true

ISRA FACTSHEETS

SOUTH AMERICAN ATLANTIC REGION

ISRA FACTSHEETS

SOUTH AMERICAN ATLANTIC REGION

San Andrés Island ISRA

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San Andrés Island ISRA

San Andrés Island

Summary

San Andrés Island is located in the Colombian Caribbean. This oceanic island includes five small cays and is characterised by barrier reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, and patches of soft and hard substrates. The area overlaps with the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve. Within this area there are: reproductive areas and undefined aggregations (Southern Stingray Hypanus americanus).

San Andrés Island

San Andrés Island

DESCRIPTION OF HABITAT

San Andrés Island is located in the Colombian Caribbean. It is an oceanic island found ~750 km northwest of the Colombian coast. The island is part of the San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa Catalina Archipelago. It includes five small cays and is characterised by a barrier reef sheltering a lagoon with the slope dropping gently at ~20 m depths (Zea et al. 1998). The area is also characterised by mangroves and seagrass beds with patches of soft and hard substrates (Sánchez et al. 2019; Medina-Calderón et al. 2021). Two main seasons influence the area: a dry season from January–April and a rainy season from June–November (Ballesteros-Galvis 2007).

The area overlaps with the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve (UNEP-WCMC & IUCN 2025).

This Important Shark and Ray Area is benthic and pelagic and is delineated from inshore and surface waters (0 m) to 50 m based on the bathymetry of the area.

CRITERION C

SUB-CRITERION C1 – REPRODUCTIVE AREAS

San Andrés Island is an important reproductive area for one ray species.

Between 2014–2019, Southern Stingrays were monitored in multiple locations around San Andrés Island to estimate their population size. Individuals were collected, measured, and photographed (Fundación Squalus unpubl. data 2025). Additionally, 145 Southern Stingrays (116 females and 29 males) were tagged with PIT (Passive Integrated Transponders) tags in the area, in a location within this area called El Acuario (Fundación Squalus unpubl. data 2025). Individuals measured 32–108 cm disc width (DW), with 27 individuals (18.6%) considered neonates/young-of-the-year based on their size (<35 cm DW). The reported size-at-birth for the species is 17–19 cm DW (Last et al. 2016). Overall, 80% of the individuals were smaller than the reported size at maturity (<74 cm DW for females and (>44 cm DW for males; Last et al. 2016). Additionally, 12 females were classified as pregnant due to having distended abdomens; one pregnant female was observed in two consecutive years (November 2015 and December 2016). Between 2014–2019, 42 females were recorded with recent mating scars.

CRITERION C

SUB-CRITERION C5 – UNDEFINED AGGREGATIONS

San Andrés Island is an important area for undefined aggregations of one ray species.

Aggregations of juvenile Southern Stingray were opportunistically observed by divers and scientists in the area in 2009, 2010, 2018, 2019, and 2020 (Fundación Squalus unpubl. data 2025). Aggregations comprised of 4–16 individuals regularly observed across multiple locations in this area (La Pirámide, San Luis, El Acuario, and El Cantil). Aggregations of up to four individuals are predictably observed by divers at depths of 1–15 m in La Pirámide, San Luis, and El Cantil year-round (about once per month). Larger groups were also regularly observed in Baited Remote Underwater Video Station (BRUVS) surveys conducted in a location called El Acuario (D Cardeñosa unpubl. data 2025). These aggregations were recorded daily in monitoring trips between 2014–2019. The MaxN (maximum number of individuals of a species observed in a single frame) consisted of 16 individuals. However, El Acuario is one of the two locations in San Andrés Island where bait is used to attract animals for tourist operations, which may influence their behaviour. Baiting does not occur in the other locations where smaller aggregations have been observed.  San Andrés Island is located ~200 km from the continent and ~100 km from the nearest island (Providencia Island) and is the only location in the Colombian Caribbean where aggregations of this species have been regularly recorded. Additional information is needed to understand the function and nature of these aggregations.

San Andrés Island

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