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Citizen Science as a Tool to Get Baseline Ecological and Biological Data on Sharks and Rays in a Data-Poor Region

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  • María-del-Pilar Blanco-Parra

    (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Av. Insurgentes Sur 1582, Crédito Constructor, Ciudad de México 03940, Mexico
    División de Desarrollo Sustentable, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Quintana Roo, Blvd. Bahía s/n, Del Bosque, Chetumal 77019, Mexico
    Fundación Internacional para la Naturaleza y la Sustentabilidad (FINS), Larún M75 L4, Andara, Chetumal 77014, Mexico)

  • Angelli Argaez Gasca

    (División de Desarrollo Sustentable, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Quintana Roo, Blvd. Bahía s/n, Del Bosque, Chetumal 77019, Mexico)

  • Camila Alejandra Reyes Rincón

    (Programa de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá 110121, Colombia)

  • Nicte Ha Gutiérrez Martínez

    (División de Desarrollo Sustentable, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Quintana Roo, Blvd. Bahía s/n, Del Bosque, Chetumal 77019, Mexico)

  • Carlos Alberto Niño-Torres

    (División de Desarrollo Sustentable, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Quintana Roo, Blvd. Bahía s/n, Del Bosque, Chetumal 77019, Mexico
    Fundación Internacional para la Naturaleza y la Sustentabilidad (FINS), Larún M75 L4, Andara, Chetumal 77014, Mexico)

Abstract

The Mexican Caribbean is in one of the regions with the greatest diversity of elasmobranchs in the world. However, the population status of most of the shark and ray species in this region is unknown. We used a citizen science program based on divers to collect data about the diversity, abundance, and distribution of elasmobranchs in this region. We visited dive centers in six locations and performed structured interviews with divemasters, instructors, and owners of the diving centers. In total, 79 divers were interviewed, of which 69% had more than five years’ experience diving in the Mexican Caribbean. Divers could identify 24 elasmobranch species for this region. Most of the divers (82%) reported a decrease in sightings of sharks and rays. Rays were the most frequently sighted species by divers (89%), and the spotted eagle ray ( A. narinari ) was the most common elasmobranch species reported in the region. Citizen science was a useful approach gathering for baseline information about sharks and rays in the Mexican Caribbean, increasing our knowledge of the abundance and distribution of some species in this region. Citizen science affords the opportunity to obtain long-term data that can be useful for management and conservation.

Suggested Citation

  • María-del-Pilar Blanco-Parra & Angelli Argaez Gasca & Camila Alejandra Reyes Rincón & Nicte Ha Gutiérrez Martínez & Carlos Alberto Niño-Torres, 2022. "Citizen Science as a Tool to Get Baseline Ecological and Biological Data on Sharks and Rays in a Data-Poor Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-10, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:11:p:6490-:d:824333
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. M. Aaron MacNeil & Demian D. Chapman & Michelle Heupel & Colin A. Simpfendorfer & Michael Heithaus & Mark Meekan & Euan Harvey & Jordan Goetze & Jeremy Kiszka & Mark E. Bond & Leanne M. Currey-Randall, 2020. "Global status and conservation potential of reef sharks," Nature, Nature, vol. 583(7818), pages 801-806, July.
    2. M. Aaron MacNeil & Demian D. Chapman & Michelle Heupel & Colin A. Simpfendorfer & Michael Heithaus & Mark Meekan & Euan Harvey & Jordan Goetze & Jeremy Kiszka & Mark E. Bond & Leanne M. Currey-Randall, 2020. "Author Correction: Global status and conservation potential of reef sharks," Nature, Nature, vol. 585(7825), pages 11-11, September.
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