trawling in two previously selected areas. The northern area is more exposed to wave activity and is influenced by a river, functioning as a small estuary. In contrast, the southern area is relatively sheltered from wave energy and influenced to a lesser degree by smaller rivers. The fishes' length was measured, and the sex and gonadal stage macroscopically identified. The abundance of this species was compared between areas and among months. The diet was identified and quantified. M. americanus occurred in equal proportions in the two study areas, being most abundant in April 2004, followed by December 2003 and January 2004. The population was dominated by small immature individuals. The few individuals in maturation or mature that were captured showed no seasonal pattern of distribution. This species had a varied diet, feeding on worms (nemerteans, sipunculans and echiurans), mollusks (bivalves and cephalopods), polychaetes, crustaceans and fish. The presence of intact nematodes in the intestine suggests that these are parasites. The results demonstrated that M. americanus has a homogeneous spatial and temporal distribution in Caraguatatuba Bay, being uniformly distributed between the south and north areas as well as across the months. This species can be considered a carnivorous predator, showing a preference for consuming benthic sandy-beach species such as glycerids and other polychaetes, crustaceans, and bivalve siphons. R E S U M OEste estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a distribuição espaço-temporal, biologia populacional e dieta de Menticirrhus americanus da baía de Caraguatatuba. Foram realizadas coletas mensais entre agosto de 2003 a outubro de 2004, utilizando redes de arrasto em duas áreas previamente selecionadas. A área norte é mais expostas à atividade de onda e é influenciada por um rio, constituindo um pequeno estuário. Por outro lado, a área sul é relativamente protegida da energia das ondas e sofre pouca influência dos rios. Os indivíduos coletados foram medidos e identificados macroscopicamente quanto ao sexo e o estádio gonadal. A abundância da espécie foi comparada entre as áreas e entre os meses de coleta. Para a dieta os itens alimentares encontrados foram identificados e quantificados. M. americanus apresentou proporções equivalentes nas duas áreas de estudo, sendo mais abundante em abril de 2004, seguido por dezembro de 2003 e janeiro de 2004. A população região é composta por indivíduos imaturos, e os poucos indivíduos maduros ou em maturação capturados não apresentaram padrão de distribuição ao longo do ano. A espécie mostrou uma dieta variada, alimentando-se de vermes (nemertideos, sipúnculos e equiúros), moluscos (bivalves e cefalópodes), poliquetas, crustáceos e peixes. A presença de nematóides intactos na porção do intestino sugere uma relação parasitária. Os resultados demonstraram que os indivíduos de Menticirrhus americanus estiveram uniformemente distribuídos nas áreas norte e sul e também ao longo do ano. A espécie pode ser considerada predadora e carnívora, mostrando preferê...

Small‐scale fisheries are frequently overlooked for research and management, and their social and environmental impacts are often overlooked as well, preventing the implementation of appropriate actions for their sustainability. Additionally, the dynamics of beach clam fisheries and their importance for local communities are not well understood. A study on the population biology of the clam Tivela mactroides in Caraguatatuba Bay, southeastern Brazil, revealed intense harvesting of this resource by both residents and tourists. To assess the extent and dynamics of clamming, the number of harvesters was recorded during the course of the day in vacation and nonvacation periods throughout 2003–2005 and 2007–2008; the number of other beach users, weather conditions, and tide height were also recorded. The overall amount of clams harvested was estimated based on censuses of clammers and interviews to calculate the amount of clams harvested per collecting event. The intensity and dynamics of the harvesting activity varied on all the temporal scales evaluated. The estimated amount of clams harvested per year decreased from the first (24.6 kg/year) to the second (8.8 kg/year) group of sampling years, presumably due to clam mass‐mortality events and smaller shell sizes in 2007–2008, although clam abundance increased enormously. Vacation periods (presence of tourists) influenced the number of harvesters and the daily dynamics of clamming activity, although this relationship was only evident during 2003–2004. The number of harvesters increased with the number of tourists, except in periods of very high tourist activity, when harvesting decreased. Clamming was more widespread during the day under high tourist activity but during nonvacation times was concentrated in morning low‐tide periods. Weather had a partial influence on clamming, with harvesters absent only during intense rain occasions. The understanding of the dynamics of this Tivela mactroides fishery highlights key points for planning and implementing management measures, which will involve continuous monitoring of stocks, harvesting, and food safety. Received February 4, 2014; accepted December 21, 2014

ABSTRACT

In Southeastern Brazil, there is good cultivation potential for the pearl oyster Pinctada imbricata, which is often found on mussel ropes or seed collectors across the north coast of Sao Paulo State. Despite this, very few studies have focused on the biology of this species in Brazil. This research aimed to partially address this lack of information by evaluating the optimal season and preferred depth range (surface, first and second metres of depth) for the settlement of juvenile P. imbricata on artificial collectors. Two replicate artificial collectors made from braided fishing nets and comprising of horizontally and vertically suspended lines were deployed at Cocanha Beach, Brazil, and left in situ for a period of 5 months. At the end of the deployment period, the density of juveniles was significantly greater on the surface than the first and second metres of depth. It was also found that the period from November to March was more favourable for the placement of collectors and settlement of juveniles. Furthermore the results of the study confirm that is feasible to capture juvenile P. imbricata using artificial collectors to provide a continuous supply of commercial cultures.

O incentivo da piscicultura em comunidades tradicionais de difícil acesso pode ser uma alternativaviável para o desenvolvimento territorial sustentável, contribuindo com a segurança alimentar e a geração de renda dentro dessas localidades. O cultivo de tilápias Oreochromis niloticus em tanques escavados é uma atividade largamente difundida no Brasil, apresenta uma cadeia produtiva bem consolidada podendo ser viabilizada com um baixo grau tecnológico. Tendo em vista a demanda de representantes da Terra Indígena Bracuí pela inserção da piscicultura e a atuação do serviço de Assitência Técnica e Extensão Rural junto as comunidades tradicionais do Território Rural da Baía da Ilha Grande, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o desempenho zootécnico do cultivo de tilápias em tanques escavados realizado na comunidade. Ao longo de seis meses, foram monitorados dois tanques escavados de produção semi-intensiva (T1 e T2) povoados com alevinos apresentando peso médio inicial de 1,28 gramas. Após 183 dias de acompanhamento os exemplares cultivados atingiram peso médio de 258,2 ±129,0 gramas e 195,6 ±58,7 gramas nos tanques T1 e T2. De um modo geral, os peixes monitorados neste estudo apresentaram um crescimento inferior quando comparado a outras áreas de produção no Brasil. Fatores como a dificuldade de adequação ao protocolo de rotinas de manejo produtivo, a impossibilidade de fertilização prévia dos tanques, o início do cultivo realizado no inverno e a utilização de ração com baixo teor de proteínas durante a fase inicial de cultivo provavelmente influenciaram no lento crescimento dos peixes. A continuidade das ações de ATER se faz necessária para o aprimoramento do cultivo de tilápias pelos indígenas Guarani na Terra Indígena Bracuí.