Variación de los Desembarcos Pesqueros de Consumo en la Cuenca Media del Río Guaviare

Abstract

Fisheries monitoring allows for monitoring resource behavior over time and facilitates decision-making in watersheds. These monitoring measures are evaluated by recording fishing volume, which is the weight of fish caught. The middle Guaviare River basin is one of the most important in the Colombian Orinoco region because it lands one of the largest quantities of fish in the Orinoco region. Many people depend on fishing, and it is the final phase before the migration of fish, especially large catfish that originate in the lower Orinoco and end in the upper Guaviare region. This basin encompasses two municipalities, San José del Guaviare and Mapiripán, where fishing volumes are collected. This study evaluated the variation in landed volumes over the years, between hydrological periods, by month, and in relation to data on flow variables, precipitation from IDEAM stations, and the ENSO index, which indicates El Niño and La Niña phenomena. To this end, data on daily and monthly landing volumes from AUNAP's SEPEC platform were used and compared using graphs and univariate and multivariate statistical tests to determine whether there were differences. In addition, correlation matrices were found between flow and precipitation variables and volumes, as well as models that sought to explain possible relationships, and the dynamics of the most abundant species by hydrological period were determined. It was found that variation over time is not marked, but certain patterns are observed, such as some years, periods, and months with low fishing. It was also determined that hydrometeorological variables have little influence on fisheries. On the other hand, there are groups of species that are more abundant at different times and two key species in the basin due to their high volumes, Z. zungaro and B. rouseauxii. Finally, it was established that the fishermen's opinion regarding the variation is not consistent with what was obtained here; they consider that the fish stock has decreased drastically, but this has not affected how they perceive their well-being. This work demonstrated the importance of using fisheries data to determine patterns that can lead to the management of consumer fisheries by various fishing, environmental, and government stakeholders.