Sharks and rays are elasmobranchs of significant importance both globally and nationally in fisheries. Along the Pacific coast of Guatemala, several communities, including Puerto de San José, Buena Vista, Iztapa, Sipacate, and Tecojate, dedicate a large part of their fishing activities to capturing these species. However, the elasmobranch species most frequently caught in this area exhibit population traits that make them particularly vulnerable to overfishing, including low reproductive rates, slow growth, and a high age and size at maturity.
The marine-coastal areas along Guatemala’s Pacific coast contain key habitats for shark and ray feeding and reproduction, such as the San José Canyon, the waters off Sipacate, Tecojate-Semillero, and Las Lisas-Hawaii. Since 2018, WCS has implemented a biological and fisheries monitoring program, concentrating on the most vulnerable species and the primary fisheries targeting elasmobranchs.
In terms of rays, the monitoring program has collected valuable data on species such as the longtail stingray (Hypanus longus, VU), the most commonly caught ray along Guatemala’s Pacific coast, and Mobulas (Mobula munkiana, VU and CITES II, Mobula thurstoni, EN and CITES II), highly vulnerable species that are becoming increasingly important economically in some regional communities.
Among sharks, the most notable species are the silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis, VU and CITES II), which is the most frequently caught species in the region; the scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini, CR and CITES II), facing heavy fishing pressure, particularly on neonates; and the pelagic thresher shark (Alopias pelagicus, EN and CITES II), the second most caught shark.
The data gathered has helped identify critical areas for shark and ray conservation along Guatemala’s Pacific coast and has led to the promotion of protective measures and the adoption of sustainable fisheries management practices. This initiative has been carried out in collaboration with governmental and academic institutions, reinforcing the groundwork for the effective conservation of these marine ecosystems.