Threatened fish and fishers along the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Coast

Abstract

Small-scale fisheries of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Coast (BAFC) depend on fish resources for food and income. Thus, if the catch diminishes or if fish species that are a target for fishers are overexploited or impacted, this could affect fishers' livelihoods. The exclusion of threatened fish species from the catch is believed to be a threat to small-scale fisheries, which is likely to be the case along the BAFC. Many fish species are currently listed as threatened or vulnerable, whereas there is not enough biological information available to determine the status of the majority of the other species. Failure to protect the BAFC biodiversity might negatively impact fishers' income and the regional economy of local small-scale fisheries. We collected data from 1986 to 2009 through 347 interviews and 24-h food recall surveys at seven southeastern coastal sites of the Atlantic Forest. We show that important species of consumed fish are currently threatened: of the 65 species mentioned by fishers as the most consumed fishes, 33% are decreasing and 54% have an unknown status. Thus, biological and ecological data for BAFC marine species are urgently needed, along with co-management, to promote fish conservation.

Fishers and groupers (Epinephelus marginatus and E. morio) in the coast of Brazil: integrating information for conservation

“…The importance of the dusky grouper in terms of the food preferences and food security for the small-scale fishers of the Atlantic Forest coast has also been reported. For instance, the dusky grouper was mentioned by the fishers as a fish that is recommended for consumption during illnesses [56]; in addition, the dusky grouper is a preferred food item of the local population [38, 69]. Finally, considering the importance of dusky grouper in the market, another study [70], compared the color and texture of fresh and frozen dusky group filets.…”

“…Finally, for data-poor fisheries, such as small-scale Brazilian fisheries, it is especially important to consider LEK during the acquisition of additional information on a species. In fact, among the 65 species along the coast of Brazil that were identified by fishers as being the ‘most consumed’, 54% have an unknown status [69]. Based on data from Latin American fisheries, FAO (FAO Technical Paper [92]) has emphasized the importance of fishers’ knowledge in the ecosystem-based approach to fisheries, in special in developing countries where data-poor fisheries are common.…”

Integrating science and citizen science: the dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) sustainable fishery of Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…This is especially important where there is nonexistent information, or a few sources of information, on fish, such as on the coast of Brazil [18]: there are certain species for which the only source of knowledge is LEK, such as Rhinobatos percellens, Sphoeroides dorsalis , and Dasyatis guttata . It is important to note that information is lacking for important target species and consumed species from both the coastal and continental waters of Brazil [9,10]. Another area in which the fishers can help is the monitoring of contaminants: as the study by Silvano and Begossi [44] shows, observations of bioaccumulation, such as the mercury content in fish muscle, can be made by fishers and can be very valuable.…”

“…These results are very important, especially considering that dusky grouper, Epinephelus marginatus , is a flagship species for conservation that reaches large sizes and lives up to 60 years, with many MPAs (marine protected areas) established in Mediterranean waters [61]. It is a very important food source for coastal communities that have livelihoods dependent on fishing [9,18], and it is an ecological and cultural keystone species [10].…”

“…Tropical countries, in particular, lack the infrastructure for data collection, and many have high biodiversity with several species for which there is no knowledge at all. In Brazil, for example, among the 65 marine species most often consumed by marine small-scale fisheries, 33% are decreasing, and 54% have an unknown status [9]. In the freshwater fisheries of the Amazonian rivers, among the 90 fish species mentioned by fishers as being consumed, 78% have an unknown biological or ecological status [10].…”