The University of Arizona

PANGAS

PANGAS is a collaboration between three academic institutions and two research and conservation NGO's for ecosystem-based research and management of coastal fisheries. We began our work in 2005 in the northern Gulf of California, Mexico (NGC). Hence our initiative's name, which stands for Pesca Artesanal del Norte del Golfo de California- Ambiente y Sociedad (Small-scale Fisheries in the Northern Gulf of California - Environment and Society). The goal of PANGAS is to develop and test interdisciplinary frameworks for ecosystem-based research and management of coastal fisheries. As part of this overarching goal, PANGAS' work in the Gulf of California has four main objectives:

 

1) conduct a general characterization of small-scale fisheries in the NGC

2) develop an in-depth and integrative interdisciplinary approach for research of small-scale fishery management systems;

3) engage key stakeholders and decision makers for advice and implementation of the project's results and recommendations;

4) provide training for students and local fishers in tools for ecosystem-based research, management, and conservation of marine resources.

 

Progress to date:

  • Development of a comprehensive geographical information system, with more than 3,000 layers including fishing activity for 52 species and local ecological knowledge of key nursery and reproductive grounds.
  • Implementation of a fisher's logbook program, recording over 3,000 fishing trips.
  • Training for six graduate students at the masters and PhD level.
  • Presentations in six Mexican, U.S. and international scientific meetings.
  • Development of four scientific papers, one in press and the others in review.
  • Strengthening of PANGAS' Northern Gulf of California Commercial Species Life History Database.
  • Co-development of an online resource for prediction of tides and currents in the Gulf of California (http://gulfcal.cicese.mx).
  • Development of first draft of monitoring protocol for subtidal rocky reefs in the northern Gulf of California.
  • Development of numerous maps as support tools for research and management.

 

Key Collaborators:

  • University of Arizona
  • University of California Santa Cruz
  • CICESE (Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada)
  • CEDO (Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans)
  • COBI (Comunidad y Biodiversidad)