is a lack of information in Colombia and in most Caribbean countries about their
biology, population dynamics, and fishery, laws (legislation) for their management
are lacking. In Colombia, interest in this resource is growing, and studies on the
reproductive biology of some species (e.g. H. glaberrima) and on the potential of
aquaculture are beginning. However, the current status of natural populations
remains unknown, while exploitation continues. At the last workshop organized by
the IUCN in Cartagena de Indias, in June 2010, I. badionotus and H. mexicana were
mentioned as vulnerable species. However, due to lack of information, these species
were placed in the insufficient data category.
Sea cucumbers were not considered in the Red Book of marine invertebrates of
Colombia published in 2002. At this time the only three species evaluated and
analyzed were Diadema antillarum, Ophiothrix synoecina categorized as Deficient
Data (DD), and Oreaster reticulatus categorized as Least Concerning (LC). Diadema antillarum suffered massive mortality in 1983 due to an unknown pathogen,
which spread throughout the Caribbean Sea, causing a mortality of over 97 % of
mature individuals. This trend in the Caribbean Sea was also seen in Colombia but
was not documented. Even today, there are no detailed data on the population
dynamics of this species. However, González-Gaviria (2010) found that abundances appeared to be lower compared to pre-mortality levels, indicating that as in
the rest of the Caribbean, recovery in this region has been slow. Oreaster reticulatus is especially vulnerable to human exploitation due to its size, its slow
locomotion and easy access to its habitat. Individuals of this species, dried and
painted in bright colors, have been sold as decorative objects on beaches for many
years, including Colombian beaches. Because of overexploitation, O. reticulatus is
now considered a rare species in some localities of the Caribbean Sea where
formerly it was very common. In Colombia this species is still common in some
areas. However, there is insufficient information to assess the dynamics of their
populations and there are no regulations for their protection. Ophiothrix synoecina
was included in the Red Book because it has a very limited geographical distribution, being endemic to rocky shores in the area of Santa Marta and Tayrona
National Park (Schoppe and Werding 1996). There has been no recent information
on its populations. It is now known that the species is only present on the rocky
shores of Santa Marta and the Guajira and the density of its populations has
declined significantly since 1996. Thus a change in conservation status to vulnerable (VU) has been suggested (Monroy and Solano 2008).
Echinoderms are not used as food by the Pacific coast inhabitants, and for this
reason they are not fished or cultivated. Similarly, there are no reports (even oral)
of commercial fishing for echinoderms. Some species are threatened by incidental
capture (Astropecten, Luidia) by small trawling nets. Most populations are not
impacted by anthropic factors. Some species (Encope and Mellita in sandy beaches
and D. mexicanum and probably C. coronatus in coral reefs) undergo great variations in number of individuals, as was observed in other echinoderm populations
of the world (Uthicke 2009), displaying cyclic population dynamics, probably in
relation to specific seasons, or climatic conditions. In some places, populations
may decrease because of human activities in coastal areas. These activities can
5 Echinoderms of Colombia
173
biology, population dynamics, and fishery, laws (legislation) for their management
are lacking. In Colombia, interest in this resource is growing, and studies on the
reproductive biology of some species (e.g. H. glaberrima) and on the potential of
aquaculture are beginning. However, the current status of natural populations
remains unknown, while exploitation continues. At the last workshop organized by
the IUCN in Cartagena de Indias, in June 2010, I. badionotus and H. mexicana were
mentioned as vulnerable species. However, due to lack of information, these species
were placed in the insufficient data category.
Sea cucumbers were not considered in the Red Book of marine invertebrates of
Colombia published in 2002. At this time the only three species evaluated and
analyzed were Diadema antillarum, Ophiothrix synoecina categorized as Deficient
Data (DD), and Oreaster reticulatus categorized as Least Concerning (LC). Diadema antillarum suffered massive mortality in 1983 due to an unknown pathogen,
which spread throughout the Caribbean Sea, causing a mortality of over 97 % of
mature individuals. This trend in the Caribbean Sea was also seen in Colombia but
was not documented. Even today, there are no detailed data on the population
dynamics of this species. However, González-Gaviria (2010) found that abundances appeared to be lower compared to pre-mortality levels, indicating that as in
the rest of the Caribbean, recovery in this region has been slow. Oreaster reticulatus is especially vulnerable to human exploitation due to its size, its slow
locomotion and easy access to its habitat. Individuals of this species, dried and
painted in bright colors, have been sold as decorative objects on beaches for many
years, including Colombian beaches. Because of overexploitation, O. reticulatus is
now considered a rare species in some localities of the Caribbean Sea where
formerly it was very common. In Colombia this species is still common in some
areas. However, there is insufficient information to assess the dynamics of their
populations and there are no regulations for their protection. Ophiothrix synoecina
was included in the Red Book because it has a very limited geographical distribution, being endemic to rocky shores in the area of Santa Marta and Tayrona
National Park (Schoppe and Werding 1996). There has been no recent information
on its populations. It is now known that the species is only present on the rocky
shores of Santa Marta and the Guajira and the density of its populations has
declined significantly since 1996. Thus a change in conservation status to vulnerable (VU) has been suggested (Monroy and Solano 2008).
Echinoderms are not used as food by the Pacific coast inhabitants, and for this
reason they are not fished or cultivated. Similarly, there are no reports (even oral)
of commercial fishing for echinoderms. Some species are threatened by incidental
capture (Astropecten, Luidia) by small trawling nets. Most populations are not
impacted by anthropic factors. Some species (Encope and Mellita in sandy beaches
and D. mexicanum and probably C. coronatus in coral reefs) undergo great variations in number of individuals, as was observed in other echinoderm populations
of the world (Uthicke 2009), displaying cyclic population dynamics, probably in
relation to specific seasons, or climatic conditions. In some places, populations
may decrease because of human activities in coastal areas. These activities can
5 Echinoderms of Colombia
173