Spatial patterns of fishing fleets on the Southeastern Brazillian Bight

Abstract

ABSTRACT. This study aimed to determine the different usage strategies of the marine environment by fishing fleets landing in São Paulo based on an analysis of the spatial distribution patterns indicated in 337,482 trips between 2010 and 2013. The sea region off the Brazilian coast between 23º00'S and 28º00'S (Southeastern Brazilian Bight) was divided into six depth strata. For each stratum, the number of trips, effective fishing days, catch and number of jobs were estimated. The stratum from 0 to 20 m depth had the highest frequency of trips and importance for the low-mobility fleets from which 33% of the total catch landed in the state was extracted. The higher mobility fleets were more represented starting at depths of 20 m. The stratum from 20-50 m had the largest catches, 52% of the total landings. The activity of the São Paulo fishing fleets, with low or high fishing power, was concentrated on the inner shelf. The region of the outer shelf and the continental shelf break are also frequently exploited by the higher mobility fleets, where the largest catches of demersal fish occur. The demersal and pelagic environments beyond the continental shelf break are rarely exploited and require the use of specific fishing gear. Keywords: spatial distribution, fishing fleet, fishing effort, socio-economics. Patrones espaciales de las flotas pesqueras en Southeastern Brazilian BightRESUMEN. El objetivo de este estudio es determinar las diferentes estrategias de uso de las áreas marinas por flotas pesqueras que llegan a São Paulo, basándose en un análisis de los patrones de distribución espacial de la actividad de 337.482 viajes realizados entre 2010 y 2013. La región de la costa brasileña entre 23 o 00'S y 28 o 00'S (Southeastern Brazilian Bight) fue dividida en seis estratos de profundidad. Para cada estrato se calculó la cantidad de viajes, días efectivos de pesca, captura y número de empleos, considerando a su vez tomando el arte o equipo de pesca y la municipalidad donde se desembarcaba la pesca. El estrato 0-20 m tuvo mayor frecuencia de viajes e importancia para aquellas flotas de movilidad baja, donde se extrae el 33% de la pesca que se desembarca en el Estado. A partir de 20 m de profundidad, las flotas de mayor movilidad estuvieron más representadas. En el estrato 20-50 m se obtuvo la mayor captura de peces (52%). La actividad de las diferentes flotas pesqueras de São Paulo, con alto o bajo poder de pesca, concentró sus operaciones en la plataforma continental interior. La región de la plataforma continental exterior y el borde continental también son frecuentemente explotados por flotas de alta movilidad, donde ocurre la mayor captura de peces demersales. Los ambientes demersales y pelágicos, que están más allá de la plataforma continental, rara vez son explotados y requieren el uso de artes y aparejos de pesca específicos. Palabras clave: distribución espacial, flota pesquera, esfuerzo de pesca, socio-economía.

Functionality and Effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas in Southeastern Brazilian Waters for Demersal Elasmobranchs

“…In addition, despite fishery activities being concentrated on the inner and middle shelf (Imoto et al, 2016), including inside the less restrictive protected areas (Carneiro et al, 2013), exploration of deeper zones has been increasing in the past decades (Pincinato and Gasalla, 2019). According to Imoto et al (2016), great amounts of demersal catches were obtained by industrial fleets in those regions, raising the threat over species that use the archipelago seasonally for feeding or for mating, while also using the surrounding fished area. Currently, fishing of threaten elasmobranchs is forbidden or only allowed for subsistence in Brazilian waters (i.e., species classified as VU) (MMA, 2014).…”

“…Obtaining knowledge on the ecology of these species is crucial since fishing pressure and habitat degradation on coastal and inner shelf regions have disturbed the ichthyofauna, resulting in population depletion, diversity loss, and ecosystem unbalancing (Imoto et al, 2016;Dias et al, 2017;Prado et al, 2019;Rolim et al, 2019;Trevizani et al, 2019). Thus, the present study aimed to assess the functionality and effectiveness of the two MPAs to assist the decision making process that involves the conservation of demersal elasmobranchs.…”

Parasitological datas of helminthes parasites of Macrodon atricauda (Günther, 1880)

“…Macrodon atricauda is an important fishing resource in the southern and southeastern Brazilian regions, and is captured with bottom trawls, pair trawls, and gillnet (Fsicher et al 2011;Cardoso and Haimovici, 2014;Imoto et al 2016).…”