Abstract
Captures by recreational anglers and spearfishermen at preserved (PR) and overexploited (OR) Brazilian reefs were studied. The selection exercised by fishermen was established by comparison between catch composition and the fish community structure determined through underwater visual census. Fishing activities were more regular at PR, with more participants, lower duration and larger-sized captures than at OR. Activities at PR showed a strong selection towards top predator fishes. Activities at OR showed lower selectivity for predators with accompanying high rates of capture for conspicuous herbivore and invertivore fishes. Our findings support that 1) CPUE is not necessarily different among preserved and overfished sites, and 2) that even in an overfished environment, recreational fishing activities keep targeting large predatory species of diminishing size. This scenario is consistent with those of commercial fishing where the catch composition is continuously evolving toward species with shorter and faster life cycles in accordance to the gradual simplification of the community structure.
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