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July 2008
Karnauskas and
community leader Modesto Sanchez discuss with a
group of fishers
the importance of collecting biological data on the
fishers' catch. This data is used to assist in
the management of billfishes and other commercially
important migratory fish species.
The fishermen in San
Pedro de Macoris recognize a picture of a tag that
is used by researchers to identify and track
individual fish. If collected when the fish is
caught, these tags can provide valuable information
on the movement and growth of
these species and lead to a better understanding of their biology
and population abundance.
A group photo takes
place after the meeting. Fishers collaborating
on the project include:
David Wilkes, Hector
Mariano Ramirez, Pascual Rosario Quezada, Johany
Madrigal, Alfio Wells,
Juan Osiris Franco, Ramon Guzman, Thomas de los
Santos, Domingo Rafael Wilkes,
Diogenes Quezada, and Juan Victor
The fleet of boats in
Punta de Pescadores, San Pedro de Macorís
A fisher preparing to
go out for the day. Fishermen make trips of
3-4 hours, traveling up to 90 miles offshore in
these 20 foot long boats with single outboard
motors. Engine failures are common and fishers
are frequently lost at sea. Safety is a big
concern, but safety equipment is expensive.
Fishers try out
several different models of radios and flares that
were donated by The Billfish Foundation and the
Caribbean Development Organization.
Fishers targeting open
water species often use Fish Aggregating Devices, or
FADs, such as these palm leaves. The leaves
are attached to a line with floats and then anchored
to the ocean floor. Small fishes collect under
the shelter of these floating objects, and larger
fish are attracted to the food source.
Styrofoam padding from
packaging is collected (left) and recycled into
home-made floats (right). These floats used to
keep the palm leaves buoyant.
Because the Fish
Aggregating Devices are deployed in very deep
waters, the anchors must be heavy. Once again,
recycled materials - paint cans, cement, and tree
branches - are used to build an anchor.
Chaibongsai and
Karnauskas meet with government officials Jeannette
Mateo and Ricardo Colon of the Dominican Council for
Fishery and Aquaculture (CODOPESCA). |
