Alternate Title
Artificial Reef Development Along the Atlantic Coast of Guatemala
Abstract
A visual census of a four year old artificial reef in the Bahia de Amatique off Guatemala's Atlantic coast indicates a substantial standing number of fishes. The fish fauna is comprised chiefly of juvenile grunts (Haemulon aurolineatum; 7.39/m2) accounting for the reef's low species diversity (H' = 0.68). A considerable portion of the assemblage is composed of commercially exploitable adults of Lutjanus griseus (0.38/m2) and Haemulon plumieri (0.03/m2). The proximate grassbeds have large populations of juveniles and small adults of all the commercially exploitable species. Further development of the reef is indicated providing the grassbed biotope remains "healthy" and fishing pressure does not become excessive.
Recommended Citation
Bortone, S., R. Shipp, W. Davis and R. Nester.
1988.
Artificial Reef Development Along the Atlantic Coast of Guatemala.
Northeast Gulf Science
10
(1).
Retrieved from https://aquila.usm.edu/goms/vol10/iss1/4