Nicole Auil Gomez, MSc.car-spaw-rac.org/IMG/pdf/Manatee_Bycatch_AuilGomez... · Database / GIS in-house Established National Manatee Groups NMWG: GOB, NGOs, researchers BMMSN: NGOs

Nicole Auil Gomez, MSc.

National Consultant, Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute

[email protected]

Manatee By-Catch Pilot Project

Holbox, Mexico ~ June 26-28, 2012

The Menu� Geographic Reference

� Belize’s Marine Mammals

� Status of Manatees in Belize

� Legislation

� Management

� Research

� Challenges to Population

� Strandings

� Recommendation

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Belize’s Marine Mammals

Manatees Dolphins / Whales

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Status of Manatees in Belize� Manatees are listed as

threatened by IUCN

� Became a species of special concern for Coastal Zone Management in 1994

� Manatee Management Plan 1999

� Largest population of Antillean manatee

� Belize “remains one of the last strongholds in Wider Caribbean”

CZMI

Belize Manatee Recovery Plan 1998

Objectives

1. Decrease the number of manatee deaths countrywide

2. Monitor species population change and its causes3. Educate officers, tour guides, students, and the

general public 4. Increase enforcement of national and international

laws relating to manatees and their habitat 5. Develop a formal salvage group

Legislation � Manatees are protected

by national legislation: Wildlife Protection Act 1981

� CITES Appendix II

� Protected through a system of reserves

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Management

� Laws administered under the Forest Department

� Issue research permits

� No active management of species, determining management strategies, nor sanctuary presence

� Infraction has maximum $1000 penalty &/or 6 months incarceration

� Logistics for investigation often left to CZMAI & Fisheries Department

� Protected through a system of reserves

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CZMI

MPAs

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Manatee

Protected Areas

� Corozal Bay WS� May 1998

� 180,508 ac

� Gales Point (West Indian Manatee WS)� August 1998

� 9096 ac

� Swallow Caye WS� September 2002

� 8970 ac

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Management

� CZMAI has historically taken lead roll in marine mammal conservation, up to 2004 then Wildlife Trust

� Currently joint initiative between CZMAI & Sea to Shore Alliance

� The Manatee Working Group formed in 1996 to steer national manatee work

� Currently meets biannually

� Members update group on their activities; the group makes collective decisions and recommendations concerning some issues related to national issues

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Research: Aerial Surveys

� National Manatee Aerial Surveys: 18 [CZMAI]

� 2012 survey had highest count 507

� First offshore surveys for Cetaceans [CZMAI & OSE]

� Two Sperm Whales observed

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Research:

Distribution

� Coastal species

� Utilize rivers, lagoons, cayes, & coastline

� Need access to freshwater

� Found from Rio Hondo to Sarstoon

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Research: Captures� Capture, Medical & Tagging [Sea to Shore Alliance]

� 144 manatees captured from 1997

� Travel between Mexico & Belize

� Genetic study suggests offshore and inshore subpopulations; low genetic diversity (Hunter et al. 2010)

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ARGOS (Satellite) Tracking

Super-K – Belize to Mexico

Tagged Nov. 13, 2006North of Belize City

Travel to Southern LagoonLate November

2006

Travel to Bahia de Chetumal

January 2007

Tag detached Corozal, BZ

February 2007

Morales Vela (ECOSUR)

Challenges to Population� Historically hunted

� Small population size

� 1000 in Belize

� Low reproductive rate

� Sexually mature ~5 yrs

� 1 year gestation

� 2 years with mother

� Low genetic diversity

� Lower than other marine mammals

� Lower than endangered or bottlenecked populations

� Live in coastal areas impacted by man

Habitat Alteration

� Habitat fragmentation: dredging & filling

� Nutrient loading smothering seagrass

� Industrial runoff

� Aquaculture effluent in Placencia Lagoon

� 76% reduction of vegetation cover (Ledwin 2010)

Tim Smith

Strandings / History of BMMSN

� “Stranding” refers to any marine mammal that is found helpless or dead (Geraci and Lounsbury 1993)

� National assessment began August 1996 under CZMP

� In 1999 Belize Marine Mammal Stranding Network formed

� volunteer members from government and non-government entities

� 4 district teams; 12 organizations, & 3 veterinary clinics

� Manatees are the primary species reported

Strandings

� 2011 had 19 manatee strandings; watercraft primary COD

� Two manatees currently at Belize Rehabilitation Centre

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Threats

Watercraft

Poaching

Causes of Death

� Diseases, sometimes caused by anthropogenic pollution

� Habitat alteration

� Fishing: caught in nets, swallow hooks and lines, or get caught in traps.

� Natural causes

Manatee Strandings 2005 - 2010

Live7%

Perinatal3%

Poached5%

Watercraft17%

Other1%

Undetermined

38%

Unverified29%

Total 76 Manatees

Room for Improvement� An annual allocation of funds [$10,000] towards the BMMSN

that would be used for transport, equipment and personnel to respond to strandings nationally.

� The enforcement agency, Forestry Department, taking an active role in day-to-day sanctuary management.

� Update the Belize Manatee Recovery Plan, and include updated protocol for rehabilitation and reintroductions.

� Standardize data collection methods, where applicable, to have comparative results. Training in implementation should be done beforehand.

� Publication of results of research activities.

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Implementation of By-catch

QuestionnaireStrengths Weaknesses

� Coordination through CZMAI� Database / GIS in-house

� Established National Manatee Groups� NMWG: GOB, NGOs,

researchers

� BMMSN: NGOs

� MPA System� Fisheries Staff

� Co-management Staff

� Lack of funding for national training [~$3500]

� Lack of individual institutional funding for dissemination at sites

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Questions??

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