635
Science-based knowledge is gaining strength regarding the understanding of
estuaries as important areas for both continental and marine biodiversity by pointing
out how/how much anthropogenic modifications are changing these ecosystems
(Blaber 2000; Costa and Barletta 2016). By following the agreements proposed by
the United Nations for responsible fisheries, hundreds of articles have been produced as reference for the establishment of fishery management. However, fishery
agencies fail in producing consistent data for the fisheries stats needed to fill in the
proposed models. In Brazil, the country with most territorial responsibility in South
America, the Fishery and Aquaculture Ministry, recently downgraded to a State
Secretary, has not produced fishery stats since 2011 (MPA 2011). Due to limited and
unreliable marine fisheries data it is not possible now to predict how many fishes are
produced by the artisanal or industrial fleets for each region. Between 2010 and
2011, the marine extractive fishery contributed to 42.4% and 38.6% of total fishing
production in the country, respectively (MPA 2011). Whitemouth croaker
(Micropogonias furnieri), acoupa weakfish (Cynoscion acoupa), Brazilian sardinella (Sardinella brasiliensis), mullets (Mugil spp.), skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus
pelamis), and shrimps (Farfantepenaeus subtilis, Xiphopenaeus kroyeri) are among
the most important catches (MPA 2011). However, the production of estuarine fishery cannot be assessed because there is no discriminant information of which marine
environment these information derived from (MPA 2011).
In general, coastal resources have been heavily fished and often show signs of
overexploitation (Guebert-Bartholo et al. 2011; Barletta and Costa 2009). An important point for fishery management in estuaries is that these systems, and their adjacent habitats (e.g. beaches and coastal reefs – coral, algae or beachrocks), are
especially important for the settlement of high densities of juvenile stages of many
marine fishes (Beck et al. 2001; Able 2005; Sheaves et al. 2014). Whereas estuaries
are exporters of juveniles to coastal waters and high seas, intense fishing pressure on
early length classes, decreases the recruitment of exploited fish stocks (BarlettaBergan et al. 2002a, b; Barletta et al. 2005, 2008; Dantas et al. 2010, 2015; Ramos
et al. 2012, 2016; Ferreira et al. 2016).
Estuarine artisanal fisheries play an important role in the economic and social
context of traditional communities, being essential to the livelihood of fishers, mussel pickers, crab pickers, and their families (Souza and Neumann-Leitão 2000; Silva
et al. 2007; Barletta and Costa 2009; Silva-Cavalcanti and Costa 2009; GuebertBartholo et al. 2011). However, the lack of knowledge on ecological issues by both
harvesters and managers, together with long-term failures in registering and processing coastal landing stats, are the main concerns when fishery management models are put to question. The advancement of knowledge and scientific research on
the ecology of estuarine fishery resources note that although these ecosystems may
be highly resilient, they are also limited, and their use must be ordered aiming at
co-management and sustainability (Beck et al. 2001; Mendonça 2006; King 2007).
Here, we synthetize what has been achieved in the last years regarding fisheries
in the Parnaíba Delta (02°53′40.89″ S; 42°04′36.95″ W), Goiana Estuary
(07°33′44.04″ S; 34°52′55.81″ W), São Francisco Bay (10°25′10.32″ S;
36°32′26.26″ W) and Laguna Estuarine Complex (28°23′48.83″ S; 48°49′20.91″
20 How Can Accurate Landing Stats Help in Designing Better Fisheries…
Science-based knowledge is gaining strength regarding the understanding of
estuaries as important areas for both continental and marine biodiversity by pointing
out how/how much anthropogenic modifications are changing these ecosystems
(Blaber 2000; Costa and Barletta 2016). By following the agreements proposed by
the United Nations for responsible fisheries, hundreds of articles have been produced as reference for the establishment of fishery management. However, fishery
agencies fail in producing consistent data for the fisheries stats needed to fill in the
proposed models. In Brazil, the country with most territorial responsibility in South
America, the Fishery and Aquaculture Ministry, recently downgraded to a State
Secretary, has not produced fishery stats since 2011 (MPA 2011). Due to limited and
unreliable marine fisheries data it is not possible now to predict how many fishes are
produced by the artisanal or industrial fleets for each region. Between 2010 and
2011, the marine extractive fishery contributed to 42.4% and 38.6% of total fishing
production in the country, respectively (MPA 2011). Whitemouth croaker
(Micropogonias furnieri), acoupa weakfish (Cynoscion acoupa), Brazilian sardinella (Sardinella brasiliensis), mullets (Mugil spp.), skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus
pelamis), and shrimps (Farfantepenaeus subtilis, Xiphopenaeus kroyeri) are among
the most important catches (MPA 2011). However, the production of estuarine fishery cannot be assessed because there is no discriminant information of which marine
environment these information derived from (MPA 2011).
In general, coastal resources have been heavily fished and often show signs of
overexploitation (Guebert-Bartholo et al. 2011; Barletta and Costa 2009). An important point for fishery management in estuaries is that these systems, and their adjacent habitats (e.g. beaches and coastal reefs – coral, algae or beachrocks), are
especially important for the settlement of high densities of juvenile stages of many
marine fishes (Beck et al. 2001; Able 2005; Sheaves et al. 2014). Whereas estuaries
are exporters of juveniles to coastal waters and high seas, intense fishing pressure on
early length classes, decreases the recruitment of exploited fish stocks (BarlettaBergan et al. 2002a, b; Barletta et al. 2005, 2008; Dantas et al. 2010, 2015; Ramos
et al. 2012, 2016; Ferreira et al. 2016).
Estuarine artisanal fisheries play an important role in the economic and social
context of traditional communities, being essential to the livelihood of fishers, mussel pickers, crab pickers, and their families (Souza and Neumann-Leitão 2000; Silva
et al. 2007; Barletta and Costa 2009; Silva-Cavalcanti and Costa 2009; GuebertBartholo et al. 2011). However, the lack of knowledge on ecological issues by both
harvesters and managers, together with long-term failures in registering and processing coastal landing stats, are the main concerns when fishery management models are put to question. The advancement of knowledge and scientific research on
the ecology of estuarine fishery resources note that although these ecosystems may
be highly resilient, they are also limited, and their use must be ordered aiming at
co-management and sustainability (Beck et al. 2001; Mendonça 2006; King 2007).
Here, we synthetize what has been achieved in the last years regarding fisheries
in the Parnaíba Delta (02°53′40.89″ S; 42°04′36.95″ W), Goiana Estuary
(07°33′44.04″ S; 34°52′55.81″ W), São Francisco Bay (10°25′10.32″ S;
36°32′26.26″ W) and Laguna Estuarine Complex (28°23′48.83″ S; 48°49′20.91″
20 How Can Accurate Landing Stats Help in Designing Better Fisheries…