Sustainability of capture of fish bycatch in the prawn trawling in northeastern Brazil

• Published in: Neotropical Ichthyology Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 133 - 142
• Main Authors: Silva Júnior, Carlos Antônio Beserra da, Araújo, Maria Elisabeth de, Feitosa, Caroline Vieira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia 01.01.2013
• Subjects: Anchoa tricolor; Chirocentrodon bleekerianus; Demersal fish; Isopisthus parvipinnis; Marine; Recovery; Sandy beach; Stellifer rastrifer; Susceptibility; Vulnerability; Brazil; Brazil, Rio Grande do Norte, Areia Branca, Sao Cristovao Beach
• ISSN: 1679-6225; 1982-0224; 1982-0224
• DOI: 10.1590/S1679-62252013000100016

The prawn fishery produces more discards than any other type of catch and captures a large quantity of immature individuals. This research aimed to assess the sustainability of capture of fish bycatch in prawn trawling. Each species was assessed according to two groups of criteria: (1) their relative vulnerability to capture by trawl and mortality due to this fishery (2) recovery capacity of the specie after a possible collapse of the population. Within each group, each species was ranked (1-3), being 1 the highest value, meaning the species is highly susceptible to capture or lias a low resilience. A total of 8,894 individuals were caught, belonging to 28 families. The species with capture least sustainable were Stel lifer rastrifer and Isopi stints parvipinnis. These latter species are highly susceptible since they are either benthic or demersal, and their diet may include benthic organism. Chirocentrodon bleekerianus and Anchoa tricolor were the most likely fishes to be sustainable since they are pelagic, they are least susceptible to capture by trawls, and also have a greater capacity to recover, as most individuals have bred before capture. Due to the fishery's multi-specific nature, it is difficult to implement mitigation measures for specific species. Thus, the creation of fishing exclusion zones should be considered as the most appropriate management measure.Original Abstract: A pesca de arrasto de camarao produz mais descarte do que qualquer outra pescaria e captura uma grande quantidade de individuos imaturos. Esta pesquisa visa determinar a sustentabilidade da captura da ictiofauna acompanhante na pesca de arrasto de camarao. Cada especie foi analisada de acordo com dois gmpos de criterios: (1) vulnerabilidade a captura pela rede de arrasto e mortalidade ocasionada por esta pescaria; e (2) capacidade de recuperacao da populacao para minimizar. Dentro de cada criterio as especies foram classificadas de 1 a 3, sendo 1 o valor mais alto, indicando que a especie e altamente susceptivel a captura ou tem baixa capacidade de recuperacao. Um total de 8.894 individuos foram capturados, pertencendo a 28 familias. As especies com captura menos sustentavel foram Stellifer rastrifer e Isopi sth us pannpinnis. Estas especies sao altamente susceptiveis, pois sao bentonicas ou demersais e suas dietas incluem organismos bentonicos. Chirocentrodon bleekerianus e Anchoa tricolor foram as especies que apresentaram a captura mais sustentavel. Por serem pelagicas, sao menos susceptiveis a captura por arrastos de fundo, alem disto, apresentaram uma grande capacidade de recuperacao, pois a maior parte dos individuos capturados encontrava-se acima do seu tamanho de primeira maturacao sexual. Devido a natureza multiespecifica da pescaria e dificil implementar medidas mitigatorias especificas. Assim, a criacao de zona de exclusao de pesca deve ser considerada como a medida de manejo mais adequada.