Fishers' knowledge identifies environmental changes and fish abundance trends in impounded tropical rivers

Hallwass, Gustavo; Lopes, Priscila F. M.; Juras, Anastácio Afonso; Silvano, Renato Azevedo Matias

doi:10.1890/12-0429.1

Cited by 113 publications

(117 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…In Canada, cod fishers identified aspects of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) movements and population structure (Murray et al 2008). In the Brazilian Amazon, local fishermen identified changes in the relative abundance of several fish species after the construction of a local dam, consistent with subsequent scientific surveys (Hallwass et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 76%

Indigenous knowledge as data for modern fishery management: a case study of Dungeness crab in Pacific Canada

Ban

Eckert

McGreer³

et al. 2017

Ecosyst Health Sustain

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Introduction: Fisheries management is often data-limited, and conducted at spatial scales that are too large to address the needs of Indigenous peoples, whose cultures depend upon the local availability of marine resources. Outcomes: We combined Indigenous ecological knowledge with simulation modelling to inform modern fishery management. Semi-structured interviews with Indigenous fishers in coastal British Columbia, Canada, uncovered severe declines in the abundance and catches of Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) since the 1990s. We modelled the current probability of "successful" crab harvesting trips-as defined by expectations from past catches by Indigenous fishers-using fishery-independent data from nine sites. These probabilities were very low (<20%) for all sites except one. Discussion: Our study highlights that local depletions, which Indigenous fishers attribute to commercial and recreational fisheries, have been widespread and undetected by federal managers who manage Dungeness crab at regional scales without fishery-independent data. Further, local depletions impacted the ability of Indigenous fishers to access traditional foods. Conclusion: Integrating Indigenous knowledge with scientific research is crucial to inform locally-relevant fisheries management and conservation.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 76%

Indigenous knowledge as data for modern fishery management: a case study of Dungeness crab in Pacific Canada

Ban

Eckert

McGreer³

et al. 2017

Ecosyst Health Sustain

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“…The potential impact of large-scale development projects or habitat change, such as deforestation and dams in rivers, on availability of wild foods in the Amazon Basin, also needs further consideration. For example, recent studies emphasize the impact of dams on fish and bushmeat species in the Amazon (Hallwass et al 2013;Benchimol and Peres 2015). These major changes are in course in most of the .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

From fish and bushmeat to chicken nuggets: the nutrition transition in a continuum from rural to urban settings in the Tri frontier Amazon region

Van Vliet,

Quiceno-Mesa,

Cruz-Antia

et al. 2015

Ethnobio Conserv

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The current contribution of wild animal proteins has been poorly quantified, particularly in the rapidly growing urban centers of tropical forests. Lack of such evidence impairs food security strategies to include the diversity of food supply inherent to traditional food systems. In this study we focus on wild sources of animal protein: wild fish and bushmeat, which have traditionally been important in people's diets in the Amazon. We compare the consumption of wild and non-wild (domestic, processed) sources of animal proteins in a rural to urban gradient in the Colombian Amazon. In rural areas, most people are indigenous from the Ticuna ethnical group, while in urban areas, the population is a result of a mixture of different indigenous groups, mestizos and colonos. Our results show that, despite its geographical position, the region is increasingly dependent on domestic and industrialized sources of animal protein. The frequency of wild fish and bushmeat consumption decreases from rural to urban areas to the advantage of domestic and processed meat/fish. Patterns of animal protein consumption for indigenous children indicate that indigenous families adopt non-indigenous consumption patterns when they move to town. Bushmeat consumption in urban areas is more frequent in wealthier families and could be considered as a luxury product. In urban areas, chicken is the protein of the poor and beef replaces chicken for the families that can afford it. In rural settings, chicken replaces wild sources of animal protein as people increase their income and move away from forest/ agriculture dependent livelihoods. Despite, the low importance of bushmeat and wild fish in urban areas measured in terms of consumption frequencies, we show that these foods continue to play an important role in terms of dietary diversity, which is fundamental to eradicate energy and micronutrient deficiencies. The increased consumption of industrial chicken in rural communities poses important food security issues because it provides less nutritional balance than wild foods and access to this protein is dependent on the availability of cash in rural communities. While the harvest of wild proteins poses a sustainability problem, industrial foods also carry a heavy ecological footprint. In conclusion our results call for a better attention to the changes observed in diets in the Amazon, given their potential food security and ecological consequences.

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“…Relying on basic principles but also adding new knowledge demonstrates adaptability in the face of climate change (e.g., Hallwass et al, 2013;Pearce et al, 2015). Much has been made of using traditional and scientific knowledge together to develop a better understanding of the changing environment and the impacts that changes have and will continue to have on humans (e.g., Gearheard et al, 2013;Ambrose et al, 2014;Baztan et al, 2017).…”

Section: Continuity In Knowledge Principlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the Effects of Climate Change on Indigenous Marine Mammal Hunting in Northern and Western Alaska Using Traditional Knowledge

Huntington¹,

Quakenbush

Nelson

2017

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Iñupiaq, Yup'ik, and Cup'ik hunters in 14 Alaska Native communities described a rapidly changing marine environment in qualitative traditional knowledge interviews conducted over the course of a decade with 110 individuals. Based on their observations, sea ice conditions are the most notable change, with later freeze-up, thinner and less reliable ice, and earlier and more rapid break-up. Marine mammal populations in northern and western Alaska have been affected by changes in the physical environment, with alterations to migratory timing and routes, distribution, abundance, health, and behavior. Despite these changes, marine mammal populations in the region remain generally healthy and abundant. For hunters, access is the biggest challenge posed by changing conditions. Sea ice is less safe for travel, particularly for more southerly communities, making hunting more dangerous or impossible. Rapid break-up has reduced the time available for hunting amid broken ice in spring, formerly a dependable and preferred season. Social change also affects the ways in which hunting patterns change. Increased industrial development, for example, can also alter marine mammal distribution and reduce hunting opportunity. Reduced use of animal skins for clothing and other purposes has reduced demand. More powerful and reliable engines make day trips easier, reducing the time spent camping. An essential component of adjustment and adaptation to changing conditions is the retention of traditional values and the acquisition of new information to supplement traditional knowledge. Our findings are consistent with, and add detail to, what is known from previous traditional knowledge and scientific studies. The ways in which hunters gather new information and incorporate it into their existing understanding of the marine environment deserves further attention, both as a means of monitoring change and as a key aspect of adaptation. While the changes to date have been largely manageable, future prospects are unclear, as the effects of climate change are expected to continue in the region, and ecological change may accelerate. Social and regulatory change will continue to play a role in fostering or constraining the ability of hunters to adapt to the effects of climate change.

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Fishers' knowledge identifies environmental changes and fish abundance trends in impounded tropical rivers

Cited by 113 publications

References 72 publications

Indigenous knowledge as data for modern fishery management: a case study of Dungeness crab in Pacific Canada

Indigenous knowledge as data for modern fishery management: a case study of Dungeness crab in Pacific Canada

From fish and bushmeat to chicken nuggets: the nutrition transition in a continuum from rural to urban settings in the Tri frontier Amazon region

Evaluating the Effects of Climate Change on Indigenous Marine Mammal Hunting in Northern and Western Alaska Using Traditional Knowledge

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