Ethnobiology of snappers (Lutjanidae): target species and suggestions for management

Abstract

In this study, we sought to investigate the biology (diet and reproduction) and ethnobiology (fishers knowledge and fishing spots used to catch snappers) of five species of snappers (Lutjanidae), including Lutjanus analis, Lutjanus synagris, Lutjanus vivanus, Ocyurus chrysurus, and Romboplites saliens at five sites along the northeast (Riacho Doce, Maceió in Alagoas State, and Porto do Sauípe, Entre Rios at Bahia State) and the southeast (SE) Brazilian coast (Paraty and Rio de Janeiro cities at Rio de Janeiro State, and Bertioga, at São Paulo State.). We collected 288 snappers and interviewed 86 fishermen. The stomach contents of each fish were examined and macroscopic gonad analysis was performed. Snappers are very important for the fisheries of NE Brazil, and our results indicated that some populations, such as mutton snapper (L. analis) and lane snapper (L. synagris), are being caught when they are too young, at early juvenile stages. Local knowledge has been shown to be a powerful tool for determining appropriate policies regarding management of target species, and artisanal fishermen can be included in management processes. Other suggestions for managing the fisheries are discussed, including proposals that could provide motivation for artisanal fishermen to participate in programs to conserve resources, such as co-management approaches that utilize local knowledge, the establishment of fishing seasons, and compensation of fishermen, through 'payment for environmental services'. These suggestions may enhance the participation of local artisanal fishermen in moving to a more realistic and less top-down management approach of the fish population.

Fishers’ knowledge indicates short-term temporal changes in the amount and composition of catches in the southwestern Atlantic

“…The studied caiçara fishing communities are located along some of the last remnants of the threatened Atlantic Forest ecosystem in southern Brazil, which had caused conflicts between resident fishers and governmental authorities who establish conservation units that restrict traditional agriculture and fishing activities [3][4][5]. Recently enforced marine protected areas (MPAs) and intense large scale fishing in coastal areas have also raised conflicts with small-scale fishers in the southeastern Brazilian coast [11,12,44,45]. …”

ASPECTOS REPRODUTIVOS DO PEIXE Lutjanus synagris (PERCIFORMES, LUTJANIDAE) CAPTURADO NA COSTA NORDESTE DO BRASIL

“…Ao longo da costa tropical brasileira ocorrem 15 espécies de lutjanídeos (MENEZES, BUCKUP, FIGUEIREDO & MOURA, 2003), chamados de "vermelhos", "pargos" ou "ariacó" e são comumente explorados pelos pescadores artesanais (FRÉDOU, FERREIRA & LETOURNNEUR, 2006), por possuírem uma carne de qualidade, o que confere às espécies um alto valor econômico (Nelson, 1994;Begossi et al, 2011). E apesar dessa enorme diversidade e importância econômica, dados sobre a dinâmica populacional de várias espécies de Lutjanidae são escassos.…”

Compensation for environmental services from artisanal fisheries in SE Brazil: Policy and technical strategies

“…This juxtaposition could take the form of compensation for losses associated with resource restrictions with conservation goals (PES), while providing societal benefits through exclusive rights to resource access, in exchange for community management and monitoring of resource stocks (FAs). To encourage co-management of marine artisanal fisheries, Vinha et al (2010) proposed the use of payments for environmental services in the Arraial do Cabo Marine Extractive Reserve, Rio de Janeiro, as did Begossi et al (2011) for the management of snappers in Brazil. Such combinations of economic and command and control instruments with resource conservation premises have come to be described as a policy mix (Barton et al, 2010).…”