Fishing Territories Research Articles

Condições socio-ocupacionais e saúde de pescadores expostos ao desastre-crime do petróleo em Pernambuco

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the sociodemographic, socio-occupational profile, and effects on the health of artisanal fishers from the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, affected by the oil disaster-crime in Brazil in 2019. Methods: This is a cross-sectional epidemiological study, carried out in 16 municipalities on the coast of Pernambuco, with a sample made up of 1,259 artisanal fishers. A questionnaire containing 14 blocks was used, including socioeconomic issues, exposure to oil, among others. A descriptive analysis was carried out with calculation of simple frequencies and percentages. Results: Of those interviewed, 95.1% considered fishing as their main occupation and 97% were carrying out this activity. Among fishers, the most common fishing spot was the mangrove, and wood fire was used in the work process by around 60% of the population. Regarding health issues, 34.4% reported a severe headache or migraine and 28.2% reported burning eyes, within one to three months after the oil spill. Conclusion: According to the results, working, health, and lifestyle conditions were impacted by the oil disaster-crime. Further research should be carried out to better understand the damage caused by exposure to oil and its effects on the health of fishers. Observing the profile of people who live in artisanal fishing territories in Pernambuco is paramount for public policies and government actions that promote safe and sustainable territories.

Social Protection in the health and humanitarian crisis of COVID-19 in the artisanal fishing territories at Resex Acaú-Goiana, Paraíba, Pernambuco - BRAZIL

This article results from the research entitled “Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the socio-territorial management of social protection in the Resex Acaú-Goiana, Paraíba, Pernambuco” (PIBIC/CNPq/UFPB, 2021-2022). The objective was to analyze the impacts of COVID-19 on socio-territorial management from the construction of the Ecosocial Ethnomapping and the study of plans to contain the health crisis in the Resex, together with the Associação das Marisqueiras de Acaú-PB and public agents. Fishing communities, in addition to the ecosystem services provided to nature and society, symbolize a historic and traditional life. The methodological procedures of the quantitative and qualitative type, of a descriptive, exploratory nature, comprised the realization of Guided Tours, free interviews and questionnaires to experienced fisherwomen, gathering information that contributed to the construction of a systematized diagnosis. The results show that most artisanal fisherwomen have social markers that corroborate with a historical lack of social protection experienced in their territories, which were aggravated by the socio-sanitary crisis of COVID-19. There is a racialization of artisanal fisherwomen, 88.90% declare themselves to be black, brown or brown, 55.60% are between 30 and 50 years old, and 55.60% have practiced artisanal fishing for more of 40 years. The study points out that artisanal fisherwoman enjoy restricted access to social policies that guarantee constitutional rights that consider their demands and specificities.

Last Turtlemen of the Caribbean: Waterscapes of Labor, Conservation, and Boundary Making

Last Turtlemen of the Caribbean: Waterscapes of Labor, Conservation, and Boundary Making

Identification of artisanal fishing territories and associated conflicts in the middle and lower Paraná River (Argentina) through participatory mapping

Small-scale fisheries exhibit diverse territorial conflicts with other users and productive activities coexistent in fluvial environments, which usually are difficult to handle by management agencies. The aim of this study is to identify and spatialize the conflicts which most affect small-scale artisanal fisheries on the Middle and Lower Paraná River, as well as to expand the fishing territory concept for large rivers through the development of a participatory mapping (PM) process along with artisanal fishers. PM was performed in different fishing communities of the Middle and Lower Paraná River. The information gathered was processed by the Quantum GIS software and local fishing maps were drawn up. Livestock represented the main conflictive factor in terms of limiting fishing activity. Shore use and occupancy were identified as one of the main sources of conflict for fishers, due to the reduction of mooring and landing areas that have been lost or allocated for other purposes. The ‘sustainable fishing territory’ was proposed as a new concept, based on integration of the fishing territory idea and the areas of ecological value, proposing such framework as an umbrella area for conservation purposes. Differences in attributes used for developing the fishing territories suggested that PM was effective in recognizing local characteristics on a small scale. Although PM remains still poorly explored for large floodplain rivers, it provides an opportunity to understand the complexity of fishing territories within a context of fisheries management and territorial planning. In this context, PM represents also an effective tool for dealing with conflicts between stakeholders who share the fluvial space through different productive and recreational activities.

