Effects of fisheries management on fish communities in the floodplain lakes of a Brazilian Amazonian Reserve

Abstract

We compared fish abundance, diversity and species composition between lakes open (fished) and closed (no-take) to fishing activities in Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve in the Central Brazilian Amazon, in order to investigate potential influences of the common-based management. We sampled 1483 fishes from 70 species through gillnet fishing during the low-water season, in seven fished and seven no-take lakes. Contrary to expected, the mean values for abundance, size, diversity and species-richness of fish did not differ between fished and no-take lakes. There was no difference between fished and no-take lakes considering only the abundance of the 14 fish species more intensely targeted by fishermen. However, the abundance of an important commercial fish, the tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) was higher in no-take lakes. Such data from a rapid assessment may be useful to monitor this and other fishery co-management schemes.

Food consumption as an indicator of the conservation of natural resources in riverine communities of the Brazilian Amazon

“…Almeida et al (2006) recorded higher fishery productivity in lakes with fishing agreements than in those with no regulations. Furthermore, the management of tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) and pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) stocks in lakes of the Brazilian Mamirauá Sustainable Reserve, led to an increase in their populations (Viana et al 2004, 2007, Silvano et al 2009). This type of reserve permits the exploitation of natural resources by local populations, based on the establishment of an integrated management plan involving local communities and government agencies.…”

Foraging behaviour of Brazilian riverine and coastal fishers: How much is explained by the optimal foraging theory?

“…Because of its successful local management process, the Mamirauá Reserve was recommended for the international fi shing certifi cation awarded to products that come from well-managed and sustainable fi sheries by the Marine Stewardship Council (Wilson et al 2001). This is true of Mamirauá as a whole, and Jarauá specifi cally, where formal co-management has been successfully carried out in the last 20 years, resulting in a signifi cant increase in some fi sh populations (e.g., pirarucu, tambaqui), as well as in socioeconomic improvements to fi shers (higher income), despite an increase in the number of fi shers entering the fi shery (Castello et al 2009;Silvano et al 2009 (Viana et al 2004). Tambaqui and pirarucu are also important commercial fi shes in Ebenezer, but the different geographic and social features here result in a greater dependence on migratory fi shes, such as many catfi sh species (MacCord et al 2007).…”

“…Water characteristics and fi sh assemblages may experience less seasonal change than lakes, which are not linked to the river during the low water season. More details about aquatic habitats and fi shing communities of Mamirauá can be found in other surveys (Crampton 1999;Henderson & Robertson 1999;Silvano et al 2009). …”

“…Jarauá (02 o 51'849 S, 64 o 55'750 W, Amazonas State) is a fi shing village located at the confl uence of the Japurá and Jarauá rivers, in the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve, home to 35 families in 1994 (Queiroz 1999), but this fi gure has probably changed signifi cantly in the last decade. The Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve has been under management since 1990 with special focus on two important commercial fi shes-tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum, Serrasalmidae) and pirarucu (Arapaima gigas, Osteoglossidae) (Queiroz & Crampton 1999;MacCord et al 2007;Castello et al 2009;Silvano et al 2009). Their comanagement programme involves rotation of fi shing pressure among lakes, monitoring (counting) of pirarucu by local fi shers and participation of fi shers and other community members in decision-making processes, including the enforcement of the rules.…”

Conservation of freshwater biodiversity in key areas of the Colombian Amazon

“…A major risk to fish stocks is habitat alteration or destruction through hydrological damage and deforestation (Junk et al 2007 , Silvano et al 2009, Castello et al 2011, A key element of this success is the degree of cooperation and social organization of the communities involved. However, the support and accompaniment of the Environmental authority (IBAMA), has been, regardless of many flaws, stronger and more permanent than the one provided by the Fishing Authority in the study area.…”