Artisanal fishers' local ecological knowledge and attitudes toward conservation about the shrimp (Xiphopenaeus kroyeri) on the Brazilian central coast.

Joelson Musiello-Fernandes,Heitor O Braga,Mauricio Hostim-Silva,Camilah A Zappes

doi:10.1590/0001-3765202120191047

Joelson Musiello-Fernandes, Heitor O Braga + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202120191047

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Abstract

In order to contribute to the management of small-scale trawling fishing of the Xiphopenaeus kroyeri shrimp, the aim of this study was to evaluate the local ecological knowledge (LEK) and the conservationist attitudes of artisanal fishers in four fishing communities along the central Brazilian coast. This study was based on 80 ethnographic interviews conducted in two communities are in the state of Bahia (Santa Cruz Cabrália and Barra de Caravelas) and two communities in the state of Espírito Santo (Barra Nova and Anchieta). The fishers present knowledge compliance with literature, except in aspects reproductive of the shrimp and are willing to exchange knowledge with researchers. The mean attitude index of the fishers was 0.65. Education activities should focus on the reproductive biology of shrimp to include fishing communities in the drafting of legislation about closed season period, as this issue is directly related to possible divergences between fishers do not adhere to them. The results suggest that, dialogue and knowledge exchange is necessary among the stakeholders, including the fishers, scientists and managers, who are responsible for the elaboration of management measures.

Highlights

Small-scale fisheries involve approximately 50 million people worldwide, being responsible for a significant portion of the economy mainly in tropical coastal regions (Berkes et al 2001, FAO 2012, Watson 2017)
Between January and March 2016, data on the local ecological knowledge (LEK) of fishers and attitudes toward conservation of X. kroyeri shrimp were obtained through 80 ethnographic interviews from semi structured questionnaires with open and closed questions (Albuquerque et al 2014), as follows: Barra de Caravelas (n=36), Anchieta (n=18), Barra Nova (n=14), and Santa Cruz Cabrália (n=12)
The fisher involved in the X. kroyeri shrimp fishery in the studied regions present a social profile similar to that of small-scale fishers in Brazil, and they are characterized as middleaged male workers with a low level of education (Carvalho et al 2016, Awabdi et al 2018)

Summary

Introduction

Small-scale (or artisanal) fisheries involve approximately 50 million people worldwide, being responsible for a significant portion of the economy mainly in tropical coastal regions (Berkes et al 2001, FAO 2012, Watson 2017) In these regions, this fishing activity is socially important, as it is a vital source of subsistence, it involves food safety, and it is a way of life in fishing communities (Allison & Ellis 2001, Batista et al 2014). Artisanal fisher may or may not use boats for the practice of the activity These vessels are typically small, have little technological instrumentation, have a low range of use, and require little capital investment (Hawkins & Roberts 2004). The exploitation and success of fishing resources by artisanal fishers are not associated with the use of technological devices but rather with the empirical observations of abundance and the distribution of the resources (Pita et al 2010, Deepananda et al 2016)

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