Spatial and seasonal variation in a target fishery for spotted eagle ray Aetobatus narinari in the southern Gulf of Mexico

The target fishery for the spotted eagle ray Aetobatus narinari in the southern Gulf of Mexico is little known. The landings of four small-scale vessels at two fishing localities were sampled and fishermen were interviewed in 2009. Rays landed at Campeche [mean ± standard deviation (SD) 1204 ± 225.3 mm disc width (DW)], fished at 30–50 km from the shore, were larger than rays landed at Seybaplaya (924 ± 206.5 mm DW), fished at 8–15 km from the shore. Ray catches were male biased off Campeche and female biased off Seybaplaya. Catch rate off Campeche was 6.6 (±4.9) rays per vessel trip and off Seybaplaya was 3.0 (±2.9) rays per vessel trip. Fishermen stated that catches of A. narinari are positively influenced by winter cold fronts, turbidity, low sea temperature, and new moon phase, and negatively influenced by the presence of cownose rays Rhinoptera bonasus . Spatial variation in size composition, and sex and maturity ratios of A. narinari were evident between sites. Catch rates of A. narinari varied with individual fisherman and seasonally between months with winter cold fronts versus warmer months. Fishermen reported a general decline in catches of A. narinari over recent decades in this region.