Monitoring mangrove crab Ucides cordatus Linnaeus, 1763 (Crustacea: Ucididae) landing in the Parnaíba River Delta: fishing characteristics, social and economic aspects

Abstract

The century-old mangrove crab Ucides cordatus Linnaeus, 1763 harvesting is a traditional activity of Northeastern Brazilian coastal communities, who use it as food, source of income and cultural reference. The extractivism and marketing of this crustacean is essential for the socioeconomic development of the states of Maranhão, Piauí and Ceará. The aim of this study was to carry out the monitoring of harvesting and landing of the mangrove crab in Ilha Grande, PI. Interviews were conducted with crab gatherers and transporters to obtain information about harvesting, landed volume, market price and destination of commercialized crab. The main capture spots were located at the Maranhão part of the Parnaíba River Delta. Crab gatherers are active 5.07 times a week and spend an average of 6 hours in mangrove. The average number of crabs collected per gatherer/day was 77.0. The quantity landed in daytime period was 63,628 crabs/month, totalizing 714,543 crabs/ year. The average price traded was USD 0.19/crab. The production chain

Brazilian mangroves at risk

“…The PNLM received 151,786 tourists from all over the world in 2019 (ICMBIO 2020) to visit mainly sand dunes with freshwater lagoons, but also mangrove areas. In the DRP, crab extraction and commercial fishing are the main local economic activities, being the major location of crab harvest in Brazil (Legat et al 2006, Fogaça et al 2018.…”