“Shark is the man!”: ethnoknowledge of Brazil’s South Bahia fishermen regarding shark behaviors

Abstract

BackgroundFishermen’s knowledge is a source of indispensable information in decision-making processes related to efforts to stimulate the management and conservation of fishing resources, especially in developing countries. This study analyzed the knowledge of fishermen from three municipal areas of Bahia in northeast Brazil regarding the behavior repertoire of sharks and the possible influence that these perceptions may have on the inclination to preserve these animals. This is a pioneering study on the ethnobiological aspects of elasmobranchs in Brazil.MethodsOpen, semi-structured interviews with shark fishing specialists were conducted between September 2011 and October 2012. The interviews addressed the fishermen’s profile, fishing techniques and knowledge about sharks, focusing on the behaviours exhibited by sharks. The data were analysed with quantitative approach and conducted with the use of descriptive statistical techniques.ResultsSixty-five fishermen were interviewed. They descend from the rafting subculture of Brazil’s northeast, which has historically been disregarded by public policies addressing the management and conservation of fishing resources. The fishing fleet involved in shark fishing includes rafts, fishing boats and lobster boats equipped with fishing lines, gillnets, longlines and “esperas”. The informers classified sharks’ behaviour repertoire into 19 ethological categories, related especially to feeding, reproduction, and social and migratory behaviours. Because they identify sharks as predators, the detailed recognition of the behaviours exhibited is crucial both for an efficient catch and to avoid accidents. Therefore, this knowledge is doubly adaptive as it contributes to safer, more lucrative fishing. A feeling of respect for sharks predominates, since informers recognize the ecological role of these animals in marine ecosystems, attributing them the status of leader (or “the man”) in the sea.ConclusionsThis work demonstrates the complexity and robustness of artisanal fishermen’s ichthyological knowledge of sharks. Therefore, we suggest that such knowledge should be considered to develop public policies for the control of the fishing activity, as well as to develop and consolidate the National Action Plan for the Conservation of Shark and Ray Species (PAN - Tubarões e Raias).

Reconhecimento etnoecológico sobre o tubarão-mangona Carcharias taurus sob a perspectiva de pescadores artesanais da grande Florianópolis-SC, Brasil

“…As capturas de tubarões giram em torno de 63 a 273 milhões de indivíduos por ano em uma escala global (Barbosa-Filho et al 2014). O potencial pesqueiro do Brasil vem tomando lugar de destaque, quando em uma curta janela de tempo os elasmobrânquios deixaram de ser capturados majoritariamente como fauna acompanhante (by-catch), passando a ser alvo de pesca, e crescendo em número nos desembarques (Lessa et al 2005).…”

O Conhecimento Ecológico Local Dos Pescadores Artesanais Sobre Os Elasmobrânquios Marinho-Costeiros Na Apa Do Delta Do Parnaíba, Nordeste Do Brasil

“…Os estoques de elasmobrânquios estão cada vez menores ao longo de todos os oceanos (Barbosa-Filho et al, 2014; e parte expressiva dos pescadores da APA do Delta do Parnaíba não acredita existir reversão para esse cenário negativo. Porém, para a maioria dos entrevistados, os períodos de defeso e áreas de proibição da pesca poderiam ser uma possível solução.…”

Use of Cetaceans as Bait in Southern Bahia, Brazil, by Expert Fishermen that Market Shark Fins: A Lucrative Trade and Two Threatened Zoological Groups

“…Presently, this practice retains its artisanal character. Besides hand lines, fishing is done using gillnets and longlines with bait caught by the fishers (Barbosa-Filho et al 2014). Cetacean blubber is often used as bait for longline fishing.…”

“…The group is also threatened along the Brazilian coast, a main global hotspot of elasmobranch diversity (Lucifora et al 2011), mainly due to the impact of artisanal and industrial fishing (Bornatowski et al 2014). In southern Bahia, fishing for elasmobranch species (Barbosa-Filho et al 2014;Giglio et al 2015) has existed for centuries and continues in different forms.…”

“…Although fishermen from southern Bahia often have refined ethnobiological knowledge about sharks (Barbosa-Filho et al 2014; Barbosa-Filho and Costa-Neto 2016), some of their environmental perceptions may continue to threaten these animals ( Barbosa-Filho et al 2014). For example, some local fishermen report that sharks moved away from the southern region of Bahia because non-selective fishing diminished their local food supply (Barbosa-Filho and Costa -Neto 2016).…”