Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Caudal Spine Shedding Periodicity and Site Fidelity of Round Stingrays, Urobatis halleri (Cooper), at Seal Beach, California: Implications for Stingray-related Injury Management

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-2007

Publication Title

Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences

ISSN

0038-3872

Volume

106

Issue/No.

1

First Page

16

Last Page

26

Abstract

Natural caudal spine replacement rates, population size and site fidelity of round stingrays, Urobatis halleri (Cooper), at Seal Beach, California were determined to evaluate the efficacy of clipping of caudal spines of stingrays to reduce injury to human beachgoers. Of the 2,183 stingrays caught, clipped, tagged, and released at Seal Beach, only 13 (0.06%) were recaptured over a three-year period, indicating a large, mobile population. Natural spine replacement occurred between August–October, when a majority of rays were found with two spines. Monthly catch rates of rays were variable, but positively correlated with the number of injuries reported by beachgoers. There was no significant reduction in stingray-related injuries to beach goers at Seal Beach over the period when stingray caudal spine clipping was conducted.

Comments

©Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2007

Additional Comments

University of Southern California Sea Grant Program grant #: NA86RG0054

DOI

10.3160/0038-3872(2007)106[16:CSSPAS]2.0.CO;2

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