1st IHO SEMINAR FOR THE MACHCNATIONAL HYDROGRAPHIC COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN

Unit 4: Application of Hydro-Cartographic products and services

Fisheries and Aquaculture

October 3rd. 2006; Acapulco, Gro. México

México’s waters

EEZ: 2,946,825 kmEEZ: 2,946,825 km²²

Species by State

clam

mullet

tuna

prawn

shark

oystercrab

17 States with coastal waters

Fisheries and Aquaculture in Mexico

• Fisheries in México in a period of 22 years have had fluctuations with two maximums of 1,565,465 t and 1,570,586 t in 1981 and 1997.

Volume of production in live weight

Aquaculture

Fishing

Fishing exploitation by different sectors (tons)

Year Social Sector Private Sector Public Sector Total

1997 214 005 419 451 40 413 673 870

1981 370 254 1 080 359 114 852 1 565 465

1983 349 254 671 207 54 964 1 075 547

1985 337 204 835 273 83 411 1 255 888

1987 433 353 1 021 995 9 493 1 464 841

http://omega.ilce.edu.mx:3000/sites/ciencia/volumen2/ciencia3/081/htm/sec_6.htm

Aquaculture production in Mexico

• México has more than 4K units of production dedicated to rural and commercial aquiculture with a total area of 250,860 hectares.

• Some of the most productive species cultivated are black bullhead (21%), oyster (23.9%) and carp (14.1%) (From INEGI statistics).

• Between banded tilapia, carp, trout, oyster and shrimp the maximum production was 190,669 t in 1990 (SEPESCA 1990)

• Shrimp is the most important contributor with more than 33,486 t in 1998

Fishing tools

• Floating artefacts used for marine farms:• floating fish cages,• submerged or semi-submerged fish cages,• floating flat boats for molluscs,• cultivation lines for molluscs,• fixed platforms, etc.

Normally, these facilities are anchored at 20-50 metres deep and not farther than 2-3 miles off the coast.They may be a potential danger to coastal navigation and maritime traffic.

• Nautical Cartography must display those areas where fishing activities are developed.

• Decreasing potential accidents or property damage.

Example of a Farm (shrimp)

K Rocks, Wrecks and Obstructions

Cartographic Symbols used for Fisheries and Aquaculture

Wood poles or fence delimiting fishing areas

Fishing traps area, tuna nets area

Fish Haven

Fish Haven with known minimum depth

Oysters area

N Restricted Areas

N Limits

Fishing activity is prohibited

Fishing zones limit

IALA Lights and Marks

• The meaning of Diurnal marks depend on: color, shape and top mark.

• Basic shapes for buoys:

Cylindrical Castle Pole Conical Spherical

- Two cones for cardinal marks - Single cone to starboard marks

- Single cylinder for port side marks - Two spheres to isolated danger marks

- Single sphere to navigable waters marks - X mark to special marks

IALA Lights and Marks

• Night marks:

Colors: red and green for lateral marks;

White to cardinal marks, navigable waters and isolated dangers;

Yellow only for special marks

• Fixed and flashing lights.

• Special marks are normaly used for aquaculture

• Cardinal marks are used for fishing boats of “almadraba”

IALA Lights and Marks

Cardinal marks:

They are used to signal dangers at sea or dangerous obstructions of considerable size, here normally used to fishing boats of “tunny net”.

They don’t have a special shape, normally castle or pole buoys painted with horizontal bands black and yellow with top marks of two black cones.

Lights are quick white flashing lights.

IALA Lights and Marks

Special marks:

These marks are not intended as aids to navigation.

They indicate special zones.

They are used to signal marine farms and aquaculture installed at sea (cages, boxes, lines, etc.)

Take home message

• Hydrography is vital to position fish havens, marine farms and permanent fishing facilities at sea which will be shown in the nautical charts.

• Cartography helps to display on charts in an appropriate way (symbols) those permanent facilities used on fisheries.

• A Hydrographic Office is fundamental to participate in the regulation about the use and installation of those marks and lights used for fisheries and aquaculture.

Thank you

Questions?