Small-scale shrimp fisheries on the Brazilian coast: Stakeholders perceptions of the closed season and integrated management

Abstract

The aim of this study is to describe small-scale fishing for Atlantic seabob shrimp and to analyse the perceptions of traditional fishers regarding the temporary suspension of fishing accompanied by financial compensation -closed season-along the north-eastern and southeastern coasts of Brazil. Ethnographic interviews were conducted with 80 artisanal fishers of the Barra de Caravelas (n = 36) and Santa Cruz Cabrália (n = 12) communities in the state of Bahia in north-eastern Brazil, and Anchieta (n = 18) and Barra Nova (n = 14) in the state of Espírito Santo in the south-eastern Brazil. The fishers shrimp are predominantly male (100%) with a mean age of 47 years. The vessels length used are up to 10 m. According to the fishermen, the amount paid by the Brazilian government as a subsidy during the closed season is not sufficient to support their families. Fishermen are against the current closed season of Atlantic seabob fishing, claiming that this period does not actually correspond whit the breeding season or the recruitment of the species. Even during the Atlantic seabob closed season, some fishermen catch this resource and thus break the law, as seen in Anchieta (56%, n = 10) and Barra de Caravelas (9%, n = 03). The fact that the fishers disagree with the closed season and do not obey the law shows that the management measure enforced on the northeast and southeast coasts of the country is not as effective as originally proposed. This demonstrates the need to understand local perceptions of this issue and to include the fishers in decision-making related to management and public measures involving shrimp fishing.