Rethinking use and trade of pelagic sharks from Brazil

Abstract

Brazil currently ranks as the 11th producer and 1st importer of shark meat around the world. Data available from the FAO software FishStatJ along with data from regional sources, such as governmental bulletins, scientific papers, gray literature and internet were revisited to identify the main issues surrounding pelagic shark fisheries, trade and consumption in the largest country in South America. Among the main findings, it was noted that Brazil has not properly collected fishery statistics since 2007, that many species of threatened sharks are freely landed and traded even though it is prohibited by local legislation and/or international recommendations (regional fisheries management organizations). The blue shark (Prionace glauca) is the most frequently recorded shark in the official bulletins and is currently a locally targeted species. Additionally, the significant imports of this species from 23 other countries that also provide fins for Asia has drawn attention in recent decades. Regarding consumption, shark is considered to be low-value seafood compared to more common fish, such as groupers and snappers, and most Brazilians actually do not know that they are eating sharks. At present, the proportion of threatened elasmobranchs (in which sharks are included) in Brazil (33%, of 145 species) exceeds the global rate identified for the group (25%), and, until the present moment, no measure related to the management of species has been implemented. As advice, Brazil urgently needs to restructure its fishery information collection systems, management strategies and to tighten sanitary and labeling regulations for the marketing of fish.

Age and growth of three endemic threatened guitarfishes Pseudobatos horkelii, P. percellens and Zapteryx brevirostris in the western South Atlantic Ocean

“…In conclusion, two of the assessed species of guitarfishes ( P. horkelii and Z. brevirostris ) have their fishing prohibited under normative instruction N°445 (Brazil, ), however, illegal catches are still observed. Considering that fisheries management remains nearly non‐existent and fishing monitoring has not been carried out in Brazil for more than a decade (Barreto et al ., ), these illegal catches and incidental by‐catch are extremely concerning. As 36% of guitarfish species are in threatened categories (2% Critically Endangered, 5% Endangered and 29% Vulnerable) worldwide because of their coastal habits targeted by intensive fisheries, endemism, medium‐large size and high economic value (Moore, ), it is necessary to draw attention to the importance of the growth parameters estimated in the present study as a way of assessing their vulnerability to fishing pressure.…”

“…In conclusion, two of the assessed species of guitarfishes (P. horkelii and Z. brevirostris) have their fishing prohibited under normative instruction N 445 (Brazil, 2014), however, illegal catches are still observed. Considering that fisheries management remains nearly non-existent and fishing monitoring has not been carried out in Brazil for more than a decade (Barreto et al, 2017), these illegal catches and incidental by-catch are extremely concerning. As 36% of guitarfish species are in threatened categories (2% Critically Endangered, 5%…”

Impacts of fisheries on elasmobranch reproduction: high rates of abortion and subsequent maternal mortality in the shortnose guitarfish

“…Globally, batoids are continuously prevailing in fisheries that capture elasmobranchs, constituting more than half of the taxonomically differentiated landings reported in the last four decades (Dulvy et al, 2014;Bornatowski, Braga & Barreto, 2018). Thus, improvements in species-specific bycatch statistics are necessary to allow better monitoring of populations and effective management strategies (Stevens et al, 2000;Oliver et al, 2015;Barreto et al, 2017;Bornatowski et al, 2018).…”

“…Due to population declines reported in Argentina, heavy fishing pressure in the center of its abundance in Brazil, and low fecundity, Z. brevirostris has been listed as 'Vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species but may be listed as endangered in the near future, as heavy fishing pressure continues or even increases (IUCN, 2017). Despite the threatened status, there is no domestic nor international legislation currently in force to manage the species (see Barreto et al, 2017). In this context, this research addresses the effects of commercial capture and transportation in pregnant Z. brevirostris.…”

Ichthyofauna of the inner shelf of Paraná, Brazil: checklist, geographic distribution, economic importance and conservation status

“…The lack of risk assessment for 18% of the species catalogued in this study under global lists can be attributed to the lack of studies on basic biology, habitat requirement, abundance, and distribution (Lamas et al 2016), as well as lacking fishery statistics (discontinued in 2012) (Dario et al 2015;Barreto et al 2017). Therefore, is imperative that fishery monitoring programs be reinstated in Brazil to allow for science-based management (Dario et al 2015).…”