A pesca artesanal e o ordenamento territorial da pesca na costa brasileira no período (neo)desenvolvimentista

Ao longo do século XX e XXI, a atividade pesqueira do país apresentou um forte processo de industrialização financiado pelo Estado, promovendo uma profunda desorganização da pesca artesanal. Frente a tal conjuntura, o objetivo deste trabalho é analisar o ordenamento territorial da pesca no país no período neodesenvolvimentista, centrado principalmente no instrumento jurídico chamado de “Autorização de Pesca” e no Programa de Subvenção Econômica ao Preço do Óleo Diesel para Embarcações Pesqueiras (PSE), buscando evidenciar sua influência frente aos territórios pesqueiros artesanais e industrias. A metodologia deste trabalho envolveu uma revisão do conceito de território, o uso de dados do Seguro-Defeso, e principalmente do PSE dos anos 2017-2019. O tratamento dos dados foi feito no software estatístico R-Studio, versão 1.2.5001. Os resultados deste artigo apontam para a importância de se compreender a dominação da pesca industrial sobre a artesanal a partir da dimensão territorial e do papel ativo que desempenha o Estado nesse processo.

Artisanal fisher perceptions on ghost nets in a tropical South Atlantic marine biodiversity hotspot: Challenges to traditional fishing culture and implications for conservation strategies

Ghost fishing, the ability of fishing equipment to continue to capture organisms even after it is no longer controlled, leads to serious marine impacts, including bycatch, which contributes to biodiversity loss. Insistent complaints from artisanal fisher in the state of Bahia, Brazil, concerning the impacts of nets lost or abandoned by fisher from other regions that operate in their traditional fishing territory were brought to the attention of our research group. Therefore, this study aims to describe the knowledge and classify fisher perceptions in south Bahia regarding ghost fisheries in the region, as well as the resulting impacts and fisher ideas for solving this problem in a coastal coral reef region. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between August 2015 and September 2017 with 60 fishers, 59 men and one woman, that fish with hand lines and hooks in the studied area. A total of 90% of respondents (n = 54) reported having found ghost nets in their ancestral fishing territories, while 93% (n = 56) associated ghost nets with financial losses and marine environment impacts. Most respondents (n = 56; 93%) also indicated lower fishery yields due to ghost nets and indicated (n = 55; 91.9%) that most ghost nets found in the area are used for lobster fishing, which is banned in Brazil. Fishers revealed an active interest in solving this socio-environmental problem, demonstrating detailed knowledge related to the loss of fishing nets in the local marine environment, as they have been finding and removing ghost nets from the local sea. Fisher's ideas to solve this problem included the implementation of fines for fishers caught in breach of regional and national fisheries regulations, and management actions, such as ghost net removal from the sea. Establishing partnerships between fisher and the federal government in curbing ghost fisheries is crucial.

Analysis of Productivity Plankton and Trophic Status Beratan Lake Ecosystem Tabanan Regency, Bali Province

Beratan Lake is used for fish cultivation activity, tourism, agriculture, and disposal activity. Utilization level is too high and makes lake ecosystem disturbed especially phytoplankton. Phytoplankton existence in water is acting as primary production and act to determine water quality on physical or chemical. The purpose of this research is to know plankton productivity and trophic status ecosystem Beratan Lake. Beratan Lake utilization that too high will impact in ecological pressure at lake ecosystem like decreasing water productivity and quality. The result of the research can conclude that water premier productivity of Beratan Lake is too low especially in cultivation fish territory that has phytoplankton abundance is 4585 individuals per ml that make Beratan Lake is classified to a lake that its trophic status is oligotrophic. The variety of phytoplankton and zooplankton that found in Beratan Lake shows low variety where it only found 5 classes and 11 species of phytoplankton and also 2 classes dan 3 species of zooplankton.

