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The spatiotemporal variations of megazoobenthos on soft bottoms in Buena Vista (BV) and San Juan de Los Remedios (SJR) bays, Cuba, were assessed to infer the effects of the elimination of bottom trawl fisheries and the creation of protected areas. Data were collected at 11 sites in 2010-2013 (six routines and five exploratories) and 11 sites in 2014-2017 (four routines and seven exploratories). Samples were obtained by dredging. Mollusks were the most frequent and diverse group, followed by echinoderms and crustaceans. Total density (7.60 ind m−2) and biomass (15.82 g m−2) of the benthic community were highest in SJR in 2015. Although total biomass was lower at BV (t = 2.21; P = 0.032), there were no significant differences in density between bays (t = 0.77; P = 0.444). The site with a lower total density and biomass was located at BV. There were no differences between years except at one site, where density increased between 2010 and 2017. Total density and biomass were not significantly different inside and outside of the Zone Under Special Regime of Use and Protection (ZUSRUP) at the beginning of the sampled period. However, both density and biomass were significantly higher within the ZUSRUP at the end (2017), which suggests this protected area's effectivity. The progressive increase in density at one site and greater density and biomass values at SJR, where bottom trawl fisheries were more intensive, suggest eliminating bottom trawl nets may have contributed to the benthic fauna recovery.

In Cuba, 211 protected natural areas (PNAs) that constitute 20% of the national territory are under eight management categories. This chapter describes “Las Picuas-Cayo Cristo” (LPCC) categorized as a wildlife refuge (55,970 ha) located in north-central Cuba in the Sabana-Camaguey Archipelago. The management plan of this PNA includes the conservation of mangrove ecosystems, seagrasses and coral reefs, terrestrial species, migratory birds, and marine species of ecological interest (turtle, manatee), among others of commercial interest (fish and lobsters, queen conch, sponges, and oysters). Authorities must be attentive to avoid conflicts of interest between conservationists and fishers, so experimental oyster and sponge aquaculture farms have been established. Native population recognizes that protecting the existing natural resources guarantees a sustainable source of employment, food, and family welfare.

The main fishing enterprise located in the province of Pinar del Rio, Cuba, markets oyster meat packed in brine bags of 460 g. The oysters come from natural bank fisheries (mangrove and bottom oyster), and from farms (mangrove oyster). Although the capture during 2009 – 2013 showed an increasing trend (50 to > 80 t), the oyster meat yields recorded values below (3.3 – 3.9 %), the acceptable minimums (4.9 %); in addition, a decrease in meat weight was observed between the packaging and commercialization, impacting productivity. The objectives of the study were the assessment of oyster exploitation based on the meat yield, and to assess the meat loss in the final packed product. A monthly and annual yield variation analysis and their relationship between fishery type and oyster size was performed. Meanwhile, the loss of meat was analyzed by different treatments of oyster / brine proportions. Significant differences (p < 0.05) of meat yield (%) by oyster species and size with a better performance in the farmed oysters were observed. The traditional proportion of packing for commercialization (meat / brine, 391 g / 69 g = 460 g), influenced the weight-loss of meat by leakage of interstitial fluid. After the treatments with different proportions of meat / brine, the proportion 1:1 showed the least loss of meat weight. The breach of commercial size and the lack of cleanliness of the oysters before the shell removing process, impacted the meat yield analysis during 2009-2013

Occasionally pesticides have been used excessively for the pest control in agriculture, and many of these compounds become toxic for living organisms, including man. Adjacent lands to Guacanayabo gulf, Cuba, show an important use in agriculture, mainly in rice due to the contribution of fluvial waters from several hydrographical basins. The coastal area from Manzanillo to Niquero, Granma province, is the habitat of commercial shrimps, oysters and fish. The objective of the study was to determine in that region the presence of chemical residues from pesticides in the waters, sediments and shells of the mangrove oyster Crassostrea rhizophorae, Guilding (1828), as indicators of contamination. Samplings were carried out in maximum rainfall months. Besides samples for pesticide determination by gas chromatography, hydrology was studied, and there were carried out surveys (85 farmers) to know about pesticide types, dose and application frequency per crop, for conceptual analysis of the study objective. Results indicate a non-affectation by chemical residues of pesticides in any of the evaluated matrixes; and satisfactory quality of the waters for fishing use according to the used hydrological indicators. Ignorance exists on the farmer part on the application and dose of these chemical products, and recommendations are offered on pesticide use to prevent future impacts on the ecosystems.

