•  
  •  

Home > GCR > Vol. 36 > Iss. 1 (2025)

 

Alternate Title

INA Scuba: Mobilization of French West Indies scuba diving clubs to rapidly improve knowledge on threatened marine species. Case of the white-spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari).

Document Type

Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Partnership

Abstract

The White—Spotted Eagle Ray (Aetobatus narinari), listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2021, is experiencing alarming population declines, underscoring the urgent need for targeted conservation efforts. This species, which plays a vital ecological role in marine food webs, has biological and ecological characteristics that make it particularly vulnerable to habitat degradation and anthropogenic pressures, particularly fishing, tourism, and maritime traffic. In the French West Indies (FWI), the paucity of data on the White—Spotted Eagle Ray remains a major obstacle to the development of effective, island—specific conservation strategies. To address this gap, the INA Scuba participatory science program mobilized local SCUBA diving clubs across the FWI to collect data. Through this citizen science initiative, unprecedented information on the regional distribution of the species was gathered from over 12,000 daytime dives conducted between 2021 and 2023. Results revealed strong spatial disparities in encounter rates; the species was frequently observed by SCUBA divers in Saint—Barthélemy (31.9%), occasionally in Saint—Martin (13.4%), and rarely in Guadeloupe and Martinique (2.9 % and 1.2%). These findings highlight not only the urgency of strengthening regional protection measures but also the need to continue research into the environmental and anthropogenic factors shaping the species’ distribution in the FWI. Finally, this study emphasizes the value of collaborative approaches that combine local ecological knowledge, community engagement, and scientific research to support the long—term conservation of this vulnerable species.

First Page

GCFI 19

Last Page

GCFI 35

Supplemental Data
Beaufort and Gonzalez supplemental Figure S1.pdf (321 kB)
Supplemental Figure S1
Supplemental Table S1 for Beaufort and González et al.pdf (191 kB)
Supplemental Table S1
Supplemental Table S2 for Beaufort and González et al.pdf (261 kB)
Supplemental Table S2

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Statement

No artificial intelligence (AI) was used in the preparation of this manuscript

Download

Share

COinS