Posible impacto del huracán Otto en la abundancia del sábalo (Megalops atlanticus) para pesca turística en el Humedal Caño Negro, Costa Rica
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15517/ha1ja563Keywords:
Emblematic species; abundance; Río Frío; sedimentation; agricultural expansion; spatial distribution.Abstract
Introduction: The Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) is a migratory species that moves between the Caribbean Sea and Costa Rican river waters. It is a key resource for recreational and sport fishing, generating high revenues, but these fisheries may be susceptible to extreme hydrometeorological events, such as the hurricane Otto that hit the San Juan River area in 2016.
Objective: To analyze the relative temporal abundance of M. atlanticus in the Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica (RNVSM-CN), to evaluate if the occurrence of hurricane Otto affected the tourism-dependent fishery.
Methods: Sampling was carried out between 2014 and 2025 (except 2022-2023), during the rainy season (August-December). Tarpon relative abundance was estimated as the number of bites per day. We constructed a monthly time series for this metric and evaluated if there were structural changes in the temporal pattern.
Results: We found a single significant change in the temporal pattern for daily bites between the 2015 and 2016 season. Bites decreased from 3 to 8 per day before the hurricane to 0 to 3 bites per day after the hurricane.
Conclusions: The reduction in tarpon bites after hurricane Otto may indicate risks to the sustainability of sport fishing in the RNVSM-CN, with possible repercussions on ecotourism and the local economy.
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