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Owards Protection and Sustainable Use, Mangrove Fish Communities in the Gulf of Tribugá

Assessing Their Importance for Small-Scale Fisheries

 

The project aimed to involve the community in conserving species that inhabit the mangrove ecosystems of the Gulf of Tribugá through participatory activities such as field observations and the exchange of environmental knowledge at both scientific and cultural levels.

The Gulf of Tribugá

This region is known as one of the rainiest places on Earth. Its coastal areas are largely shaped by mangrove forests, rocky shores, and coral-rock reefs—ecosystems on which local communities rely heavily.

In recent years, despite increasing attention due to the proposed construction of a deep-water port, little scientific evidence had been collected on the mangroves, sandy beaches, cliffs, intertidal rocky zones, and shallow coastal bottoms of this vital area of Chocó.

To generate biological and ecological knowledge that could serve as a reference for environmental authorities and as a tool for local communities in pursuing sustainable use of their territory, the National Geographic Society (NatGeo) and CEMarin brought together researchers from Universidad del Valle, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, and Universidad Tecnológica del Chocó. The expedition aimed to characterize fish and macrofauna communities in the Gulf’s mangrove ecosystems and determine their ecological connectivity with adjacent coastal ecosystems by comparing species composition in small-scale fisheries.

To this end, the institutions signed Agreement NGS PS 2022-03 to carry out the project:
“Mangrove Fish Communities of the Gulf of Tribugá: Assessing Their Importance for Small-Scale Fisheries.”

Jaime Cantera-Kintz

Universidad del Valle – CEMarin

Edgardo Londoño

Universidad del Valle – CEMarin

Juan Mejía

Universidad del Valle – CEMarin

Andrés Carmona

Universidad del Valle – CEMarin

Mauricio Bechara

Universidad Tecnológica del Chocó

Hasbleidy Palacios

Universidad Tecnológica del Chocó

Ballantyne Puin

Universidad Nacional de Colombia – CEMarin

In collaboration with the residents of the Tribugá community

Methodology

Between August 8 and 14, 2022, a study was carried out in the Nuquí region, focusing on the Tribugá inlet. Main sites included El Morro, La Honda, and Matilde estuaries, the Tribugá River, and the town of Tribugá. Rocky Guachalito Beach and the Utría Inlet (National Park) were also surveyed.

The study was based on Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA) and benefited greatly from the knowledge of the Tribugá community. Their daily interaction with fish and invertebrate species enriched the scientific findings.

Results

The results focus mainly on the Tribugá inlet and are presented in three subsections.

Coastal Ecosystems

Distribution of vegetation across the inlet of Tribugá

Image 1: Inner inlet of Tribugá, see from the northern outer edge looking inward 
Image 2: Ancient sandy barrier, shaped like a coastal spit, stabilized over time by vegetation—from mangroves to terrestrial transition plants.
Image 3:  Ipomoea–Canavalia association, beach colonizers that establish once the sand is stabilized by creeping plants.
Image 4: Inner muddy-sand channels, bordered by elevated sandy ridges and fringed with red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle). 
image 5: Barrier mangrove with red and white mangrove trees, extending from the sandy beach and separated by an intertidal channel.
Image 6: Riverine mangrove at La Honda estuary, composed mainly of red mangroves and, to a lesser extent, black mangroves. These trees are structurally much larger than those in barrier mangroves.
Image 7: Forest dominated by Pelliciera rhizophorae near the settlement of Tribugá. 

Oceanography

Sediment plume observed at the mouth of the inner Gulf on August 11, 2022.

Fish Species and Small-Scale Fisheries

A total of 76 individuals were collected, belonging to 22 genera and 29 species. The most representative families were Lutjanidae and Carangidae, with seven and three species respectively.

 

Food species (caught during fishing trips and mentioned by local fishers)

Image 1: Rock Snapper (H. guentherii)
Image 2: Lookdown (Selene oerstedii)
Image 3: Yellow Snapper (Lutjanus argentiventris)
Image 4: Black Jack (Caranx caninus Günther)

Main Findings

Low Human Impact on Coastal Ecosystems


The Gulf’s ecosystems remain relatively pristine, with rich vegetation and diverse fauna. However, some areas near settlements show signs of human impact.

Importance of Small-Scale Fisheries

Local fisheries are essential for food security and the economy—both formal and informal—making them a cornerstone of community livelihoods..

Community-Led Sustainability

Local communities have led initiatives to ensure sustainable fishing practices, supported by rights granted under Colombia’s Law 70.

Fun Curious

On June 15, 2023, UNESCO declared Tribugá–Cupica–Baudó as a new Biosphere Reserve—the first one in Colombia’s Pacific region. This recognition highlights the ecological value of both marine and terrestrial ecosystems and underlines the urgent need for sustainable management.

Projects like this one are crucial for protecting and valuing these ecosystems.

Educational and Recreational Resources

This educational parqués game was created to strengthen communication between researchers and local communities when discussing mangrove fauna. Each player represents two species identified by their common and scientific names, allowing both researchers and residents to recognize them, learn them, and share a common language. This facilitates teamwork, knowledge exchange, and the conservation of ecosystems in the Gulf of Tribugá.