The main Spondylus limbatus population parameters were estimated based on the analysis of individual growth and reproductive aspects of specimens collected monthly (n = 30) from January to December 2009 in the fishing area of Agua Verde, Gulf of California. The size structure determined from shell measurements was 82–167 mm and the direct reading of shell sections indicated ages of 1–14 years. The data are adjusted to the von Bertalanffy, Gompertz, logistic, Richards and Schnute (Type 1) growth models. The von Bertalanffy model provided the best fit to describe individual growth in this species (SH_∞ = 142.7 mm, k = 0.47, t₀ = −0.20 years). The spawning season was determined through gonadal histology, and the size and age at sexual maturity through a logistic model. Reproductive activity occurred from March to September, with spawning peaks in July and August. The size and age at sexual maturity were 10.79 mm and 2.7 years, respectively. This information provides the necessary knowledge to implement management measures in the area. We recommend independent studies to establish management measures for each fishing area.

Cynoscion reticulatus has been a significant resource in the Mexican Pacific for over 20 years. However, it lacks management measures due to a lack of biological-fishery information. For this reason, this study aimed to analyze the relative growth using a multimodel approach to facilitate and increase the accuracy of using structured models to estimate biomass. Therefore, three models were compared to determine which best describes the species' ontogeny. The results showed that a broken line model can aptly describe the species' relative growth, as it identifies the point of change in the growth trend. It pinpointed the same relative growth pattern in both sexes; in males, the growth switched from positive allometric to negative allometric after 34.2 cm total length (TL), whereas in females, it occurred after 33.3 cm TL. This growth pattern was linked to the species' reproductive physiology. The information gathered is crucial for fisheries assessment, as it can serve as input data in dynamic models of low or high complexity, offering swiftly obtained information for stock evaluation, allowing the determination of a resource's status and estimating biomass to manage target species appropriately.

The Gulf corvina, Cynoscion othonopterus, is a scianid endemic to the Gulf of California. Its fishery is one of the most important in the region, and catches have shown an increasing trend over the past decade; therefore, permanent monitoring is essential for generating vital information to understand variations in population better. We applied an integrated analysis model of catch-at-age to assess stock status, integrating biological and fisheries information to identify reference points such as fisheries mortality (FMSY) and reproductive biomass (SSBMSY), both of which are associated with the maximum sustainable yield, thereby determining population status. A total of 47,035 Gulf corvina specimens were sampled from 2002 to 2023. There was a decrease in mean length, which went from 650 to 564 mm in total length, reflected in the absence of individuals in age groups 7, 8, and 9, and in the increase of individuals in age groups 3 and 4. Total biomass oscillated between 21,100 and 35,200 t, whereas spawning biomass fluctuated between 10,000 and 25,600 t. Fishing mortality was FMSY = 0.250 yr-1, and the annual exploitation rate was UMSY = 0.221 yr-1. The control rule was exceeded by up to 61.7% in 2023. According to the exploitation levels, F2023/FMSY = 1.309 and B2023/BMSY = 0.986, the population status of the Gulf corvina should be considered precautionary, given the increasing overfishing.

Drums and croakers (Sciaenidae) are important to the species composition of coastal catches in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Among these species, the striped corvina (Cynoscion reticulatus) stands out because of its high fishery potential, high demand, and increased market value. The striped croaker has been under constant fishing pressure over the past 20 years. Still, there needs to be current biological information or reference points to allow the establishment of management measures for fisheries. The objective of the present study was to estimate the mean standard length at sexual maturity (SL50) of females using various models and to suggest a minimum catch size (MCS) for C. reticulatus off the southern coast of Sinaloa. Monthly samplings of coastal fishery landings were done from December 2020 to December 2021 on the south coast of Sinaloa. The SL50 was evaluated based on 3 candidate models (Gompertz, Lysack, and White) through a binomial approach. Confidence intervals for SL50 were estimated using likelihood profiles and contours, and Akaike’s information criterion (AIC) was used to select the best model. A total of 284 individuals were examined, of which 131 were used in calculations. White’s model was the most adequate; however, based on AIC weights, all 3 models performed similarly, and SL50 (24.48 cm; C.I. 95% 12.9–70 36.0 cm) was estimated as their average. As a management measure, we propose a precautionary MCS of 36 cm SL for C. reticulatus off southern Sinaloa.

Changes in the structure and composition of mangroves may be influenced by anthropogenic and natural causes. Mangrove coverage in Marismas Nacionales Nayarit –a Biosphere Reserve in northwestern Mexico—has declined in the last decades, mostly related to human activities (e.g., opening of the Cuautla inlet) and climate variability (e.g., El Niño Southern Oscillation and hurricanes), leading to diverse ecological and socioeconomic consequences. This contribution reports the impact of Cissus verticillata—a climbing plant species—in the structure of mangroves distributed in this Natural Protected Area during 2019 and 2022. Forest structure analysis was compared in four plots of 20 m × 20 m each, all of them influenced by San Pedro Mezquital river. Two plots (Unión de Corrientes) showed the presence of Cissus verticillata, while two nearby plots (Boca de Camichín) recorded no presence of this species. A poor mangrove structure, no natural seedling recruitment and high mortality was observed in those sites with the presence of C. verticillata. These results highlight the vulnerability of mangroves to C. verticillata in Marismas Nacionales Nayarit Biosphere Reserve, which in addition to other human and climate stressors may compromise its ecological integrity in the future.

Species of the genus Scomberomorus (S. sierra and S. concolor) are key resources for artisanal fisheries along the Mexican Pacific coast, with annual catches exceeding 25,000 t. However, information on their population dynamics, responses to ocean-atmospheric variability, and stock assessment remains limited. To address this gap, we analyzed 175,750 landing records alongside monthly Oceanic Niño Index (ONI) data. Temporal catch patterns were evaluated using sequential regime shift analysis (STARS). S. sierra exhibited two regimes: a relatively stable phase from 2000 to 2015, followed by elevated catches from 2016 to 2022, whereas S. concolor displayed three shifts: low catches (2000-2007), increased catches (2008-2021), and a marked increase in 2022. Cross-correlation function (CCF) analysis revealed contrasting responses to ONI, with S. sierra showing a positive relationship (r = 0.37, P = 0.04) and S. concolor showing a negative one (r = -0.40, P = 0.009). Stock status assessed using the catch maximum sustainable yield (CMSY) model. For S. sierra, the estimated maximum sustainable yield (MSY) was 4,873 t, the biomass at MSY (BMSY) was 14,144 t, and the fishing mortality at MSY (FMSY) was 0.34. Historical catches were generally sustainable, but recent increases create potential risks if they continue. For S. concolor, MSY was estimated at 5,951 t, BMSY was 17,275 t, and FMSY was 0.34; catches largely remained within sustainable limits, despite slightly exceeding MSY in 2022. Kobe plot analyses indicate S. sierra is approaching "overexploitation", whereas S. concolor remains within optimal limits. Highlight the need for active management strategies to ensure long-term sustainability.