Strengthening Fisheries Management and Conservation Strategies for the Brazilian Guitarfish in its Southern Distribution Boundary, El Rincón-Northern Patagonian Coastal Zone

Significant seasonal aggregations of Brazilian guitarfish (Pseudobatos horkelii), a critically endangered species, occur along the northern coast of El Rincón (El Rincón Patagonia Norteh, ttps://sharkrayareas.org/e-atlas/) Argentina, especially between Claromecó and Pehuén communities. The recreational fisheries social webs show a large contribution of adults in catches that allow hypothesizing that this habitat is used as a key mating area. This critically endangered species, with an estimated 80% biomass decline, faces growing threats from large-scale sport fishing tournaments and tourist fishing activities. Despite these biological and conservation concerns, there is currently no specific management or protective measures in place. This project seeks to directly reduce its fishing mortality through a combination of policy reform, research, and stakeholder engagement.