In order to protect the natural heritage and coordinate efforts to generate investments for sustainable development department, Corpoguajira in partnership with Ecopetrol Offshore companies Colombia S.A.S. and Aecom, He participated in the development of a study whose purpose was to expand the knowledge of biodiversity in the shallow continental shelf(0 and 20 m depth) the sector between Riohacha and Manaure and its relation to artisanal fisheries.

The research was conducted from unpublished primary information obtained in environmental characterization for the environmental impact study of this area under the Environmental Management Plan Project "Exploratory Drilling del Pozo Molusco -1.

It identified four benthic ecosystems (depth) an estimated length of 96.209he has, It composed of soft bottoms (57,1 %), seagrasses (25,7 %), hard coral no funds (17,0 %) and soft bottoms with no vascular vegetation – meadows macroalgae (0,2 %). For the first three he recorded a total of 544 species; 52 flora, 285 invertebrate, 203 fish and four turtles, showing that the area has a high regional diversity.

Of the total registered fauna species, el 4,7 % They are threatened. In the category in Danger (IN) Five species were found and Vulnerable (VU) 15 species. In the category Critically Endangered (CR) Three species of turtles are reported (Carettacaretta, Eretmochelysimbricataand Dermochelys coriácea) and a species of fish, grouper are Epinephelusitajara. It is important to note that seventeen of the species recorded are protected against over-exploitation through international trade by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

As for fishing was found that the different arts or techniques that are employed in the shallow shelf of the Guajira media put pressure on 184 invertebrate species, fish and turtles ecosystems associated with hard coral funds, soft bottoms and seagrasses. Of the 203 fish species recorded for these three ecosystems, el 81,3 % They are captured, upholding the importance of benthic ecosystems in regards to the provision of fishery resources for the Wayuu communities.