This paper provides a case study of a threatened seahorse species, Hippocampus reidi, highlighting the importance of using ecological information to assist conservation and management initiatives. Underwater visual sighting data (50 x 2m transect) gathered along the NE, SE and S portions of the Brazilian coast revealed an unequal distribution across localities, perhaps related to harvesting pressure, and a mean density of 0.026 ind.m -2 . Our findings suggest some restricted spatial use by H. reidi, which was consistent with its estimated home range, and with re-sighting of specimens. Reproduction was recorded year-round, however productive peaks may exist. Components of habitat structure mostly used as anchoring points were mangrove plants, macroalgae, cnidarians, seagrass, sponges, and bryozoans. Conservation recommendations include: further characterization and mapping of habitats; assessment of availability and condition of microhabitats in selected areas, and studies on dispersal routes during initial life stages.Neste artigo apresenta-se um estudo de caso de uma espécie ameaçada de cavalo-marinho, Hippocampus reidi, enfatizando a importância de utilizar informações ecológicas nas ações de conservação e manejo. Dados de censo visual (transectos de 50 x 2m) obtidos nas porções NE, SE e S da costa brasileira revelaram uma distribuição heterogênea entre as localidades, talvez relacionada à pressão de coleta, e uma densidade média de 0.026 ind.m -2. Os resultados sugerem limitação no uso do espaço por H. reidi (consistente com a área vital estimada e com a re-avistagem de exemplares) e que a reprodução ocorre o ano inteiro, embora com possíveis picos. Os componentes da estrutura do habitat mais freqüentemente utilizados como pontos de ancoragem pelos cavalos-marinhos foram vegetação de mangue, macroalgas, cnidários, capim marinho e briozoários. Recomendações conservacionistas incluem caracterização adicional e mapeamento de habitats; avaliação da disponibilidade e condição dos microhabitats em áreas selecionadas, e estudos sobre rotas de dispersão durante as fases iniciais de vida.

Seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) are globally threatened by overexploitation and habitat destruction; they are also regarded as susceptible to heavy exploitation due to some of their life-history traits. From an economic perspective, they are fishes with high monetary value and marketability. Seahorses are now listed in Appendix II of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), to ensure that the international trade is not detrimental to the survival of wild populations; the effectiveness evaluation of these international controls needs comparable monitoring data, including evaluation of spatial and temporal trends. This study assesses the seahorse trade in Brazil, aiming to detect trends in catch levels, volumes and prices. Our main findings were: the dried trade was unregulated, without formal records, and primarily domestic, although records of unreported exports existed; it was primarily sustained by incidental captures in trawl nets. The live seahorse trade was mainly destined for exports, and regulated through national quotas. Between 2002 and 2009, mean prices for dried seahorses ranged from US$1.06 ± 0.46 (level 1 traders) to US$2.78 ± 0.68 (end-sellers) each, while mean prices for each live seahorse traded on the domestic market (

