Situación actual del recurso pepino de mar en el Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano, México

Throughout snorkeling and scuba diving ten study zones (sampling banks established in previous research by Instituto Nacional de Pesca - INAPESCA) were evaluated where the presence of the sea cucumber was reported. By line transect sea cucumbers were censed and collected to be measured and weighed, as well as their habitat characteristics were recorded. A total of 138 stations in the Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano (SAV), equivalent to 37.794 m² of reef area sampled in the north and south were analyzed. In just 25 sampling points there were found Holothuria floridana (associated to seagrass and sand habitat, 0-1.5 m deep, with total length average of 10.88 cm and fresh weight average of 64.09 g) and Isostichopus badionotus (associated to sand and live coral habitat, 1.5-15 m deep, total length average of 27.2 cm and fresh weight of 769.19 g). The average density of the total banks evaluated was 0.008 ind.m-2. Results indicate that sea cucumber population in SAV is fragmented (patchiness or aggregation sites) and is not susceptible of exploitation (low density of individuals per unit area). As a management measure, some banks were suggested as potential sites in which there was a major presence of sea cucumber, with the purpose of monitoring these areas and evaluate the density of the population. This research and its results offer a current status about the fishing potential of the sea cucumber so that in the future, it will allow the suggestion to investigate their culture for the natural repopulation for a sustainable use of this marine resource in the region