Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

The natural resources of the indigenous people have been maintained thanks to the efforts of the communal governments, who, based on their empirical-traditional knowledge, have regulated in one way or another the use of these resources and have transmitted them from generation to generation; the value that represents the land, the sea, the forests, the keys and communal islands, for the indigenous people, lives with nature and not nature. The study is qualitative, descriptive and it analyzes the structure and operation of the Wiplin Cays communal government, in order to improve and strengthen the governance of authorities. The study area is located in the Tawira territory, at 29 nautical miles from Bilwi city. Interviews and focus groups were conducted on the actors related to the structure and functioning of the communal government of Wiplin Cays for the sustainability of the maritime ecosystem. Through this study, the main norms practiced in the Wiplin Cay are extracted according to customary law or from the worldview of the Miskitu people for the conservation and protection of maritime resources. Therefore, interview and focus group were used for information gathering. The results can serve as a frame of references; used as elements for the formulation of projects aimed at the conservation of maritime resources can be a model to regulate in the other Cays.

The coral reefs from Miskito Cays are located in the Autonomous Region of the North Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast. They form an underwater mosaic of marginal reefs, patch reefs, distant reef ridges oriented from north to south, seagrass beds, seaweed and octocoral gardens. Corals are a kind of animals’ colony that are related to hydrozoans, jellyfish and sea anemones. The health status of these coral reefs has been diagnosed, taking as bioindicators the status of marine coral colonies, the cover of fleshy algae, the diversity and abundance of herbivorous fish and fish of commercial interest. The study is quantitative and the evaluation was carried out through the linear transept method. To this end, sampling was carried out through diving in 18 preselected coral reefs, with an effort of two 30-meter long transepts in each of those reefs. 50% of the sampled reefs have a good to very good health condition; 33% have a regular condition; while 17% are in a condition of bad to critical. In general, the results are satisfactory, since the coral reefs in Miskito cays maintain the function and structure, providing high values ​​of aquatic biodiversity that favor the work and food of the coastal indigenous communities, which all their lives have survived their benefits. However, what are the proposals to improve self-sustainability?

This study has analyzed the change in mangrove coverage from Miskitus Cays Reserve due to the effects of Félix Hurricane, 5 category according to the Saffir-Simpson scale, which impacted on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua in 2007, by digital image analysis of Landsat satellites for 2006, 2012 and 2017. Recent conditions and trends of change were evaluated, estimating a reduction of approximately 1,783.2 hectares of mangrove forest for the period. Coverage changes were analyzed with landscape metrics estimated from the mangrove coverage maps generated for each date. The results indicate an increase in the number of patches and a reduction in the size of the forest masses of the islands and cays set, as well as variations in the partition index values, which indicate a fragmented coverage. From the 2017 results, the impact on the mangrove spatial patterns product of the hurricane was evaluated. At the level of islets and cays, it was found that the greatest impact on the mangrove was observed on the main island of the Miskitus Cays, where the coverage was reduced by 1762 hectares, also presenting values ​​of landscape metrics that indicate an increase in fragmentation processes.

The coastal marine ecosystems of the North Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua, make up a network of interdependent wetlands of great ecological importance. In these wetlands a system of natural lagoons stands out, where a number of aquatic organisms reproduce and develop, these organisms are the basis of the economy and food of the Miskito indigenous communities that inhabit the coastal zone. These lagoons receive water from continental tributaries and the Caribbean Sea, therefore, given the importance of this lagoon system, in this quantitative investigation an ecological evaluation was developed in the Bihmuna, Pahra, Karata and Wouhta lagoons, to know their state of health, analyzing three main indicators: Water pollution, habitat and fisheries. The results demonstrated good water quality with low concentration of elements and their forms, good habitat cover and conservation, abundance and diversity of fishing species. So these gaps have a good health condition and must maintain the current use to conserve their natural values ​​and that the community can make use of the resources in a sustainable manner over time. The training that URACAN University carries out is essential for the conservation of wetlands in the area.

The purpose of this research was to make women aware of the capture, collection and commercialization of maritime products, through artisanal fishing in the three nautical miles, in the Kip community, North Coast, Tawira indigenous territory, Waspam municipality, Autonomous Region of the North Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua. In this community, eight women, mostly single mothers, heads of families with low levels of schooling, are in the fishing activity, two of them in the gathering and have their own means (panga, cayuco, sailboat, thermos, motor outboard of 45 and 70 hp), six own fishing gear and market within the community and lack the gathering means. The qualitative approach was descriptive, which allows the majority of the data to be specified through the narrative of the actors themselves and their behaviors, in this case women who work in the fishing activity. The unit of analysis was eight women who in the community have ventured into artisanal fishing at 3 nautical miles in the Kip community, Cabo Gracias a Dios, Litoral Norte.

The study of the fish biomass of the coastal lagoons was carried out in the coastal lagoons of Bihmuna, Pahara, Wounhta and Karatá. Its purpose was to determine the present biomass of the fishing resources existing in the four lagoons studied during the summer and winter seasons and to address the current problems that exist in these lagoons for fisheries regulation.This quantitative approach study used four sampling units (atarraya, gillnets, purse seine net and ring) and random sampling points were selected in the lagoons; which were for a period of 24 hours (day and night), where different fishing tools were used. In relation to the results, the biomass of the lagoons was higher in winter; however in the summer there was a greater presence of individuals in juvenile and pre-juvenile states In the summer sampling, there were catches of penaeids in the lagoon of Bihmuna and Karatá where the individuals captured for the most part were of a state of pre-juvenile maturity. It is important to mention that the Bihmuna lagoon in the winter time there was the presence of penaeids; this is due to the circulation of dissolved salts in the water that is the product of the entry of water from the ocean that enters this lagoon through the two mouths it has.