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A B S T R A C TArtisanal fisheries in the coastal zone of Itaipu-RJ play an important role in the local market, but little is known about production and productivity of the fisheries. From April 2001 to March 2003, we monitored a total of 618 landings from the beach-seine (99), the gill nets ("corvineira" -331, "linguadeira" -40 and "rede alta" -25), the hook and line (98), the squid jigging (17), and the spear fishing and trap fisheries (five and three, respectively). The total monitored production was 21866 kg and the catch per unit effort (CPUE) 35.4 kg.trip -1 . Considering the number of effective fishing days and the average daily production per fishing gear, the annual production was estimated at 136687 kg (0.2% of the state's production in 2004). Predominant resources were: Micropogonias furnieri, Trichiurus lepturus, squids (Loligo spp.), clupeiform fishes (Sardinella brasiliensis, Cetengraulis edentulus, Pellona harrowerii and Harengula clupeola), Eucinostomus spp., Cynoscion spp., Menticirrhus spp., Caranx crysos and Selene setapinnis. The combined analysis using hierarchical and non-hierarchical classification methods, separated four fishing gears and five species groups, based on their similarity patterns, identifying gears that most effectively capture the different fish groups. The beach-seine was less selective and most productive fishery in the summer. The "corvineira" was the second most productive fishery with higher yields in the summer and fall. Catches of "linguadeira" included rays and Paralychthys spp., wherereas the "rede alta" caught primarily M. furnieri, Mugil spp. and sharks. R E S U M OAs pescarias artesanais na zona costeira de Itaipu-RJ desempenham um papel importante no mercado local, mas pouco se conhece sobre a produção e a produtividade da pesca. De abril-2001 a março-2003, nós monitoramos um total de 618 desembarques das pescarias de arrastos-de-praia (99), de redes de emalhe (corvineira -331, linguadeira -40 e rede alta -25), de linha-e-anzol (98), de zangareio (17), e de arpão e puçá (cinco e três respectivamente). A produção monitorada total foi de 21866 kg e a captura por unidade de esforço (CPUE) de 35,4 kg.viagem -1 . Considerando o número de dias efetivos de pesca e a produção média diária por arte de pesca, a produção anual foi estimada em 136687 kg (0.2% da produção do estado em 2004). Os recursos predominantes foram: Micropogonias furnieri, Trichiurus lepturus, lulas (Loligo spp.), peixes clupeiformes (Sardinella brasiliensis, Cetengraulis edentulus, Pellona harrowerii e Harengula clupeola), Eucinostomus spp., Cynoscion spp., Menticirrhus spp., Caranx crysos e Selene setapinnis. A análise combinada utilizando métodos de classificação hierárquica e não-hierárquica separou quatro grupos de artes de pesca e cinco de espécies, baseada nos seus padrões de similaridade, identificando as artes de pesca que melhor capturam os diferentes grupos de recursos pesqueiros. O arrasto-de-praia foi a arte de pesca menos seletiva e mais produtiva no verão. A corvineira foi a segunda p...

de Souza Moraes, L. E., Marcolino Gherardi, D. F., Katsuragawa, M., and Tavares Paes, E. 2012. Brazilian sardine (Sardinella brasiliensis Steindachner, 1879) spawning and nursery habitats: spatial-scale partitioning and multiscale relationships with thermohaline descriptors. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 69: 939–952. We provide a detailed account of the spatial structure of the Brazilian sardine (Sardinella brasiliensis) spawning and nursery habitats, using ichthyoplankton data from nine surveys (1976–1993) covering the Southeastern Brazilian Bight (SBB). The spatial variability of sardine eggs and larvae was partitioned into predefined spatial-scale classes (broad scale, 200–500 km; medium scale, 50–100 km; and local scale, <50 km). The relationship between density distributions at both developmental stages and environmental descriptors (temperature and salinity) was also explored within these spatial scales. Spatial distributions of sardine eggs were mostly structured on medium and local scales, while larvae were characterized by broad- and medium-scale distributions. Broad- and medium-scale surface temperatures were positively correlated with sardine densities, for both developmental stages. Correlations with salinity were predominantly negative and concentrated on a medium scale. Broad-scale structuring might be explained by mesoscale processes, such as pulsing upwelling events and Brazil Current meandering at the northern portion of the SBB, while medium-scale relationships may be associated with local estuarine outflows. The results indicate that processes favouring vertical stability might regulate the spatial extensions of suitable spawning and nursery habitats for the Brazilian sardine.

A Iniciativa BIG 2050 foi proposta pela FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization da UNESCO) como um mecanismo para a gestão de recursos dos ecossistemas costeiros da Baía da Ilha Grande (BIG). Integram a proposta a Faculdade de Oceanografia (UERJ) e o Instituto Estadual do Ambiente (INEA) para juntos proporem estratégias de gestão integrada e de monitoramento dos serviços ecossistêmicos da BIG. A Iniciativa gera informação, identifica sensibilidades e incentiva o engajamento social para promover a conservação da Baía da Ilha Grande.