El pepino de mar como recurso pesquero potencial en Banco Chinchorro, Quintana Roo, México

The abundance, distribution, size, structure, nutritional quality and the feasibility of exploitation of the sea cucumber populations of Banco Chinchorro were evaluated as an alternative fishery resource. Sampling was conduced during the three most important climatic seasons: rain y (Sept. '98), cold-front (Dec. '98) and dry (April '99). Five sampling sites were chosen, considering the general topography: north and central seagrass, north and south reef patches and shallow sandybottoms. All specimens were measured and thirteen were taken to the laboratory for further identification and broma tologic analysis. Three species and a hyb rid w e re identified: Holothuria floridana x mexicana, Holothuria thomasi, Holothuria mexicana, and Holothuria floridana. The last one was the most abundant (0.12 ind./m2), and its total length varied from 9 to 51 cm. The von Bertalanffy growth model parameters estimated were Lco=57.9 cm and k=0.21 (year-1). Natural mortality rate was M=0.72 (year-1). All species had the same carbohydrates content (0.08%), whereas contents of protein (46.4-74.2%), moisture (73 -90% ), fat (0.8-1.7% ) and ash (9.6-1 8.3% ) varied among species. Annual maximum sustainable yield was estimated in M SY=1 16.033 tons, indicating that there is a low potential for a small-scale sea cucumber fishery in Banco Chinchorro.