BajaNomad

Dodo

tehag - 5-11-2012 at 06:56 PM

I keep seeing dolphinfish, aka dorado, referred to as dodos. It seems at least ironic that a species under continued assault by humans should share the name of another creature which was driven all the way to extinction by similar forces. The dodo bird is first mentioned by Dutch mariners in 1598 and was believed extinct by 1681, and the name has become analogous with extinction — especially human caused. I hope this irony doesn't turn out to be prophetic.

Osprey - 5-11-2012 at 07:19 PM

Science has pretty much nailed the cause of extinction of the dodo to hogs -- first, those imported and raised by settlers, later to the feral hogs that roamed the land during and after occupation. Those huge pigeons had no real defense against hogs or humans. Dodos were very close to being inedible for humans. Dorado are tasty treats for all sea creatures and most humans.

The sixth and last Mexican congressional meeting about the commercialization of dorado was recently held and the congress is holding the fate of the fish in its hand at this very moment. Cross your fingers. Thanks for the note Tehag. This is important stuff.

woody with a view - 5-11-2012 at 08:32 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Osprey Dodos were very close to being inedible for humans. Dorado are tasty treats for all sea creatures and most humans.

The sixth and last Mexican congressional meeting about the commercialization of dorado was recently held and the congress is holding the fate of the fish in its hand at this very moment. Cross your fingers. Thanks for the note Tehag. This is important stuff.


give it another 20 years and the dorado might go, ultimately, the way of the dodo bird.

Dodo_bird.jpg - 15kB

BajaBruno - 5-11-2012 at 09:20 PM

This from the Florida Museum of Natural History: "Studies conducted on dolphinfish populations have concluded that it should be able to withstand high levels of harvest. Life history characteristics, including fast growth rates, high reproductive capability, and low age at maturity, make the dolphinfish resistant to overfishing..."

From the MarineBio Conservation Society: "This species is hunted commercially and is not considered currently an endangered or threatened species.

Resilience to fishing pressure external: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months."

From the Monterey Bay Aquarium: "Dolphinfish reach sexual maturity at an early age, are short-lived, and are found worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters. They are prolific spawners, broadcasting thousands to millions of eggs, and spawn multiple times each year. Due to these life history characteristics, dolphinfish are considered inherently resilient to fishing pressure."

It is unlikely they will go the way of the dodo.

Dorado vids

tehag - 5-12-2012 at 06:08 PM

These are not new. They have been offered here before. They are worth watching if you are in any way interested in the future of the dorado in the Gulf of California.

The studies in these videos and perhaps also the ones mentioned in the previous post would seem to lend credibility to arguments that have obviously not been borne out by observations in the fishing business.

Fish of Gold

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZstAPZqDYmQ

Part 1 Oro de Cortez

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vN_g2-JU_E&feature=relmf...

Part 2 Oro de Cortez

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXp0U8yXsoY&feature=relmf...

Part 3 Oro de Cortez

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0__kyyAXSUU&feature=relmf...

Baja Sur longliners

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmVcVR4m46g&feature=relat...

Cypress - 5-12-2012 at 06:22 PM

One of the fastest growing fishing in the sea.

BajaBruno - 5-12-2012 at 07:27 PM

Tehag, I didn't mean to imply that the dorado are not under a lot of pressure in the Sea of Cortez. I understand your concern and I know that the SOC is a unique fish trap that works under atypical rules; however, the dorado is a remarkably resilient fish that will survive.

If current pressure continues in the SOC it is possible that larger fish may be less common, but they have a lifespan of only about 3-4 years and they are sexually mature in 4-5 months. Prolific spawners, they drop hundreds of thousands of eggs several times a year.

There are several other SOC fish that are far more vulnerable than the dorado.