a most peculiar story. From the beginning, there were no regulations for fishing
activities, and the only information that existed was related to taxonomy (Caso
1961b, 1967a). The fishery started in the late 1980s, mostly in the Gulf of
California, although some trade was done in Jalisco and Oaxaca (Sierra-Rodriguez
1994; Nuño-Hermosillo 2003) (Fig. 2.1). The maximum recorded catch occurred
in 1991, with 1,800 tons but mean annual catch was around 300 tons (HerreroPerezrul and Chavez-Ortiz 2005). In 1994, due to overfishing, authorities closed
the fishery and included I. fuscus in the list of protected species (Anonymous
1994). The fishery was closed until 2000. With biological data that had been
generated by then, some regulations were established and the fishery reopened in
Baja California Sur. Stakeholders were required to record biological data (size,
fishing logs, reproduction, etc.) in exchange for the license. Currently the fishery in
Baja California Sur represents a sustainable activity which is been going now for
10 years with no evidence of overfishing (Herrero-Perezrul 2010). The fishery
management plan in Baja California Sur includes a minimum size of 20 cm and
400 g, total allowable quotas, estimations of biomass and population density, and a
reproductive ban from June 1st to October 31.
2.4.3 The warty Sea Cucumber Fishery (Parastichopus
parvimensis) in the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico
The warty sea cucumber P. parvimensis can grow to a length of 60 cm and a width
of 5 cm. Mobility is limited, though individuals can move up to 4 m day
-1 while
feeding (Morris et al. 1980). It is commonly found in rocky bottoms from 0 to
60 m (Woodby et al. 2000). However, exploitation takes place mostly at depths no
deeper than 30 m. The distribution along the west coast of Baja California Peninsula is from Coronado Islands to Punta Abreojos (Fajardo-Leon and TurrubiatesMorales 2009).The fishery started in 1989. In general, fishing takes place when the
sea urchin season closes, from March to June. The stock is exploited by the same
fishermen exploiting sea urchins. Until 2004, the fishery was only in Baja California, but expanded to Baja California Sur in 2004 (Fajardo-Leon and Turrubiates-Morales 2009). The maximum catch of warty sea cucumber in Baja California
was 1992 with 723 tons. However, landings have decreased to around 230 tons in
recent years with around 100 divers (Salgado-Rogel et al. 2009). In Baja California
Sur the maximum catch was in 2008 with 381 tons. The sea cucumber is boiled,
dried and salted before export, while lesser quantities are frozen. In Asia, sea
cucumber are claimed to have a variety of beneficial health enhancing properties
like lowering high blood pressure, aiding proper digestive function, and others
(Rogers-Bennett and Ono 2006).
2 The Echinoderms of Mexico
43
activities, and the only information that existed was related to taxonomy (Caso
1961b, 1967a). The fishery started in the late 1980s, mostly in the Gulf of
California, although some trade was done in Jalisco and Oaxaca (Sierra-Rodriguez
1994; Nuño-Hermosillo 2003) (Fig. 2.1). The maximum recorded catch occurred
in 1991, with 1,800 tons but mean annual catch was around 300 tons (HerreroPerezrul and Chavez-Ortiz 2005). In 1994, due to overfishing, authorities closed
the fishery and included I. fuscus in the list of protected species (Anonymous
1994). The fishery was closed until 2000. With biological data that had been
generated by then, some regulations were established and the fishery reopened in
Baja California Sur. Stakeholders were required to record biological data (size,
fishing logs, reproduction, etc.) in exchange for the license. Currently the fishery in
Baja California Sur represents a sustainable activity which is been going now for
10 years with no evidence of overfishing (Herrero-Perezrul 2010). The fishery
management plan in Baja California Sur includes a minimum size of 20 cm and
400 g, total allowable quotas, estimations of biomass and population density, and a
reproductive ban from June 1st to October 31.
2.4.3 The warty Sea Cucumber Fishery (Parastichopus
parvimensis) in the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico
The warty sea cucumber P. parvimensis can grow to a length of 60 cm and a width
of 5 cm. Mobility is limited, though individuals can move up to 4 m day
-1 while
feeding (Morris et al. 1980). It is commonly found in rocky bottoms from 0 to
60 m (Woodby et al. 2000). However, exploitation takes place mostly at depths no
deeper than 30 m. The distribution along the west coast of Baja California Peninsula is from Coronado Islands to Punta Abreojos (Fajardo-Leon and TurrubiatesMorales 2009).The fishery started in 1989. In general, fishing takes place when the
sea urchin season closes, from March to June. The stock is exploited by the same
fishermen exploiting sea urchins. Until 2004, the fishery was only in Baja California, but expanded to Baja California Sur in 2004 (Fajardo-Leon and Turrubiates-Morales 2009). The maximum catch of warty sea cucumber in Baja California
was 1992 with 723 tons. However, landings have decreased to around 230 tons in
recent years with around 100 divers (Salgado-Rogel et al. 2009). In Baja California
Sur the maximum catch was in 2008 with 381 tons. The sea cucumber is boiled,
dried and salted before export, while lesser quantities are frozen. In Asia, sea
cucumber are claimed to have a variety of beneficial health enhancing properties
like lowering high blood pressure, aiding proper digestive function, and others
(Rogers-Bennett and Ono 2006).
2 The Echinoderms of Mexico
43