Mariana Clauzet

Dynamics of artisanal fisheries in two Brazilian Amazonian reserves: implications to co-management

In this study we compare the dynamics of artisanal fishery in two adjacent reserves located in the Brazilian Amazon, Mamirauá (being managed for more than 12 years) and Amanã (initiating a management process), through the record of 485 fish landings in one fishing community in each reserve during high and low water seasons in 2003. Our goals were, first, to make a rapid and comparative assessment of some main aspects of fisheries in these two communities (fish species caught, CPUE, fishing gear and habitats exploited). Second, we used such data to evaluate if management strategies already in place in Mamirauá would be also valid for Amanã. Third, we compared fishing CPUE between the two communities, in order to check if co-management measures have contributed, at least partially, to preclude over-fishing, maintaining a higher fishing reward in Mamirauá reserve. We analyzed fisheries directed to the two most important marketable fishes in the region: the pirarucu (Arapaimas gigas) and the tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum), besides those fisheries aimed to subsistence and lower valued fishes. Our results indicated that the tambaqui was intensively fished year-round in Mamirauá, while Amanã fishers caught a higher variety of fishes, including catfishes and migratory scale fishes. Such differences might reflect differences in gear used and habitat exploited by fishers during the high water season. Mamirauá fishers caught a higher fish biomass considering both marketable and all fishes. Differences in gear used, habitats exploited and fishes caught during high water season indicate that distinct management initiatives might apply for each reserve. Notwithstanding their differences, both communities exploited the commercial fishes (tambaqui and pirarucu) in a similar way during the low water season. Therefore, the higher mean fishing yield (CPUE) observed in Mamirauá may be partially attributable to co-management measures, considering that Mamirauá has possibly been experiencing a higher fishing intensity than Amanã. Fishing related data are seldom available in Brazil and other tropical developing countries. We thus provided a framework of fast assessment of fishing dynamics, which may represent a first and useful step for management initiatives in the absence of more detailed data.

Ethnoichthyology of artisanal fishing community from Guaibim Beach, Valença (BA), Brazil

This study investigates the knowledge of fishermen from Guaibim Beach, Valenca, Bahia, Brazil on species of fish found in that area. In January 2005, 34 fishermen over 20 years old, who live and work in that area for at least 20 years, were interviewed about the ethnoecology and ethnoictiology aspects of 38 species of fish. The fishermen identified the 38 species of fish with a total of 113 folk monomials or folk generic names, and 38 specific binomials. Using fish pictures shown during the interviews, they also formed 11 different groups, called ethnofamilies, which are classified as relatives or cousins. The results show that fishermen have a detailed knowledge on nomenclature and classification of the species studied as well as on the ecology of fish, describing the habitat, diet, behavior and the utilities (consumption and / or sale) of these species. In several aspects, the local ecological knowledge is similar to scientific knowledge about ecology and classification of the species. However, differences between these two forms of knowledge are noticed in the criteria used in folk taxonomy (behavior, for instance). The study of local ecological knowledge is an important source of information about fish ecology. It can be investigated through biological research, in order to contribute to a more efficient management of fishing programs in Brazil

Fishers' knowledge about fish trophic interactions in the southeastern Brazilian coast

BackgroundData derived from studies of fishers’ local ecological knowledge (LEK) can be invaluable to the proposal of new studies and more appropriate management strategies. This study analyzed the fisher’s LEK about trophic relationships of fishes in the southeastern Brazilian coast, comparing fishers’ LEK with scientific knowledge to provide new hypotheses.MethodsThe initial contacts with fishers were made through informal visits in their residences, to explain the research goals, meet fishers and their families, check the number of resident fishers and ask for fishers’ consent to participate in the research. After this initial contact, fishers were selected to be included in the interviews through the technique of snowball sampling. The fishers indicated by others who attended the criteria to be included in the research were interviewed by using a semi-structured standard questionnaire.ResultsThere were interviewed 26 artisanal fishers from three communities of the Ilhabela: Jabaquara, Fome and Serraria. The interviewed fishers showed a detailed knowledge about the trophic interactions of the studied coastal fishes, as fishers mentioned 17 food items for these fishes and six fish and three mammals as fish predators. The most mentioned food items were small fish, shrimps and crabs, while the most mentioned predators were large reef fishes. Fishers also mentioned some predators, such as sea otters, that have not been reported by the biological literature and are poorly known.ConclusionsThe LEK of the studied fishers showed a high degree of concordance with the scientific literature regarding fish diet. This study evidenced the value of fishers’ LEK to improve fisheries research and management, as well as the needy to increase the collaboration among managers, biologists and fishers.

Comb Grouper (Mycteroperca acutirostris) Information from Catches atCopacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Reef fishes are of great importance for artisanal fisheries in the coast of Brazil. For example, snappers and groupers are very important targets of small-scale fisheries; among the groupers, two are of notable importance: the dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) and the comb grouper (Mycteroperca acutirostris). The urgency of their management has been stressed in some studies. Compared to E. marginatus and to other groupers, there is a rather scarce literature and information on comb grouper. There is some information for M. bonaci. Comb grouper is an important target fish for artisanal fisheries in Brazil. Even though there are studies of comb groupers in Brazil, there is lack of information on the reproduction of comb groupers.

Folk taxonomy of fishes of artisanal fishermen of Ilhabela (São Paulo/Brazil)

Este artigo investiga a etnotaxonomia de quatro comunidades de pescadores artesanais de Ilhabela/SP. A etnotaxonomia mostra como esses pescadores, identificam, nomeam e classificam os recursos pesqueiros no ambiente explorado por eles. Quarenta e dois pescadores de quatro diferentes comunidades locais de Ilhabela foram entrevistados atraves de um questionario estruturado e fotografias de especies de peixes de ocorrencia para a regiao sudeste do Brasil. Os entrevistados identificaram as 24 especies listadas atraves de 50 nomes genericos e 27 nomes especificos binomiais, principalmente relacionados com aspectos morfologicos como forma, cor e tamanho. Estes peixes foram classificados em oito grupos de acordo com criterios locais relacionados com a morfologia, ecologia e tecnicas de pesca associados a captura de tais especies. O aspecto morfologico foi identificado como o fator mais utilizado pelos entrevistados para nomear e classificar as especies de peixes, seguidos por criterios relacionados a ecologia das especies tais como, dieta, comportamento e habitat. A comparacao dos criterios locais utilizados para os grupos foi semelhante aos criterios cientificos de taxonomia, mostrando um detalhado conhecimento ecologico local deste grupo de pescadores.