668
2009). Women (82.4%) are dedicated to mussel picking within the extractive
reserve, while in the non-protected area this activity is divided with men (50%)
(Silva-Cavalcanti and Costa 2009). The CPUE varies from 1.15 to 2.2 kg of clean
meat per picker per hour (Silva-Cavalcanti and Costa 2009).
Traditional populations commonly exploit crabs. Picking (or traping) of land
mangrove crabs is made by men, while all family members might fish swimming
crabs using line and hook or nets with baits (Barletta and Costa 2009). In the 1990s,
coinciding with the introduction of shrimp farming projects in the northeast
Brazilian coast, a major viral epidemic decimated the population of uçá-crabs in a
wide area, including Pernambuco. The crab pickers began to explore other crustaceans as wimming crab (Callinectes spp.), blue-crabs (Cardisoma guanhumi) and
mangrove tree crab (Aratus pisoni) (Fig. 20.8a–d). In 2010, the land crab population
began to be restored in the Goiana Estuary. However, the introduction of a small
predatory net for land crab capture began to reduce the already fragile populations
for the second time (Silveira et al. 2013). This method uses of a tangle of thin nylon
or plastic threads usually obtained from ice bags. At low tide, these traps are placed
at the entrances of crab burrows, as a cork. Crabs entrap in these bundles of filaments when they try to leave their burrows, or wish to return to them (Silveira et al.
2013). So they are easily captured even in non-commercial sizes, in which case
most are not returned to the environment. The uçá-crab picking used to be intense
during the first trimester of the year when the crabs leave their burrows to reproduce
and are more vulnerable to capture (Silveira et al. 2013). Since 2003, crab capture
is a closed for during part of summer months. Since there is no efficient enforcement through close surveillance, traditional communities may take advantage of the
animals (Silveira et al. 2013).
Commercial fisheries for shrimps (F. subtilis, Litopenaeus schimidt, Xiphopnaeus
kroyeri) take place during the rainy season (March to August) at the estuarine
beaches and adjacent coastal waters, especially with seine nets (Fig. 20.9a, b).
However, lobster (Panulirus argus and P. laevicauda) is the most profitable catch
and 53% of fishers are dedicated to its capture (Guebert-Bartholo et al. 2011)
(Fig. 20.9e, f). Lobsters are captured in depths of >30 m with nets and a number of
different models of traps at the coastal waters of the continental shelf (Barletta and
Costa 2009). Although diving with on board-based air compressors for lobster capture is illegal, this activity is clearly common (Guebert-Bartholo et al. 2011). Lobster
exports generates incomes in US dollars. For this reason, non-traditional stakeholders encourage the competitive capture and commercialization of lobsters, recruiting
young men for trips that last ~30 days at sea, in boats with very precarious conditions, and whose payment is agreed in bycatch yield above boat costs (Fig. 20.20c).
Therefore, both resources and fishers are over-exploited (Table 20.1). Seasonal closure for lobster populations recovery is enforced by law from December to March
(late dry and early rainy seasons). However, fishers admit to fish off-season
(Guebert-Bartholo et al. 2011). In Acaú the lobster fleet is the most profitable economic activity (Barletta and Costa 2009; Silveira et al. 2013).
Although subsistence fisheries occur along the whole estuary, they are restricted
to dryer months because during the late rainy season (June to August) freshwater
M. Barletta et al.
2009). Women (82.4%) are dedicated to mussel picking within the extractive
reserve, while in the non-protected area this activity is divided with men (50%)
(Silva-Cavalcanti and Costa 2009). The CPUE varies from 1.15 to 2.2 kg of clean
meat per picker per hour (Silva-Cavalcanti and Costa 2009).
Traditional populations commonly exploit crabs. Picking (or traping) of land
mangrove crabs is made by men, while all family members might fish swimming
crabs using line and hook or nets with baits (Barletta and Costa 2009). In the 1990s,
coinciding with the introduction of shrimp farming projects in the northeast
Brazilian coast, a major viral epidemic decimated the population of uçá-crabs in a
wide area, including Pernambuco. The crab pickers began to explore other crustaceans as wimming crab (Callinectes spp.), blue-crabs (Cardisoma guanhumi) and
mangrove tree crab (Aratus pisoni) (Fig. 20.8a–d). In 2010, the land crab population
began to be restored in the Goiana Estuary. However, the introduction of a small
predatory net for land crab capture began to reduce the already fragile populations
for the second time (Silveira et al. 2013). This method uses of a tangle of thin nylon
or plastic threads usually obtained from ice bags. At low tide, these traps are placed
at the entrances of crab burrows, as a cork. Crabs entrap in these bundles of filaments when they try to leave their burrows, or wish to return to them (Silveira et al.
2013). So they are easily captured even in non-commercial sizes, in which case
most are not returned to the environment. The uçá-crab picking used to be intense
during the first trimester of the year when the crabs leave their burrows to reproduce
and are more vulnerable to capture (Silveira et al. 2013). Since 2003, crab capture
is a closed for during part of summer months. Since there is no efficient enforcement through close surveillance, traditional communities may take advantage of the
animals (Silveira et al. 2013).
Commercial fisheries for shrimps (F. subtilis, Litopenaeus schimidt, Xiphopnaeus
kroyeri) take place during the rainy season (March to August) at the estuarine
beaches and adjacent coastal waters, especially with seine nets (Fig. 20.9a, b).
However, lobster (Panulirus argus and P. laevicauda) is the most profitable catch
and 53% of fishers are dedicated to its capture (Guebert-Bartholo et al. 2011)
(Fig. 20.9e, f). Lobsters are captured in depths of >30 m with nets and a number of
different models of traps at the coastal waters of the continental shelf (Barletta and
Costa 2009). Although diving with on board-based air compressors for lobster capture is illegal, this activity is clearly common (Guebert-Bartholo et al. 2011). Lobster
exports generates incomes in US dollars. For this reason, non-traditional stakeholders encourage the competitive capture and commercialization of lobsters, recruiting
young men for trips that last ~30 days at sea, in boats with very precarious conditions, and whose payment is agreed in bycatch yield above boat costs (Fig. 20.20c).
Therefore, both resources and fishers are over-exploited (Table 20.1). Seasonal closure for lobster populations recovery is enforced by law from December to March
(late dry and early rainy seasons). However, fishers admit to fish off-season
(Guebert-Bartholo et al. 2011). In Acaú the lobster fleet is the most profitable economic activity (Barletta and Costa 2009; Silveira et al. 2013).
Although subsistence fisheries occur along the whole estuary, they are restricted
to dryer months because during the late rainy season (June to August) freshwater
M. Barletta et al.