502
as being ecosystems in their own (Elliot and Whitefield 2011). Therefore, the negligence of governmental agencies in considering the basic concepts previously established for estuaries worldwide has been debated over the last decades (Ducrotoy and
Dauvin 2008; Dauvin and Ruellet 2009). An example is the definition of water
quality status of water bodies, including transitional environments, that is estuaries,
due to the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (Dauvin and
Ruellet 2009). This directive uses multiple bio-indicators and indices to define estuarine system regardless of the natural variability and the influence of anthropogenic
effects in water quality (Dauvin and Ruellet 2009). Whereas estuarine fauna have
adapted to withstand seasonal physico-chemical changes, not taking into account
scientific reference conditions hampers any possibilities of estuarine conservation
(Dauvin and Ruellet 2009; Barletta et al. 2010).
A short review on the ecological importance of the Orinco River basin (Colombia
and Venezuela), although being a freshwater system, revealed that the high specie
richness (>1000 species), fish diversity and production are closely related to the heterogeneity of habitats, providing multiple nurseries grounds (Machado-Allison 2016).
However, the unregulated construction of dams, dredging, contamination from herbicides, mercury, oxygen-consuming effluents, deforestation for agricultural, industrial
and urban purposes, overfishing and the introduction of exotic species are rapidly
damaging the local fauna to a high extent (Machado-Allison 2016). The author asserts
that although efforts through research, publishing of results and recommendations are
intensive, conservation, recovery and sustainable use of resources are being affected
by social, economic and political clashes (Machado- Allison 2016).
Different policies for conservation of coastal ecosystems and traditional populations exist in the Amazon, northeast and southern Brazilian wetlands to preserve natural resources and values thorough co-management of extractive and sustainable
development reserves (Barletta and Costa 2009; ICMbio 1995, 2012). In the eastern
Amazon a management unit to promote integral protection and sustainable use of the
Caeté Estuary resources, the Marine Extractive Reserve Caeté-Taperaçu (42,068 ha
and 3000 families), was created in 2005 (Fig. 16.1). Its management plans initiated
became operational late in 2013. In northeast Brazil, the Marine Extractive Reserve
Acaú-Goiana (6700 ha) was created in 2007 to guarantee the protection of livelihoods
and resources as A. brasiliana, a typically female/family fisheries (Barletta and Costa
2009; Guebert et al. 2013) (Fig. 16.3). Management plans for extractive reserve AcaúGoiana still do not exist, and stakeholder decisions are ineffective (Guebert et al.
2013), and until recently, fishers did not know what an extractive reserve is (Guebert
et al. 2013). The Estuarine Complex of Paranaguá is one of the largest estuaries of the
Western Atlantic. Guaraqueçaba bay and surrounding remnants of the Atlantic rainforest form its main settings (Fig. 16.5). It is therefore recognized as a Natural World
Heritage Site (UNESCO 1999). The Atlantic rainforest encompasses the Saint-Hilaire/
Lange National Park, of restricted use. The bay encompasses a conservation unit of
restricted use (Superagui National Park) and another of sustainable use (Environmental
Protected Area of Guaraqueçaba) (Guebert-Bartholo et al. 2011; Possatto et al. 2016)
(Fig. 16.5). The consolidation of action plans for this mosaic of protected areas initiated in 1991 and extended until 1999.
M. Barletta et al.
as being ecosystems in their own (Elliot and Whitefield 2011). Therefore, the negligence of governmental agencies in considering the basic concepts previously established for estuaries worldwide has been debated over the last decades (Ducrotoy and
Dauvin 2008; Dauvin and Ruellet 2009). An example is the definition of water
quality status of water bodies, including transitional environments, that is estuaries,
due to the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (Dauvin and
Ruellet 2009). This directive uses multiple bio-indicators and indices to define estuarine system regardless of the natural variability and the influence of anthropogenic
effects in water quality (Dauvin and Ruellet 2009). Whereas estuarine fauna have
adapted to withstand seasonal physico-chemical changes, not taking into account
scientific reference conditions hampers any possibilities of estuarine conservation
(Dauvin and Ruellet 2009; Barletta et al. 2010).
A short review on the ecological importance of the Orinco River basin (Colombia
and Venezuela), although being a freshwater system, revealed that the high specie
richness (>1000 species), fish diversity and production are closely related to the heterogeneity of habitats, providing multiple nurseries grounds (Machado-Allison 2016).
However, the unregulated construction of dams, dredging, contamination from herbicides, mercury, oxygen-consuming effluents, deforestation for agricultural, industrial
and urban purposes, overfishing and the introduction of exotic species are rapidly
damaging the local fauna to a high extent (Machado-Allison 2016). The author asserts
that although efforts through research, publishing of results and recommendations are
intensive, conservation, recovery and sustainable use of resources are being affected
by social, economic and political clashes (Machado- Allison 2016).
Different policies for conservation of coastal ecosystems and traditional populations exist in the Amazon, northeast and southern Brazilian wetlands to preserve natural resources and values thorough co-management of extractive and sustainable
development reserves (Barletta and Costa 2009; ICMbio 1995, 2012). In the eastern
Amazon a management unit to promote integral protection and sustainable use of the
Caeté Estuary resources, the Marine Extractive Reserve Caeté-Taperaçu (42,068 ha
and 3000 families), was created in 2005 (Fig. 16.1). Its management plans initiated
became operational late in 2013. In northeast Brazil, the Marine Extractive Reserve
Acaú-Goiana (6700 ha) was created in 2007 to guarantee the protection of livelihoods
and resources as A. brasiliana, a typically female/family fisheries (Barletta and Costa
2009; Guebert et al. 2013) (Fig. 16.3). Management plans for extractive reserve AcaúGoiana still do not exist, and stakeholder decisions are ineffective (Guebert et al.
2013), and until recently, fishers did not know what an extractive reserve is (Guebert
et al. 2013). The Estuarine Complex of Paranaguá is one of the largest estuaries of the
Western Atlantic. Guaraqueçaba bay and surrounding remnants of the Atlantic rainforest form its main settings (Fig. 16.5). It is therefore recognized as a Natural World
Heritage Site (UNESCO 1999). The Atlantic rainforest encompasses the Saint-Hilaire/
Lange National Park, of restricted use. The bay encompasses a conservation unit of
restricted use (Superagui National Park) and another of sustainable use (Environmental
Protected Area of Guaraqueçaba) (Guebert-Bartholo et al. 2011; Possatto et al. 2016)
(Fig. 16.5). The consolidation of action plans for this mosaic of protected areas initiated in 1991 and extended until 1999.
M. Barletta et al.