Download Final Report - Rufford Small Grants

The Rufford Small Grants Foundation
Final Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Congratulations on the completion of your project that was supported by The Rufford Small Grants
Foundation.
We ask all grant recipients to complete a Final Report Form that helps us to gauge the success of our
grant giving. We understand that projects often do not follow the predicted course but knowledge of
your experiences is valuable to us and others who may be undertaking similar work. Please be as
honest as you can in answering the questions – remember that negative experiences are just as
valuable as positive ones if they help others to learn from them.
Please complete the form in English and be as clear and concise as you can. We will ask for further
information if required. If you have any other materials produced by the project, particularly a few
relevant photographs, please send these to us separately.
Please submit your final report to [email protected].
Thank you for your help.
Josh Cole Grants Director
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grant Recipient Details
Your name
Alvar Carranza
Project title
The blue mussel fishery in Punta del Este, Uruguay. Exploring co-management
practices and strategies for the control of invasive species
RSG reference
12.07.08
Reporting period
March 09- May 2010
Amount of grant
£9621
Your email address
Date of this report
[email protected]
May 30th 2010
1. Please indicate the level of achievement of the project’s original objectives and include any
relevant comments on factors affecting this.
Not
achieved
Partially
achieved
Fully
achieved
Objective
Comments
To perform a
diagnosis of the
current status of
these mussel beds
X
The observations showed that Rapana
venosa is undoubtedly an active predator
of mussels in natural habitats and that
mussel banks may be severely depleted,
presumably due to the combination of
extraction, habitat degradation and
predation by R. venosa. Statistical
comparison of current to historical values
(1993) showed that the commercial
density, total biomass and the exploitable
biomass decreased, both on island Gorriti
as Punta Ballena.
Design of a pilot
programme aiming
to eradicate or
control the Rapa
whelk
X
The opening of a local or international
market for R. venosa is considered a
promising option for providing an
incentive to exploit this gastropod,
generating economic benefits for
fishermen and helping to ensure long term
sustainability of mussel exploitation.
Furthermore, experimental evidence on
recolonisation rates from surveys
performed in Punta del Este harbour
showed that the recolonisation potential
of this gastropod is extremely high, with
densities multiplying six-fold in 1 month
after defaunation. Pilot fishing with local
artisanal divers were successful.
Explore comanagement
options with the
local community of
artisanal fishermen
X
Local fishermen reported a depletion of
mussel beds and expressed concern on the
presence of R. venosa. So, we realized
during the project life that current
management measures directed to the
regulation of the mussel fishery (i.e.
seasonal banning, legal sizes) may not be
enough to ensure its sustainability, and
that it may be critical to simultaneously
address the invasive species. To date,
there has been no attempt to mitigate the
invasion of R. venosa, which represents a
significant delay for the future
management of the artisanal fishery. It is
widely accepted that the chances of
success of measures aimed at preventing
the proliferation of invasive species are
significantly higher only in initial stages of
the invasion. After an invasive species is
established, efforts are expensive and
generally useless. However, the opening of
a fishery directed fishery to exploit this
snail is considered a promising tool, and
local fisherman fully support this idea. Our
results suggest that the abundance of
R. venosa and its explosive population
dynamics could sustain a new artisanal
fishery in the area. The National Fisheries
authority (DINARA) also fully supports this
idea.
2. Please explain any unforeseen difficulties that arose during the project and how these were
tackled (if relevant).
Not relevant.
3. Briefly describe the three most important outcomes of your project.
1. We obtained the first qualitative and quantitative information on the invasive Rapa whelk Rapana
venosa in Maldonad Bay (Punta del Este Harbor and Gorriti Island) using in vivo, underwater
observations and video surveys. The species was first detected in the Rio de la Plata (Uruguay and
Argentina) in 1999, and by 2004 it had extended its local distribution to Punta del Este at the eastern
boundary of the estuary.
2. R. venosa is preying on native mussels Mytilus edulis and Brachidontes spp., and the formerly
abundant mussel beds are being seriously depleted due to a combination of human extraction,
habitat deterioration and predation by the Rapa whelk.
3. We identified potential Asian markets for the Rapa whelk, and obtained fully support from local
fishermen and the National Fisheries Authority to the proposal of opening an artisanal fishery
directed to the snail, that will provide both ecological and socio-economical benefits.
4. Briefly describe the involvement of local communities and how they have benefitted from the
project (if relevant).
The local fishermen participated actively in the research, providing facilities and expertise and
contributing with their traditional ecological knowledge with the development of research
hypothesis. They are also enthusiastic with the aperture of a new fishery, since they are seriously
concerned with the negative effects of the Rapa whelk. We also performed a pilot experience of
Rapana fishing with local divers, and the results showed a high potential.
5. Are there any plans to continue this work?
Yes, next week we will submit a proposal to the National Agency of Research and Innovation (ANII) for a High
Social Impact Project that will address the international trade and marketing issues related with the Rapa
Whelk Fishery. It will be a 2-year programme. In addition, we submitted a proposal for CYTED (Spanish
International Cooperation) for supporting the South American Network for Shelllfish Conservation, aimed to
link conservation projects at this respect. This network involved 70 researchers from 11 research groups in 8
South American Coastal countries. Further, we support and students project dealing with the socio-economical
issues of the fishery
6. How do you plan to share the results of your work with others?
The results were published in peer-reviewed, high impact journals as Biological Invasions. Also, we
published information in the IUCN Mollusc Conservation Newsletter, the TNC newsletter, The
Newsletter of Sociedad Malacologica del Uruguay and the Newsletter of the Uruguay Zoological
Society. Results were also presented in the 2nd Meeting of the South American Network for Shellfish
Conservation in Venezuela. In addition, next week we will present the results to the National
Fisheries Authority during a workshop, and then communicate the results to the local fishermen.
Some media were invited to the workshop and we expect at least one publication in the local press.
7. Timescale: Over what period was the RSG used? How does this compare to the anticipated or
actual length of the project?
We used the RSG from April 2009 to May 2010. The length of the project did not present significant
departures compared with the anticipated length, despite some delays related to adverse weather
conditions for field work.
8. Budget: Please provide a breakdown of budgeted versus actual expenditure and the reasons for
any differences. All figures should be in £ sterling, indicating the local exchange rate used.
Item
Budgeted
Amount
Actual
Amount
Artisanal vessel rent
(including subsistence
payment; * 4 field
1340
1340
Difference
Comments
trips)
Viatics for 5 people (4
field trips)
1340
1340
Car rental (2 days * 4
field trips)
589,6
589,6
House rental (2 days *
4 field trips)
643,2
643,2
Fuel (* 4 field trips)
402
402
Alcohol; formalin,
paper, etc.
536
536
Scuba divers (* 4 field
trips)
938
938
Sample processing
(includes subsistence
payment for local
fishermen)
268
268
Divulgation (flyers,
posters, etc)
1072
1072
Workshops
536
536
TOTAL
9621
9621
* We assume a sterling pounds/USD ratio of 1.5
9. Looking ahead, what do you feel are the important next steps?
To develop the artisanal fishery directed to the Rapa whelk. Providing an economical incentive for
the exploitation of the snail is the only viable way to curtail the negative effects of the invasion on
native shellfish ecosystems.
10. Did you use the RSGF logo in any materials produced in relation to this project? Did the RSGF
receive any publicity during the course of your work?
Yes.