A quantitative approach to shrimp fishery in a marine protected area

Abstract

In this study, we used the Schaefer dynamic biomass model to assess the influence of past political environmental strategies on the biomass of the shrimp stock in the Biosphere Reserve of the Upper Gulf of California and the Colorado River Delta. We considered three periods (before and after the Reserve Decree and after the declaration of the Vaquita Refuge Area) in the analysis. The model fitted to the data showed a MSY (Maximum Surplus Yield) of 4128 t and a BMSYBMSY that will permit 22 935 t to be obtained. The results indicate that the state of the resource (RS, Resource State) was under the optimum level at the end of each period (RS1993<1RS1993<1; RS2005<1RS2005<1; RS2009<1RS2009<1) and that the fishery has not achieved sustainability. To achieve sustainability, the development of regulatory measures should be revised and properly applied, with all the political entities involved (government, policy, and social sector) in agreement.