perceive such biomass as debris, rather than as organic material. These noncommercial animals are frequently ignored and not recorded as discards during
studies. This biomass tends to be omitted from estimates of discards. Even in
countries that prohibit discards, allowance is made for discarding of non-commercial species (such as in Iceland). Many of these animals also pose practical
problems of measurement of the biomass but may constitute significant large
proportion of the total biomass harvested by trawls (Prena et al. 1999).
Considering the direct fishing of echinoderms, there exist evidence of
consumption of sea urchins in the Venezuelan territory since prehispanic times
(Pauls 1992), although this activity is currently restricted to artisanal fishers of
L. variegatus in Margarita Island (Gómez 1999, 2002) and has reduced local
populations (L. León, Universidad de Oriente, pers. comm.). This situation could
be worse in the future because the fishing of L. variegatus is still unregulated.
There is an interdiction of fisheries of sea cucumbers, which has apparently
reduced this activity. However, illegal fishing continues, mainly of I. badionotus,
and there are reports of large impoundments within Mochima National Park
(Rodríguez and Pauls 1998). Unfortunately, there are no current official figures
about the amount or species of sea cucumbers illegally fished.
Even though there is no strong tradition for consumption of sea urchins or sea
cucumbers in Venezuela, the threat of unregulated exploitation of these resources
is present due to the increased demand of Asian markets, the lack of evaluation of
their populations and absence of norms that regulate their local fisheries and
commerce.
A possible menace that requires more attention is the marketing of live ornamental species for sea water aquaria, about which there are no official data. Also,
some species are dried and sold as ‘‘souvenirs’’. These include the starfishes
O. reticulatus and Astropecten articulatus and, in a lesser degree, the sand dollar
(called ‘‘locha de mar’’ in Venezuela), Mellita quinquiesperforata. Sellers can be
seen in the more visited beaches of Margarita Island and also during the high
touristic seasons in Chichiriviche (Falcón state) in western Venezuela as well as in
Mochima (Sucre state) and Coche Island (Nueva Esparta state) in eastern Venezuela. This activity is not regulated but is expected to increase with the touristic
development and will become an environmental problem worldwide (Lunn et al.
2008).
7.7 Recommendations
In spite of the heterogeneity of the ecoregions in Venezuela, the fact that some of
them have proposals for management and conservation, and the importance of
echinoderms in them, studies on echinoderms are still few. More intense research
about their biodiversity and ecology is necessary.
Although the present analysis has attempted to provide information on the
different classes, families and species of the extant echinoderms in some
7 Echinoderms from Venezuela
265
studies. This biomass tends to be omitted from estimates of discards. Even in
countries that prohibit discards, allowance is made for discarding of non-commercial species (such as in Iceland). Many of these animals also pose practical
problems of measurement of the biomass but may constitute significant large
proportion of the total biomass harvested by trawls (Prena et al. 1999).
Considering the direct fishing of echinoderms, there exist evidence of
consumption of sea urchins in the Venezuelan territory since prehispanic times
(Pauls 1992), although this activity is currently restricted to artisanal fishers of
L. variegatus in Margarita Island (Gómez 1999, 2002) and has reduced local
populations (L. León, Universidad de Oriente, pers. comm.). This situation could
be worse in the future because the fishing of L. variegatus is still unregulated.
There is an interdiction of fisheries of sea cucumbers, which has apparently
reduced this activity. However, illegal fishing continues, mainly of I. badionotus,
and there are reports of large impoundments within Mochima National Park
(Rodríguez and Pauls 1998). Unfortunately, there are no current official figures
about the amount or species of sea cucumbers illegally fished.
Even though there is no strong tradition for consumption of sea urchins or sea
cucumbers in Venezuela, the threat of unregulated exploitation of these resources
is present due to the increased demand of Asian markets, the lack of evaluation of
their populations and absence of norms that regulate their local fisheries and
commerce.
A possible menace that requires more attention is the marketing of live ornamental species for sea water aquaria, about which there are no official data. Also,
some species are dried and sold as ‘‘souvenirs’’. These include the starfishes
O. reticulatus and Astropecten articulatus and, in a lesser degree, the sand dollar
(called ‘‘locha de mar’’ in Venezuela), Mellita quinquiesperforata. Sellers can be
seen in the more visited beaches of Margarita Island and also during the high
touristic seasons in Chichiriviche (Falcón state) in western Venezuela as well as in
Mochima (Sucre state) and Coche Island (Nueva Esparta state) in eastern Venezuela. This activity is not regulated but is expected to increase with the touristic
development and will become an environmental problem worldwide (Lunn et al.
2008).
7.7 Recommendations
In spite of the heterogeneity of the ecoregions in Venezuela, the fact that some of
them have proposals for management and conservation, and the importance of
echinoderms in them, studies on echinoderms are still few. More intense research
about their biodiversity and ecology is necessary.
Although the present analysis has attempted to provide information on the
different classes, families and species of the extant echinoderms in some
7 Echinoderms from Venezuela
265