Tagliafico et al.: Exploitation of Myliobcitis freminvillei off the coast of Venezuela 
151 
(Froese and Pauly, 2015), may be considered highly 
vulnerable. However, the bullnose ray has shown signs 
of recovery since the implementation of shark-specific 
management strategies in the southeastern United 
States (Ward-Paige et al., 2012). Additional fishery- 
independent research is needed on the bullnose ray to 
develop effective conservation measures, particularly 
with regard to mortality, growth estimates, and mi- 
gration patterns, and to detect temporal and spatial 
changes in abundance. 
Currently, no law is in place to directly regulate 
catch of bullnose ray. However, this species was pre- 
viously reported as bycatch in the industrial shrimp 
trawl fishery (Cervigon et al., 1992), and the total ban 
of this fishery in Venezuela that began in March 2009 
(Article 23, Law of Fisheries and Aquaculture) may be 
contributing to the conservation of the bullnose ray. 
In addition, the fishing community in the area of our 
study has implemented self-management strategies, 
such as rotation of target species, fishing methods, and 
locations throughout the year (Tagliafico et al., 2013a). 
Such local adaptations of fishing practices can provide 
effective management strategies that would benefit 
fisheries and endemic marine populations. 
Acknowledgments 
We thank the fishermen of La Pared for their kind co- 
operation, allowing us to study their landings. We also 
appreciate the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones 
Agricolas (INIA) and A. Larez for help with logistics, 
L. Gonzalez and J. Marin for their assistance during 
the field sampling in 2013, E. Guerra and J. Mendoza 
for statistical advice, and D. West, A. Arraez, J. Sippo, 
and anonymous referees for their valuable comments. 
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