ABSTRACT. On the southern Brazilian coast, the penaeid pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus paulensis (Pérez-Farfante, 1967) is intensively captured by both artisanal and industrial fisheries. In the Ibiraquera Lagoon, artisanal fishing of juvenile stocks has declined sharply over the last 15 years. The traditional management methods used by fishermen are no longer sustainable due to conflicts with the demands of tourism and weak environmental and public agencies. The dynamics of the timing of the artificial opening and natural reformation of a sandbar across the mouth of the lagoon are regarded as a central socio-ecological problem. We evaluated the abundance and biomass variation of F. paulensis throughout the year and along a spatial gradient measured from the sandbar into the lagoon. We also explored the influence of opening the sandbar on the shrimp population. Samples were collected monthly from February 2004 to February 2005, using a 27 mm mesh cast net, in four different areas, with three sites being sampled per area. Small numbers of large shrimps were captured in the upper area, while greater biomass and abundance of small shrimps were observed near the sandbar, suggesting the role of the inner area as a refuge for growing. The highest records for biomass and abundance were recorded during warm months, regardless if the lagoon was open or closed by the sandbar. The Ibiraquera Lagoon could be more productive for fishermen if the sandbar opening was coincident to the period of natural post-larvae influx. Furthermore, coastal stocks could be improved by opening the sandbar again during summer in conjunction with fishing quotas.
KEYWORDS.Farfantepenaeus paulensis, coastal lagoon, artisanal fishery, Brazil.
RESUMO. Variação espaço-temporal do camarão rosaFarfantepenaeus paulensis (Crustacea, Decapoda, Penaeidae) associado à abertura sazonal da barra de conexão com o mar em uma lagoa subtropical. O camarão rosa Farfantepenaeus paulensis (Pérez-Farfante, 1967) é intensivamente capturado, tanto pela frota pesqueira industrial quanto artesanal na costa sul brasileira. Na Lagoa de Ibiraquera (SC), a captura artesanal de camarões tem diminuído gradativamente nos últimos 15 anos. Os métodos de gestão tradicionais utilizados pelos pescadores não são mais eficientes devido aos conflitos com o turismo e a gestão pública e ambiental. A dinâmica de abertura artificial e reestruturação natural do banco de areia no canal de contato da lagoa com o mar é considerada um problema socio-ecológico central no local. Neste estudo foi avaliada a variação na biomassa e abundância do F. paulensis ao longo do ano e em um gradiente espacial a partir do canal da barra e até o interior da lagoa. Foram realizadas coletas mensais de fevereiro de 2004 a fevereiro de 2005 com tarrafa de 27 mm de malha nas quatro lagoas que compõe a Lagoa de Ibiraquera, em três pontos em cada lagoa. Um número pequeno de grandes camarões foi significativamente (p < 0,05) capturado na área mais interna da lagoa, enquanto que maior biomassa e abundância de pequenos cam...