Fishers' Knowledge of Population Dynamics, Archaeological Evidence, and Ecological Data Outline Management Challenges for an Artisanal Caribbean Fishery

A broader view on the state of the fishery for Cittarium pica in the West Indies was achieved by coupling intertidal surveys and social-ecological data.  From 2012-2015 we assessed the fishery of C. pica, locally known as “whelk or burgao”, an understudied marine gastropod that bears both cultural and economic importance in the region.  An interdisciplinary approach was used to evaluate the widely held belief that whelk populations are over-exploited and declining.  Natural and anthropogenic factors that could influence the size structure, distribution, and abundance of C. pica were examined.  We surveyed intertidal populations, interviewed artisanal fishers, and collected pre-Columbian data from shell middens.  The status of whelks, the fishers, and their distribution networks were difficult to identify.  Populations of both whelks and fishers were not evenly distributed in space and fishing effort was sporadic.  Surveys conducted 10 years apart at 10 sites found no significant differences in average size or abundance of whelks, which conflicts with fishers’ claims that whelks are generally in decline.  Archaeological trends indicate declines in average size, number, and weight of whelk material through time.  The majority of fishers report regulations and enforcement are ineffective at controlling over-harvesting and we propose alternative management actions.