Leopoldo Cavaleri Gerhardinger

Local ecological knowledge on the goliath grouper epinephelus itajara (teleostei: serranidae) in southern Brazil

O mero Epinephelus itajara e uma especie de peixe marinho de grandes proporcoes (>400 kg) e criticamente ameacado, protegido em muitos paises, incluindo o Brasil. Atraves da aplicacao de entrevistas semi-estruturadas, investigamos o conhecimento ecologico local de pescadores de espinhel e pesca subaquatica, especialistas na captura de E. itajara na baia Babitonga, Santa Catarina, Brasil. A pescaria de espinhel direcionada a E. itajara parece ser uma tradicao em desaparecimento, com um detalhado sistema de conhecimento ecologico local que esta tambem sendo perdido com o tempo. Nosso estudo mostra que pescadores envolvidos em pescarias recentes, como a pesca subaquatica, podem tambem possuir detalhado sistema de conhecimento ecologico local. Atraves da analise e integracao do conhecimento ecologico local dos informantes, diversos aspectos da historia de vida de E. itajara foram registrados. Esta especie e encontrada na porcao interna e externa da baia Babitonga, em aguas salinas e em agua com grande aporte de agua doce, habitando resquicios de troncos submersos e recifes artificiais como naufragios, piers e containeres de carga. Epinephelus itajara e conhecido por reproduzir-se em dezembro e meses subsequentes de verao na area de estudo. Agregacoes reprodutivas sao usualmente observadas em dezembro (lua cheia), e eventualmente em janeiro e fevereiro. Enquanto lagostas, enxadas e polvos parecem constituir os itens alimentares mais importantes de E. itajara habitando o interior da baia, individuos de fora da baia Babitonga parecem alimentar-se de bagres, crustaceos e outras especies de peixe. Os meros sao considerados peixes curiosos e pacificos, mas frequentemente demonstram comportamento agonistico na presenca de mergulhadores. Nos propomos a hipotese de que E. itajara realiza migracoes sazonais do interior para o exterior da baia no verao, e que a populacao estudada esta sofrendo de sobrepesca do crescimento. Nossos dados proporcionam evidencias praticas de como a integracao do conhecimento cientifico e tradicional pode beneficiar as praticas locais de conservacao e manejo de E. itajara ao adicionar novas informacoes biologicas importantes no processo de tomada de decisao.

Marine Protected Dramas: The Flaws of the Brazilian National System of Marine Protected Areas

This article discusses the current problems and issues associated with the implementation of a National System of Marine Protected Areas in Brazil. MPA managers and higher governmental level authorities were interviewed about their perceptions of the implementation of a national MPA strategy and the recent changes in the institutional arrangement of government marine conservation agencies. Interviewees’ narratives were generally pessimistic and the National System was perceived as weak, with few recognizable marine conservation outcomes on the ground. The following major flaws were identified: poor inter-institutional coordination of coastal and ocean governance; institutional crisis faced by the national government marine conservation agency; poor management within individual MPAs; problems with regional networks of marine protected areas; an overly bureaucratic management and administrative system; financial shortages creating structural problems and a disconnect between MPA policy and its delivery. Furthermore, a lack of professional motivation and a pessimistic atmosphere was encountered during many interviews, a malaise which we believe affects how the entire system is able to respond to crises. Our findings highlight the need for a better understanding of the role of ‘leadership’ in the performance of socio-ecological systems (such as MPA networks), more effective official evaluation mechanisms, more localized audits of (and reforms if necessary to) Brazil’s federal biodiversity conservation agency (ICMBio), and the need for political measures to promote state leadership and support. Continuing to focus on the designation of more MPAs whilst not fully addressing these issues will achieve little beyond fulfilling, on paper, Brazil’s international marine biodiversity commitments.

