Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
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.