Predicting and contextualizing sensitivity to overfishing in Neotropical freshwater stingrays (Chondrichthyes: Potamotrygonidae)

LUCIFORA, LUIS O.; SCARABOTTI, PABLO A.; BARBINI, SANTIAGO A.

REVIEWS IN FISH BIOLOGY AND FISHERIES

SPRINGER

Año: 2022

0960-3166

Neotropical freshwater stingrays(Potamotrygonidae) are conspicuous components of the South Americanichthyofauna, and may be regionally important as an economicresource. The smallest individuals are exploited in ornamentalfisheries; while large individuals are caught in consumptivefisheries for their meat or liver oil. Potamotrygonid life history ispoorly known, which complicates fisheries management andconservation. Here, we compiled life history traits ofpotamotrygonids and predict unknown traits from their relationshipwith body size, to compute the maximum population growth rate (rmax),a widely-used metric of sensitivity to overfishing. Potamotrygonidrmaxwas compared with that of marine chondrichthyans and South Americancrocodylians. Marine chondrichthyans include the closest relatives ofpotamotrygonids, and South American crocodylians are a group withknown overexploitation history sharing the habitat and general lifehistory strategy with potamotrygonids. Simulations for species withknown traits indicated that predictions were close to real values andunbiased. Potamotrygonid rmaxvaried from 0.14 to 0.39, well within the range of marinechondrichthyans (0.03-1.37) and lower than crocodylians (0.23-0.52).Generation time ranged from 6.7 to 19.5 years. These figures indicatethat sustainable exploitation of potamotrygonids is possible.However, tight regulations (e.g. size and catch limits) andscience-based management are necessary, especially for species withsmall geographic range, low population size, or low rmax(<0.2). Empirical studies on potamotrygonid life history andecology are urgently needed to aid management. Potential scenariosfor sustainable exploitation of potamotrygonids are discussed,including ornamental and consumptive fisheries, and sighting-basedtourism.p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; direction: ltr; color: #000000; line-height: 115%; text-align: left; orphans: 2; widows: 2 }p.western { font-family: "Liberation Serif", serif; font-size: 12pt; so-language: es-AR }p.cjk { font-family: "Noto Sans CJK SC"; font-size: 12pt; so-language: zh-CN }p.ctl { font-family: "Lohit Devanagari"; font-size: 12pt; so-language: hi-IN }