Este volumen comparte la compilación de 14 artículos, todos correspondientes a la sección MedioAmbiente y Recursos Naturales, estos son: 1) Estructura y funcionamiento del gobierno comunal del CayoWiplin para la sustentabilidad del recurso maríno; 2) Índice de salud arrecifal (ISA) en los arrecifes coralinos deCayos Miskitos; 3) Mujeres en la pesca artesanal, a tres millas náuticas, Cabo Gracias a Dios; 4) Afectacionesantropogénicas al ecosistema manglar en la zona costera de la comunidad de Pearl Lagon, municipio Laguna dePerlas; 5) Factores de conversión del pepino del mar; 6) Índice de salud de las lagunas costeras de Cayos Miskitos;7) Análisis multitemporal de la cobertura de manglar en la Reserva Cayos Miskitos, 2006-2017; 8) La biomasa delas lagunas costeras de la reserva de los Cayos Miskitos; 9) Crecimiento de langosta espinosa en jaulas flotantesen el Refugio de Vida Silvestre Cayos Perla, municipio de Laguna de Perlas, RACCS, Nicaragua; 10) Composiciónflorística y estructura del manglar de los Cayo Miskitos a 10 años después del huracán Félix; 11) Impacto deluso de artes de pesca tradicionales en la franja costera de Bilwi; 12) El capital social en la gestión sostenible dela subcuenca del río Ulí; 13) Dinámica de microalgas frente a la costa de las Peñitas-Poneloya, Nicaragua; 14)Incidencia del Laboratorio de Ciencias Naturales en los estudiantes de URACCAN.

The sea cucumber (Holoturidas), has become a new export product from Nicaragua, charging increasing commercial boom and have been subject to commercial exploitation that promote a significant source of employment and income to coastal communities from the North Caribbean of Nicaragua. The study is quantitative with a descriptive character of cross sectional scope with a duration of 3 months. The conversion factors of three Holoturidas species carried out by the Nicaraguan Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Bilwi city, from March to May 2017, were studied; for this, the population sample was 95 living individuals of which 31 individuals of Holothuria floridana, 64 individuals of Isostichopus badionotus and 69 individuals of Mexican Holothuria obtaining a total weight of 51.72 pounds of fresh specimens with viscera and the percentage of weight reduction due to the different processes that the sea cucumber takes to reach its final conversion (dry weight), it was as follows; for the first species it was 91.96% of its initial weight loss, for the second it was 96.11% of its initial weight loss and 91.30% for the third species

The common lobster (Panulirus argus) is a species with high commercial value in the Nicaraguan Caribbean. In recent decades its production has reached its maximum values, coupled with the fluctuations associated with climate variability and its use, demand the need to enter into complementary forms of production, such as aquaculture. In the Cayos Perla Wildlife Refuge, Nicaragua, the growth of 85 lobsters (P. argus), grown in a floating cage of 2 x 2 x 2.30 m, was evaluated during the period from December 21, 2018 to May 23 of 2019, fed daily with sardines at a rate of 7% of its weight. During this period the water presented average temperature values ​​of 28.5 ºC, pH 7.6, salinity of 34.4 g L-1, turbidity greater than one meter and current velocity of 0.2 to 0.4 ft s-1. Two stages of lobster growth were observed, 89 and 64 days, each. The first characterized by zero growth, density of 10.6 organisms m3 and high mortality at the end (39%); the second by a growth similar to that observed in its natural state, high survival (100%), with a density of 6.3 m3 organisms. The weight (W) - cephalothorax (LC) ratio of lobsters during cultivation was adjusted to equation W = 0.02788 LC 2.2074. From the above it can be said that lobster cultivation in this region has a high potential.

This is a descriptive investigation that has studied the dynamics of microalgae (Cyanophytas, Chlorophytas, Bacillariophyceae and Dinoflagellata) and their relationship with the physical-chemical parameters of the Peñitas, Poneloya coasts in the period of June-October 2017. It was taken into account samples of 3 different points between the area included in the coordinates 12 ° 20´10.63¨N 87 ° 01´59.58¨O and 12 ° 21´59.68¨N 87 ° 04´13.27¨O. These samples were carried out once a month to analyze water samples and physical-chemical parameters (pH, salinity, temperature, turbidity and oxygen). Cell counts were done with the help of the Neubauer chamber and the identification of microalgae with the help of the Sedgewick-Rafter chamber. Microalgae of the four main groups were found, having more representation of the Bacillariophyceae class with 16 species, followed by Cyanophytas with 7 species, Chlorophytas with 6 species and Dinoflagellata with 5 species. The salinity parameter oscillated between 30 ppm as the minimum value presented in point 1 and 34 ppm as the maximum value presented in point 3, the temperature fluctuated between 27 ° C and 29.7 ° C, having the minimum value in the month of August in the second point and the maximum in the month of June in the third point, the turbidity maintained a stable value of 100 cm in its 3 points throughout the investigation period. The dissolved oxygen varied between 7.3 mg / l and 8.3 mg / l, having its minimum value in the month of June at the first point and the maximum in September at its first point. The pH ranged from 8.6 its minimum, found in the month of June in the second point and its maximum of 10.4 in the month of July in the second point. The Diversity of Shannon and Dominance of Simpson statistical indexes were applied to all the species found, to inquire if the area has abundant biodiversity or there was dominance of a specific species, and according to the results obtained it can be ensured that the area has a diversity and abundance of homogeneous microalgae species.