Omobranchus punctatus (Teleostei: Blenniidae), an exotic blenny in the Southwestern Atlantic

The muzzled blenny Omobranchus punctatus (Valenciennes), native to the Indo-Pacific region, is recorded in the Southwestern Atlantic coast, inhabiting natural and artificial substrates in the proximities of three large Brazilian seaports (states of Bahia, Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina). Due to its habitat and habits, the introduction of this species was probably by ship or oil rigs, presumably associated within fouling. It is also argued that the muzzled blenny can maintain populations in natural and artificial (mariculture facilities) coastal environments in the Southwestern Atlantic.

Habitat use and abundance of goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara in Brazil: a participative survey

O desenvolvimento de estrategias de pesquisa para especies ameacadas e frequentemente limitado pelo acesso a individuos suficientes para adquirir informacoes necessarias para elaborar medidas de conservacao adequadas. Dentre essas especies, o mero (Epinephelus itajara) e um peixe recifal de grande tamanho, classificado globalmente como criticamente ameacado. No Brasil, a pesca e proibida desde 2002. Investigou-se o uso de habitat e abundância de E. itajara no Brasil atraves de uma pesquisa participativa, que engajou mergulhadores voluntarios na coleta dos dados. Um total de 188 relatos foram registrados entre 2005 a 2011 em 13 estados brasileiros. Os resultados revelaram que o tipo de habitat influenciou a relacao entre o comprimento total e profundidade de ocorrencia de E. itajara. Observou-se uma diferenca significativa entre habitats: habitat artificial apresentou uma relacao nao linear e habitat natural uma relacao assintotica. Este estudo ressalta a importância do desenvolvimento de medidas de conservacao abordando habitats e locais especificos visando a recuperacao populacional. Estruturas artificiais (naufragios e recifes feitos pelo homem) sao habitats criticos que devem ser considerados como areas relevantes para as estrategias politicas conservacao de E. itajara. Sugere-se a criacao e implementacao de areas marinhas protegidas como uma estrategia fundamental para a conservacao de E. itajara, especialmente em habitats artificiais e locais de agregacao.

Assessing Fishing Experts' Knowledge to Improve Conservation Strategies for an Endangered Grouper in the Southwestern Atlantic

The Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) is a critically endangered reef fish that has suffered from overfishing. In Brazil, the species has been under a fishing ban since 2002; however, there are no evidences of population recovery. In this context, data to help improve management programs are sorely needed. We assessed fisheries landings and interviewed key informants to investigate fishing, habitat use, and occurrence of goliath grouper in Abrolhos Bank, eastern Brazil. In mangroves, longline was the main fishing gear used to catch the species. Informants reported higher abundances of goliath grouper in red mangroves (Rizophora mangle) within shallow and complex channels. In marine reefs, the species was caught mainly through spearfishing. Goliath grouper occurrence was associated with coral and rocky reefs and was described as an aggregation site of up to 20 individuals. Informants also reported a decline in goliath grouper abundance across all habitats, primarily due to overfishing. Aggregation and nursery sites were mapped and described as essential for goliath grouper conservation. In Brazil, a scarcely enforced fishing moratorium alone is insufficient to guarantee the recovery of goliath grouper populations. Besides increasing the moratorium enforcement, we suggest implementing no-take zones, which encompass both nursery habitats and seasonal aggregation sites described in this study.

Scaling-up Small-Scale Fisheries Governability Through Marine Protected Areas in Southern Brazil

This chapter investigates governing interactions at the Baleia Franca Environmental Protection Area (Santa Catarina state, South Brazil) as an example of new opportunities and challenges to scale-up small-scale fisheries governability through Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Previous studies on MPAs in Brazil highlight the innovative aspects of these governing systems such as their well-functioning, active, and progressive management councils. We describe the increasing response of the governing system to fisheries issues that are largely aligned with governance paradigms of collaboration and social learning. Despite all efforts and some notable accomplishments in responsiveness and performance, we point out the challenges related to the mismatch between the governing system and the systems-to-be-governed that hinders fishers’ political agency and limits small-scale fisheries governability at broader territorial levels. We identify and analyse the wicked problems faced by actors engaged in processes of transformation in coastal-marine governance and provide suggestions for improving governability.