The influence of three potential anthropogenic stressful factors (coastal pollution from the mainland, the causeway Caibarien–Santa Maria and fishing with bottom-trawling nets) on the condition of seagrasses was assessed at 12 sites in two bays of Sabana–Camaguey​ archipelago, between 2010 and 2013. As for indicators of the condition of the seagrass ecosystem, the structure of the macrophyte community, marine angiosperm’s shoot density, and shoot length of marine angiosperms were analyzed. Abiotic variables as depth, turbidity, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, oxygen saturation, and chemical oxygen demand of seawater, were evaluated. The relationships of the three potential anthropogenic stressful factors and the abiotic factors (predictor variables) with the biological response variables were analyzed. Seagrass meadows in better condition, with higher values of cover and density of Thalassia testudinum, and lower values of depth, turbidity, salinity, chemical oxygen demand, were found at sites out of the bays and furthermost from the causeway and mainland. Areas without vegetation or with lower values of cover and density of T. testudinum, and higher cover of macroalgae and pioneer species of marine angiosperms as Syringodium filiforme and Halodule wrightii, were found in both bays. Turbidity and depth were the abiotic factors with the stronger negative influence on the structure of the seagrass community. Chemical oxygen demand and salinity also showed negative influences. Coastal pollution seems to be the anthropogenic factor that most influences the condition of seagrasses. No recovery of seagrasses was observed in areas where bottom-trawling fisheries had ceased. Distance to the causeway was not correlated with the condition of seagrass, but the potential for a negative influence on circulation persists. Seagrasses in the studied bays remain affected by the above-mentioned predictor abiotic factors, whose effects may be reinforced by the three anthropogenic stressful factors, acting synergistically with the bays’ oceanographic characteristics.

Mangrove oysters ( Crassostrea rhizophorae ) were collected and raised for seven months at four sites (Punta Pargo, Jorobado, Canete, and Enfermeria) around Bahia Sagua La Grande on the north coast of Cuba, to determine which site offered the best conditions for cultivation of this commercially important species. Monthly measurements of oyster height were taken on 30 oysters randomly collected from each study site. Only oysters raised at Punta Pargo and Enfermeria reached the mean commercial size (>40 mm) within the study period; these oysters were significantly larger than oysters raised at Canete and Jorobado. No significant differences in survival between the sites were observed. Punta Pargo and Enfermeria showed the best potential for oyster farming in the Bahia de Sagua area. Despite human impact on runoff caused by damming of the adjacent river, water quality remains acceptable for oyster cultivation. With proper stock management and production of selected fast-growing oysters in hatcheries, oyster farming can become an important aquaculture industry in Cuba.

El ostion de Mangle C rassostrea rhizophorae (Guilding, 1828) ha sido considerado la unica especie de ostion nativo que se comercializa en Cuba. Sin embargo, se han encontrando agregaciones de «ostion de fondo» en las cuencas de los rios Cuyaguateje y Cauto de Cuba, con morfologia y habitat diferentes a C. rhizophorae , cuya extraccion contribuye a la produccion ostricola nacional. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo la caracterizacion fenotipica de ambos ostiones en 3 zonas de estas cuencas, mostrando evidencias de dicotomias fenotipicas y de habitat entre ambos recursos pesqueros, mostrando a Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin, 1791) como la especie denominada «ostion de fondo». Esta mostro una talla (promedio 61.1 ± 23.46 mm, maxima 145 mm) superior al 65% de la del ostion de mangle C. rhizophorae (promedio 37.2 ± 11.95 mm, maxima 87 mm), asi como un mayor rendimiento (4.5-10.2% de carne con respecto al peso total) que las poblaciones del ostion de mangle (3.9 a 7.1%). Este estudio registra por primera vez la especie C. virginica como recurso natural en explotacion comercial en Cuba y su mayor rendimiento evidencia un potencial como especie cultivable en las Antillas Mayores.

