Posted on April 19 2015
Preserving the Golden Dorado
Dorado (Salminus brasiliensis) is
an iconic and charismatic fish species in neotropical rivers of Brazil,
Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, and northern Argentina. Both sport and commercial
fishers value Dorado for their sustenance, vigor, beauty, and challenge. Dorado
provides economic support for communities in northern Argentina and throughout South
America. Currently the species is facing severe pressure and declining
populations due to overharvest harvest, habitat degradation, and poorly understood ecology, including movement patterns.
Little is known about Dorado movements and
response to disturbance (Agostinho
et al. 2008, Hahn et al 2011). The Salta region of Argentina is
limited in management resources and faces high social and economic
stakes under
poor management of this species. A well-managed Dorado fishery could
potentially provide long-term income to the region. We will investigate
the impacts of catch-and-release (C&R) by measuring blood physiology
and post-release activity patterns. This work will add to the
development of best practices for the C&R
of Dorado, plus provide insights into their movement ecology.
Our objective is to assess the impacts of recreational fishing, local
stakeholder practices, and habitat conditions on Dorado. Catch-and-release impacts (fight time, air exposure, angling
method) will be assessed for correlation with physiological biomarkers (blood
lactate, blood glucose, blood pH). Additionally, after tagging fish with radio
tags and subsequent mobile tracking, we will quantify immediate post-release
behavior along with longer-term habitat selection, movement patterns, and home
ranges. Data obtained from this study will be used to develop proactive conservation
and management strategies for Dorado populations in the region. In addition the
project will build capacity in the region for local guide and stakeholder
involvement in continuing research.
Read more about this project on their IndieGoGo
original content Fish Simply