Context:

The Navío Quebrao lagoon (NQL) has always played an important role in the economy of the indigenous communities in its surroundings. However, in recent years, the tributaries to the lagoon have been notably impacted by climatic variability and logging activities, therefore clogging the lagoon and causing the loss of depth, which increases the temperature and salinity. In three months, 80% of the lagoon dries out, causing the mortality of most of the species inhabiting it. This phenomenon is known as the Cachirra event. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the incidence of environmental, biological, amd fishing factors in the formation and mortality of the Cachirra event..

Methodology:

We collected samples from fishing nets used by the fishermen of the arranchaderos community. IDEAM provided 2017 climatologic data. Physicochemical variables were measured with a Spectroquant SQ 118 and other direct measurement electronic devices. The R statistical software version 3.2.2 was used to analyze the data and their relationships.

Results:

The results showed that 12 species are involved in the formation of the Cachirra event, predominantly the Mugilidae family. Salinity was the physicochemical variable that predominantly affected the mortality of the species -October (6,0 ± 0,6 UPS) and March (67,4 ± 1,36 UPS).

Conclusions:

Fish die according to their susceptibility to salinity changes, with Cathrorops spixii and Eugerres plumieri being the most susceptible species and Elops saurus and Mugil liza the most resistant. The species present in the NQL have lengths well below commercial significance and different condition factor and repletion index values before and after the Cachirra event.

Funding:

Universidad de La Guajira