494
Properly logged, preserved and used fisheries landing data are a type of long
term information that can reflect environmental health, since it shows (although in
an indirect manner) what resources are available, how much, where and when. So,
it is possible to know if estuaries are still able to provide their specific ecological
services of food and shelter to fish populations that depend on their integrity to
complete life cycles. The effect of managerial actions taken based on these consistent data can result in further food safety and environmental conservation, in order
to guarantee that estuaries continue to function as a transition environment that links
and separates land and sea.
Due to limited marine fisheries data in Brazil, the country with most territorial
responsibility at the Western Atlantic, it is not possible to predict how many fishes
are produced by the artisanal and industrial fleet for each of its regions. Micropogonias
furnieri (whitemouth croaker), Cynoscion acoupa (acoupa weakfish) and Mugil
spp. (mulletts) were responsible for ~83 tonnes of the marine extractive fishery in
2011 in Brazil (MPA 2011). Although artisanal fishery has more importance in the
northeast (704,000 fishermen), and industrial fishery in the south/southeast Brazilian
coast (133,000 fishermen), both regions produced ~280,000 tonnes of fishes from
marine fishery (MPA 2011). Estuaries along the Western Atlantic are acknowledged
to be responsible for the current fishing status of Brazilian coasts (Blaber and
Barletta 2016). the three model estuaries approached in this chapter, Caeté, Goiana
and Paranaguá, are important exporters of juveniles in both number and biomass for
the recruitment of fish stocks in coastal waters and high seas, and therefore, efforts
are arising to protect these ecosystems (Barletta-Bergan et al. 2002a, b; Barletta
et al. 2005, 2008; Ferreira et al. 2016).
Caeté Estuary supports at least 50 species of marine, estuarine and freshwater
fishes (e.g. Ariidae, Achiridae, Engraulidae, and Clupeidae). Few are of commercial
importance, and most are used mainly for subsistence (Barletta et al. 2005). However,
its main channel supports a biomass of more than 42.4 tons (300 g ha
−1
) of commercial fishes in the earlier life stages during a seasonal cycle in 1996/1997 (270 samples) (Barletta et al. 2005) (Fig. 16.1). This included 14 marine species, such as the
Sciaenidae C. acoupa and C. microlepidotus (smallscale weakfish) and a freshwater
species, the Pimelodidae Brachyplastystoma vaillantii (piramutaba catfish) (Barletta
et al. 2005) (Figs. 16.1 and 16.11a–c). Most of these species were also in tidal creeks
of the flooded mangrove forest at the mouth of the estuary (Barletta et al. 2003). If
the many other creeks that drains the mangrove forest are considered, these habitats
are indeed very important in terms of biomass, especially for C. acoupa and species
of the genus Mugil (mullets) (Barletta et al. 2003). These habitats were in fact important ecological grounds for larval stages of most species (Barletta-Bergan et al.
2002a, b). Amongst commercial taxa, larval C. acoupa was the most abundant species in terms of density in both main channel (3372 ind. 100 m
−3
) and mangrove
creeks (10,946 ind. 100 m
−3
) (Barletta-Bergan et al. 2002a, b).
The Caeté Estuary supports intense commercial and harbour activities and,
unplanned urban settlements are a problem (Fig. 16.12a–d). The main income
source of 83% of households around the estuary derive from mangrove living
resources. Families (42%) collect and sell the mangrove crab (Ucides cordatus)
M. Barletta et al.
Properly logged, preserved and used fisheries landing data are a type of long
term information that can reflect environmental health, since it shows (although in
an indirect manner) what resources are available, how much, where and when. So,
it is possible to know if estuaries are still able to provide their specific ecological
services of food and shelter to fish populations that depend on their integrity to
complete life cycles. The effect of managerial actions taken based on these consistent data can result in further food safety and environmental conservation, in order
to guarantee that estuaries continue to function as a transition environment that links
and separates land and sea.
Due to limited marine fisheries data in Brazil, the country with most territorial
responsibility at the Western Atlantic, it is not possible to predict how many fishes
are produced by the artisanal and industrial fleet for each of its regions. Micropogonias
furnieri (whitemouth croaker), Cynoscion acoupa (acoupa weakfish) and Mugil
spp. (mulletts) were responsible for ~83 tonnes of the marine extractive fishery in
2011 in Brazil (MPA 2011). Although artisanal fishery has more importance in the
northeast (704,000 fishermen), and industrial fishery in the south/southeast Brazilian
coast (133,000 fishermen), both regions produced ~280,000 tonnes of fishes from
marine fishery (MPA 2011). Estuaries along the Western Atlantic are acknowledged
to be responsible for the current fishing status of Brazilian coasts (Blaber and
Barletta 2016). the three model estuaries approached in this chapter, Caeté, Goiana
and Paranaguá, are important exporters of juveniles in both number and biomass for
the recruitment of fish stocks in coastal waters and high seas, and therefore, efforts
are arising to protect these ecosystems (Barletta-Bergan et al. 2002a, b; Barletta
et al. 2005, 2008; Ferreira et al. 2016).
Caeté Estuary supports at least 50 species of marine, estuarine and freshwater
fishes (e.g. Ariidae, Achiridae, Engraulidae, and Clupeidae). Few are of commercial
importance, and most are used mainly for subsistence (Barletta et al. 2005). However,
its main channel supports a biomass of more than 42.4 tons (300 g ha
−1
) of commercial fishes in the earlier life stages during a seasonal cycle in 1996/1997 (270 samples) (Barletta et al. 2005) (Fig. 16.1). This included 14 marine species, such as the
Sciaenidae C. acoupa and C. microlepidotus (smallscale weakfish) and a freshwater
species, the Pimelodidae Brachyplastystoma vaillantii (piramutaba catfish) (Barletta
et al. 2005) (Figs. 16.1 and 16.11a–c). Most of these species were also in tidal creeks
of the flooded mangrove forest at the mouth of the estuary (Barletta et al. 2003). If
the many other creeks that drains the mangrove forest are considered, these habitats
are indeed very important in terms of biomass, especially for C. acoupa and species
of the genus Mugil (mullets) (Barletta et al. 2003). These habitats were in fact important ecological grounds for larval stages of most species (Barletta-Bergan et al.
2002a, b). Amongst commercial taxa, larval C. acoupa was the most abundant species in terms of density in both main channel (3372 ind. 100 m
−3
) and mangrove
creeks (10,946 ind. 100 m
−3
) (Barletta-Bergan et al. 2002a, b).
The Caeté Estuary supports intense commercial and harbour activities and,
unplanned urban settlements are a problem (Fig. 16.12a–d). The main income
source of 83% of households around the estuary derive from mangrove living
resources. Families (42%) collect and sell the mangrove crab (Ucides cordatus)
M. Barletta et al.