Two lobster tales: lessons from the convergent evolution of TURFs in Maine (USA) and the Juan Fernández Islands (Chile)

Overexploitation plagues common property marine resources in a seemingly endless replay of the tragedy of the commons. Territorial use rights in fisheries (TURFs) counter this by controlling access and reducing incentives to compete for larger shares of the resource. Two lobster TURF systems evolved convergently in Maine, USA, and Juan Fernandez Islands, Chile. The Homarus americanus H. Milne-Edwards, 1837 lobster fishery in Maine has informal group territories, whereas the Jasus frontalis (H. Milne-Edwards, 1837) fishery in the Juan Fernandez Islands has individually-owned fishing spots called marcas. Both fisheries use small day boats, both have a long history of protecting reproductive and juvenile lobsters, and both evolved informal fishing territories. Although TURFs limited new entrants in both cases, fishing effort grew, prompting both fisheries to support formal limited-entry regulations. Both lobster populations have expanded in recent decades. Maine's 30-yr increase in lobster landings stimulated fishers to use larger boats with increased fishing capacity and range to exploit offshore lobsters that have been increasing in abundance, but where territorial rights do not exist. Nevertheless, trap limits have led to more equitable access. In Juan Fernandez, power winches increased trap-hauling rates, leading some fishers to advocate trap limits. The TURF system of marcas appears to have limited effort, but it has not prevented the accumulation of marcas by individuals. We conclude these TURFs have addressed the problem of exclusion and have growing lobster populations. It is unknown if TURFs can respond effectively to external factors, such as climate change, that may lead to declining populations.

Comparative institutions and management resiliency in Latin American small-scale fisheries

Encroachment by commercial fleets on small-scale fishing territories throughout Latin America over the last half-century is increasing inter-sector conflict. Small-scale fishery production is crucial to communities that rely on fish as a key source of protein in daily consumption and for supplying increased demand. As the continued viability of local management is threatened, we need to properly understand under what conditions informal institutions are resilient. Seven published Latin American case studies test which model management principles correlate with resilience. Shoreline exchange is identified as an effective practice promoting reciprocity and rapid collective action in the face of external threats.

Identifying sources of organic matter in sediments from a detritivorous coral reef fish territory

Sediment and filamentous algae were collected from territories of the detritivorous blenny, Salarias patzneri, to identify sources of dietary detritus. Samples were collected during summer and winter and analysed for fatty acid, hydrocarbon and sterol biomarkers. Sediments predominantly contained: even carbon number fatty acids, a high percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids and a prevalence of n-heptadecane and n-pentadecane. This composition of lipids is typical of organic matter derived from recently deposited algae, or living microalgae. Similarities between sediment and filamentous algal lipids imply filamentous algae may be a major source of detritus in the sediments. Sediments did however have a higher percentage of 16:1ω7 than filamentous algae samples and this is most likely due to inputs to the sediments from diatoms and bacteria. Based on 20:5ω3 concentrations, it was estimated that diatoms accounted for 18% of the organic matter in sediments during summer and 4% in the winter, whilst 18:1ω7 concentrations suggest bacteria accounted for 10% of organic matter in both seasons. In addition, lipid biomarkers indicated that dinoflagellates, corals, cyanobacteria and zooplankton also contribute to sediments, providing a diverse range of dietary nutrients. It is this combination of inputs to sedimentary detritus that provides S. patzneri with essential dietary nutrients.

Temporal focusing of nitrogen release by a periodically feeding herbivorous reef fish

The reef-dwelling jewel damselfish Plectroglyphldodon lacrymatus (Quoy & Gaimard) exhibited a marked diel periodicity in nitrogenous excretion and defecation rates. This temporal “focusing” of soluble and particulate-faecal nitrogen release on the latter part of the day correlated strongly with the pattern of feeding activity. There was a lag after feeding began each day of ≈ 5–6 h before defecation accelerated, but no such lag was apparent in the case of excretion. Both excretion and defecation, however, did lag behind feeding at the end of the day, for they remained above their respective minimum rates for ≥ 8 h after feeding had ceased. Gut evacuation rates were variable, while the excretion of nitrogenous waste appeared to take ≈24 h and to be subject to a physiological rhythm. Defecation, most of which occurred at a single site in each territory, was far more important in the generation of nitrogen by the fish than was excretion. In laboratory experiments the faeces took up ammonium, but in the field most faeces were probably removed quickly by ophiocomine brittlestars and pulled down into interstices of the reef. Nearly all of the nitrogen egested, but perhaps only one-third of that excreted, was transferred initially to the reef framework below the fish's territory.