espanolLa etapa larval pelagica de la langosta comun del Caribe Panulirus argus, transcurre durante 6-8 meses en aguas oceanicas alejadas de la plataforma. Predecir el reclutamiento larval e identificar las zonas de arribo y asentamiento, asi como evaluar la calidad de sus habitats naturales de cria, ha sido una necesidad permanente en los estudios y evaluaciones del recurso langosta. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar el porcentaje potencial de auto reclutamiento de larvas de langosta a la plataforma suroccidental de Cuba, a partir de su modelacion. La simulacion, con el modelo numerico LADIM del Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas de Noruega, se inicio con particulas liberadas en marzo, mes de maximos de reproduccion y desove, completando un ciclo larval de unos 7 meses. Las particulas mostraron movimientos de dispersion, con periodos de retencion, en funcion de los diferentes mecanismos hidrodinamicos, culminando con un 33,8% de larvas auto-reclutadas a la plataforma suroccidental de Cuba. Las zonas de arribo y de mayor densidad de particulas, segun modelacion, coincidieron con las zonas que por estudios in situ han mostrado mayor asentamiento de puerulus y han sido clasificadas como criaderos naturales de post-larvas y juveniles; esto sugiere que la conectividad hidrodinamica oceano-plataforma, influye en el exito del reclutamiento y distribucion de las larvas de langosta, en estadio final, a la plataforma suroccidental de Cuba. EnglishThe pelagic larval stage of the common Caribbean lobster Panulirus argus, takes place during 6-8 months in ocean waters away of shelf. Predicting larval recruitment and identify the areas of arrival and settlement, and assess the quality of their breeding habitats, have been permanent necessity in studies of population dynamics of this fishery resource. The purpose of this work was to determine the potential percentage of self-recruitment larvae to the southwest Cuba shelf, and to identify the main areas of arrival or settlement of puerulus. The simulation, using particles released in a major period of spawning and larval recruitment, using the numerical model LADIM developed in the Institute of Marine Research in Norway. The percentage of self-recruited larvae was 33.8%. The zones of arrival and greater density of particles, according to modeling, coincided with the areas that by in situ studies have shown greater settlement of puerulus and have been classified as natural nurseries of post-larvae and juveniles. This suggests that hydrodynamics ocean-shelf connectivity in the southwest region of Cuba, it is decisive to the success of recruitment and distribution of lobster larvae, in the final stage.

"Se analizaron dos variantes en la produccion de ostion de mangle Crassostrea rhizophorae en Cuba: 1) extraccion pesquera tradicional (EP) en bancos naturales, apoyada en menor grado con acuicultura artesanal por agregacion de colectores de mangle suspendidos en el manglar, y 2) cultivo artesanal (CA), obteniendo semillas del medio natural en colectores de “concha madre”, con engorde y cosecha en el mismo colector y en canastas o cajas ostricolas. Se determino la factibilidad economico-ambiental de ambas variantes proyectadas a cinco anos, a partir del analisis de costo-beneficio economico basado en datos de operacion pesquera y se incluyeron costos estimados por dano ambiental. La variante extractiva (EP) mostro una rentabilidad negativa durante el periodo proyectado (US$-1.388,39 en el quinto ano), con impacto negativo sobre el ecosistema de manglar. La variante productiva (CA) mostro ganancias a partir del tercer ano y una rentabilidad positiva durante el periodo proyectado (US$731,78 al quinto ano), con reduccion de danos al ecosistema de manglar. De acuerdo a estos resultados, se recomienda desarrollar el cultivo y manejo sustentable de la ostra nativa C. rhizophorae en Cuba."

Nutritional condition can affect survival and growth rate of crustaceans, and this is mostly affected by habitat conditions. This study describes the space-temporary nutritional changes in this commercially important species. With this aim, the variations in the nutritional condition (K) of lobsters from four zones (1, 2, 4 and 5) in the Gulf of Batabano, Cuba, were determined. For this, the weight/length ratio (K=Pt/Lt) was calculated using animals captured in 1981 and 2010. The nutritional condition between areas and sexes, and years and sexes, was contrasted by a bifactorial ANOVA, and the overall length and weight of lobsters were compared using a t-Test for independent samples and unifactorial ANOVA. It was found that the nutritional condition was significantly greater in males than in females. In addition, significant variations between zones were detected for both years. Nutritional condition of lobsters from Zone five was the highest for 1981, while it was Zone two for 2010. Lobsters nutritional state showed significant variations between years, being greater in 1981 (2.34±0.84g/mm) than in 2010 (1.96±0.49g/mm). The inter-zones variations as well as the inter-annual ones seem to be related to the reported variations of the bottom type and the vegetation cover. Seasonal variations in the abundance and distribution of benthic organisms, that constitute food for lobsters, could also be influencing. The differences between sexes, however, were assumed as a consequence of the methodology used and the sexual dimorphism of the species. Due to other K estimation methods, that do not include morphometric measurements, these differences were not detected. We suggested that the P. argus nutritional condition is a good estimator of the habitat condition. Besides, according to the applied K estimation methodology, it was found that different groups of lobsters that have resemblant nutritional condition, did not necessarily observe similarities in the overall mean length or weight, so they could exist under different habitat conditions.