The mangrove crab fishery has had participatory monitoring since 2011. The objective of this work was to show the lessons learned in the implementation and development of participatory monitoring of the mangrove crab Ucides occidentalis (Ortmann, 1897) in Ecuador. The work was carried out as a descriptive case study. The level of compliance of the fishing organizations involved was estimated considering the information reported by the Public Institute of Aquaculture and Fisheries Research. The level of compliance decreased over time despite the fact that the number of organizations increased between 2011 and 2013. In 2013, the overall compliance was less than 40% with a negative trend, since December 2011. Among the best organizations, the Compliance level reached 60% in 2013, with a negative trend since January of the same year. The lessons learned showed that the follow-up presented a ...

Scientific information on Ucides occidentalis is scarce, and part of these studies have not adequate diffusion, this situation restricts the availability of knowledge about this commercial species. In this work, on the one hand, diverse studies on U. occidentalis are reviewed, and on the other, information obtained from direct observations made since 2011 to 2014 in the Gulf of Guayaquil mangroves, is presented. Notes on changes in the taxonomy of U. occidentalis, its biology, ecological and fishery characteristics are presented. Characteristics to fishing interest such as density data and reproduction periods are discussed. By last, it is discussed the management of fisheries of U. occidentalis in the Gulf of Guayaquil, because in recent decades, U. occidentalis has evidenced a decrease in the landing levels and at the same time, an increase in the average commercial size; this suggest ...

La información científica sobre Ucides occidentalis es escasa y parte de estos estudios no han logrado una difusión adecuada, lo cual restringe la disponibilidad de conocimiento sobre esta especie comercial. En este trabajo se revisan diversos estudios sobre U. occidentalis y se presenta información obtenida de observaciones directas realizadas entre 2011-2014 en los manglares del Golfo de Guayaquil, Ecuador. Se muestran notas sobre cambios en la taxonomía de U. occidentalis, sus características biológicas, ecológicas y pesqueras. Se discuten características del interés pesquero como la densidad poblacional y períodos de reproducción. Finalmente, se discute el manejo de las pesquerías de U. occidentalis en el Golfo de Guayaquil debido a que, en los últimos años, se ha evidenciado una disminución en los niveles de desembarques y a la vez, un aumento en la talla media comer...

The mangrove crab Ucides occidentalis (Ortmann, 1897) is a fishery resource in Ecuador regulated only for catching males, which are commercialized mainly in packages of 12 individuals. Our objective was to analyze the meat crab of U. occidentalis cooked by two methods (boiling and steaming) as well as show two alternatives of added value (nuggets: aromatic and coconut). Crabs were collected from commercial catches made on Mondragon Island, Gulf of Guayaquil. The meat crab was extracted by hand and the percentages of protein, fat and ash were determined. Consumer preference was evaluated by a sensory panel. A total of 72 male crabs were processed, ranging in size from 75 to 88 mm carapace width. Proximal analysis showed similar values for both cooking methods. Steaming: 21.8% protein, 1.73% fat, 7.24 ash, and boiling: 22.20% protein, 1.95% fat, 6.74% ash. The participants rated the crab n...

This paper summarizes what is known about the mountain crabs of the Genus Hypolobocera Ortmann, 1897 in the Neotropics, based on a bibliographic review. The sources of secondary information correspond to scientific journals, mainly. There are 42 species of mountain crabs, reported mostly from Colombia. Other countries with records of Hypolobocera are Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru, and Panama. The largest number of studies correspond to taxonomic topics. Hypolobocera species are symbionts of parasites such as flukes of the Genus Paragonimus and turbellarians such as Temnocephala icononcensis Arias-Pineda, Damborenea & Castro, 2015. The conservation status has identified endangered and/or data-deficient mountain crab species in Colombia. Considering the extensions of the agricultural and livestock frontiers, it is necessary to evaluate the population status of the Hypolobocera species to es...

Pachyoliva columellaris (G. B. Sowerby I, 1825) is a snail species common in the intertidal zone of sandy beaches. The objective of this study was to determine its population density and size frequency distribution on the beach between Punta Blanca and Punta Prieta, Province of Manabí. Sampling was carried out between June and July 2023, during low tide, through linear transects parallel to the coast, arranged in two strata (lower and upper). Samples were collected with a shovel 25 cm wide and 20 cm long, sieved with a 1 mm mesh. In each sample, the number of P. columellaris individuals was counted and their lengths (shell length, LH in Spanish) were recorded using a millimetric paper. Population density was highly variable, with significant differences between transects and an average of 11 ind./500 cm2. Population densities were similar between strata. Size frequency distributions of ...

The length-weight relationship is usable for estimating biomass of organisms, determining the “wellbeing” of the individual and as input data in stock assessment models. The objective of this work was to establish the length-weight relationship of 26 species of fish present in artisanal fishery along the Ecuadorian continental coast. Total length and weight were recorded monthly, between 2012 and 2014, at sampling sites located in the coastal provinces of Ecuador. The length-weight relationship was estimated using the power model. A total of 24 commercials and two non-commercial species were analyzed, including demersal and benthic organisms. The value of the intercept was less than 0.03, while the coefficient of determination was greater than 0.98. The slope values showed three species with negative allometry (b < 3), nine species with positive allometry (b > 3) and 14 species...