province and has a significantvalue in terms of ecology, production and tourism. San Blas Bay represents one of the mostimportant coastal fisheries in Argentina, but no information has been gathered to estimate thefishing impact on main target species and evaluate its socio-economic relevance. Historically,this fishery was not regulated thus main concern exist about resource sustainability. To obtain socioeconomic information we performed 104 in site interviews and also recorded catch and effort information between December 2007 and March 2008. We applied roving creel census technique on anglers located on San Blas shoreline based on the methods described byPollock et al (1994). Samples were obtained using a three stage stratification based on fishing month, weekday and daytime. A 70 % of anglers considered this fishery as the best in the Province, being the Whitemouth croaker (Micropogonia furnieri) the preferred target species(47%), followed by Stripped weakfish (Cynoscion guatucupa) (17%). The fishing trips have a mean duration of 5 days ± 2 and also include weekend days. The daily expenses per anglerinclude fishing tackle, lodgings, food and bait have been estimated as USD 35. Although 70% of fishing days were considered between acceptable and worst San Blas Bay is recognized as the best coastal fishery in Buenos Aires Province. However 55 % of anglers considered that fishing quality has decreased in the last years. In December and March angler assistance would be motivated by the chance of having better captures whereas in January and February motivations were more related to time availability. AlthoughSan Blas has been traditionally targeted as a shark fishery Whitemouth croaker appeared to be the preferred species for the experience of the catch whereas Stripped weakfish was selected by the possibility to catch many fishes. More than 42 % of anglers expected catching more fish than the maximum allowable bag limit but most of angler supporting size limit regulations. To optimize and refine existing surveys based on better defining temporal strata probabilities. To extend fishery and socioeconomic surveys to other recognized strata such as sandshore anglers, bridge anglers and boat anglers. Preliminary results portray the importance of start requesting in situ angler information based on socioeconomic and fishery issues. Such information is critical for developing sustainable management guidelines within an ecosystem-based management approach.