Abstract
In this study, we sought to investigate the biology (diet and reproduction) and ethnobiology (fishers knowledge and fishing spots used to catch snappers) of five species of snappers (Lutjanidae), including Lutjanus analis, Lutjanus synagris, Lutjanus vivanus, Ocyurus chrysurus, and Romboplites saliens at five sites along the northeast (Riacho Doce, Maceió in Alagoas State, and Porto do Sauípe, Entre Rios at Bahia State) and the southeast (SE) Brazilian coast (Paraty and Rio de Janeiro cities at Rio de Janeiro State, and Bertioga, at São Paulo State.).We collected 288 snappers and interviewed 86 fishermen. The stomach contents of each fish were examined and macroscopic gonad analysis was performed. Snappers are very important for the fisheries of NE Brazil, and our results indicated that some populations, such as mutton snapper (L. analis) and lane snapper (L. synagris), are being caught when they are too young, at early juvenile stages.Local knowledge has been shown to be a powerful tool for determining appropriate policies regarding management of target species, and artisanal fishermen can be included in management processes. Other suggestions for managing the fisheries are discussed, including proposals that could provide motivation for artisanal fishermen to participate in programs to conserve resources, such as co-management approaches that utilize local knowledge, the establishment of fishing seasons, and compensation of fishermen, through 'payment for environmental services'. These suggestions may enhance the participation of local artisanal fishermen in moving to a more realistic and less top-down management approach of the fish population.
Highlights
Reef fishes of the Lutjanidae family are important targets for fisheries in several regions worldwide, including Australia [1], the South Pacific [2], Africa [3,4], North and South America [5,6], and Brazil [7]
About 90% of the total number of snappers collected belonged to just five species of Lutjanidae: Lutjanus analis (45 individuals), Lutjanus synagris (88), Lutjanus vivanus (37), Ocyurus chrysurus (66) and Rhomboplites aurorubens (22)
Among those fishes collected in Bertioga and at Riacho Doce, Maceió, the species Lutjanus synagris (66 and 54% of individuals caught, respectively) was predominant
Summary
Reef fishes of the Lutjanidae family (snappers) are important targets for fisheries in several regions worldwide, including Australia [1], the South Pacific [2], Africa [3,4], North and South America [5,6], and Brazil [7]. At Porto Seguro, on the NE Brazilian coast, 38% of 352 fish landings have caught snappers [8], a target of the artisanal fisheries on the northeastern Brazilian coast [7]. An analysis of the fishing time series of 1967-2000 indicated the vulnerability and local market extinction of snappers in two states (Rio Grande do Norte and Pernambuco) on the northeastern Brazilian coast [19]. Data from 2002 [15] showed that the contribution of artisanal fisheries to the total catch is 88% in NE Brazil, 34% in SE Brazil, and that the contribution of artisanal fisheries has increased in SE Brazil since 1980
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