Acoustically mediated individual recognition by a coral reef fish ( Pomacentrus partitus)

Acoustically mediated individual recognition has been demonstrated in the field by males of the bicolor damselfish Pomacentrus partitus Poey. Playbacks of non-resident sounds from a given fish's territory elicited a greater response from its nearest neighbour than playbacks of the resident's sound—in accordance with the predictions of the ‘dear-enemy’ effect. Testing also included switching the sounds of the two nearest neighbours relative to each respective male's territory. Results demonstrated that all males in the colony individually recognized the sounds of their two nearest neighbours.

Competition, Habitat Selection, and the Bathymetric Segregation of Two Rockfish (Sebastes) Species

Sebastes carnatus and Sebastes chrysomelas are morphologically and ecologically similar residents of rocky reefs off the coast of California. They segregate bathymetrically, with S. chrysomelas occurring shallower than S. carnatus. Each species extended its depth distribution where its congener was removed, and no distributional changes occurred in a control area. Thus both species tolerated conditions beyond their normal depth ranges, and were limited in part of their normal depth ranges by interspecific competition. Their segregation was apparently initiated by the preferential settlement of young fish from the plankton, S. chrysomelas in shallow water and S. carnatus deeper. Their segregation was maintained by interspecific territoriality. The distribution of S. chrysomelas, the socially dominant species, may also have been affected by a strong preference for food—rich areas that occurred mainly in shallow water. I postulate that such a preference would be due to the advantage of smaller home ranges in shallow water, where strong wave surge makes the shelter hole a more important part of a fish's territory. This postulated preference, along with aggression from S. carnatus, limited S. chrysomelas to shallow water. Because of its social dominance, S. chrysomelas aggressively excluded S. carnatus from preferred areas in shallow water.

The ethology of Crenilabrus melanocercus, with Notes on cleaning symbiosis

Off the coasts of the Eastern Aegean Island of Chios underwater observations were made on the labrid Crenilabrus (= Symphodus) ntelanocercus (Risso).It was found that undisturbed observation could be made from 4 to 5 m away from the fish's territory, but if closer, then diver-orientated behaviour occurred. The fish might inspect the diver, or if alarmed, show fright reactions of different intensities. Conflict situations for the fish sometimes resulted in displacement chaffing. Pursuit caused the fish to show a series of escape reactions depending upon the intensity and persistence of the pursuit. Initially the fish showed avoidance reactions by fleeing or following set ‘escape routes’; further pursuit caused it to hide among the eel-grass, Posidonia; and finally aggregation and flight were resorted to.

Observations on the Breeding Biology and Behavior of a Nesting Population of Belted Kingfishers

A preliminary investigation of the Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) was initiated by Becker (MS) as part of the program of biological investigations carried on at the Lake Itasca Forestry and Biological Station of The University of Minnesota. Becker's original study was expanded by me, and field work was done from June through August, 1958, in an attempt to clarify the role of the Belted Kingfisher in the ecologic community at Itasca. The objectives of the field study of 1958 were: (1) to devise methods of trapping and marking the Itasca population of kingfishers; (2) to estimate the breeding population in Itasca Park; (3) to determine the daily range of nesting kingfishers; and (4) to obtain additional life history data. The Lake Itasca Forestry and Biological Station is located on the eastern shore of Lake Itasca in Itasca State Park, Minnesota. The 50 square miles of Itasca Park contain northern conifer-hardwood forest, central hardwood forest, and prairie. Lakes, bogs, and ecotones are abundant. The study area consisted of 25 square miles in the eastern half of the park. Intensive studies on the feeding habits of the Belted Kingfisher have been carried on in the maritime provinces of Canada (White, 1953) and in Michigan (Sayler and Lagler, 1949). Interesting accounts of this bird's habits and life history may be found in Barrows (1912), Bent (1940), Forbush (1927), and Roberts (1932).A review of the literature, however, reveals little information about the daily range of nesting kingfishers, their fishing territories, and their population dynamics. Furthermore, earlier studies on the Belted Kingfisher have dealt with the bird as a streamside occupant, whereas at Itasca it utilizes a lake shore habitat.