In this project we will obtain relevant basic biological information of the two common species in traditional fisheries of the Gulf of California, and will provide elements to implement management and conservation plans for these species. With this information we intend to ensure that with the extractive activity, these species remain in time and in conditions to be exploited by future generations.

Figure 1.- Morphometry of the Pacific sharpnose shark R. longurio.

The sharpnose shark and the cownose ray are relatively abundant coastal species in traditional fishing in the Gulf of California, mainly in the States of Sonora, Sinaloa, and Nayarit, although they are also captured in the other states of the Mexican Pacific. Due to the lack of adequate regulations for their exploitation in the state of Sinaloa, signs of excessive exploitation are starting to show. Elasmobranchians in general are particularly susceptible species to decrease their population due to a low reproduction capacity and slow growth, which makes the generation of data on their reproductive season and growth necessary to contribute to a correct fishery management.

The required information is obtained through biological samplings from traditional fishing capture along the coasts of the Mexican Pacific states, where the organisms are measured and weighed.