371
Considering the observed decline of populations of the Goliath Grouper in several other areas along the Brazilian coast, in 2002, in a pioneering attitude, representatives from research institutions, the government, and members of the fishing
communities met to promote, discuss, and propose important protective measures
for the species. As a result, a moratorium was established, prohibiting for 5 years
(2002–2007) the capture, transport, and the commerce of Goliath Grouper in Brazil.
Surprisingly, the Goliath Grouper became the first marine fish species to have a
moratorium in Brazil (Hostim-Silva et al. 2005). Then after, from the starting point
of the prohibition, research efforts started addressing the real conservation status of
the species, and the proposal of adequate protective measures throughout its occurrence in Brazil.
The first studies regarding Goliath Grouper by the Projeto Meros do Brasil were
performed in south Brazil between 2002 and 2004 with the support from local
fishermen (Gerhardinger et al. 2007a, b), where known and studied spawning aggregations of Goliath Grouper occurred (Bueno et al. 2016). Later, in 2005 and 2007,
ethnoichthyological studies were spread to the states of Bahia, Pernambuco, and
São Paulo (Gerhardinger et al. 2007a, b). The identification and monitoring of
spawning aggregation sites was possible only due the acquisition of bioecological
and behavioral information of the Goliath Grouper from the local ecological knowledge, especially the information coming from specialized fishermen, also known as
elders (Gerhardinger et al. 2006a, b). The results of these studies with local fishermen showed the existence of old aggregations that were extinct, evidence that revealed
a decline of the population of Goliath Grouper, and also prominent threats to the
species (Gerhardinger et al. 2006a, b). Such evidence was fundamental to arguments to maintain the moratorium for 5 more years (from 2007 to 2012).
Later, new studies considering the reproductive aspects and threats, based on the
knowledge of fishermen using similar methods, became widespread throughout the
Brazilian coast (Bertoncini et al. 2012; Ferreira et al. 2014; Jesus et al. 2016).
In regard to the methods and data collecting techniques used in the research with
the Goliath Grouper, the information related to the ecological knowledge was
obtained preferably from the identified native intellectuals, considered expertinformers (Fig. 14.1), documented by semi-structured interviews, surveys, and
mental maps (Hostim-Silva et al. 2005; Gerhardinger et al. 2006a, b, 2007a, b;
Bertoncini et al. 2012). The mapping of experts was supported by the use of wellknown methods and techniques in Ethnoecological research, such as snowball sampling (Babbie 2012), which is based on the identification and recognition of the
main experts in certain topics, who will point out other members of the group they
belong to.
Nowadays, works based on traditional/local knowledge about Goliath Grouper
by the Projeto Meros do Brasil focus on the identification of new spawning aggregation areas. As an example, one of the efforts in which the Projeto Meros do Brasil
was involved (2009–2011) was the Projeto Pró-Arribada: Agregações Reprodutivas
de Peixes Recifais no Brasil: Subsídios para o Licenciamento Ambiental de
Atividades de Exploração e Produção (“Reproductive Aggregation of Reef Fish in
14 The Atlantic Goliath Grouper: Conservation Strategies for a Critically Endangered…
Considering the observed decline of populations of the Goliath Grouper in several other areas along the Brazilian coast, in 2002, in a pioneering attitude, representatives from research institutions, the government, and members of the fishing
communities met to promote, discuss, and propose important protective measures
for the species. As a result, a moratorium was established, prohibiting for 5 years
(2002–2007) the capture, transport, and the commerce of Goliath Grouper in Brazil.
Surprisingly, the Goliath Grouper became the first marine fish species to have a
moratorium in Brazil (Hostim-Silva et al. 2005). Then after, from the starting point
of the prohibition, research efforts started addressing the real conservation status of
the species, and the proposal of adequate protective measures throughout its occurrence in Brazil.
The first studies regarding Goliath Grouper by the Projeto Meros do Brasil were
performed in south Brazil between 2002 and 2004 with the support from local
fishermen (Gerhardinger et al. 2007a, b), where known and studied spawning aggregations of Goliath Grouper occurred (Bueno et al. 2016). Later, in 2005 and 2007,
ethnoichthyological studies were spread to the states of Bahia, Pernambuco, and
São Paulo (Gerhardinger et al. 2007a, b). The identification and monitoring of
spawning aggregation sites was possible only due the acquisition of bioecological
and behavioral information of the Goliath Grouper from the local ecological knowledge, especially the information coming from specialized fishermen, also known as
elders (Gerhardinger et al. 2006a, b). The results of these studies with local fishermen showed the existence of old aggregations that were extinct, evidence that revealed
a decline of the population of Goliath Grouper, and also prominent threats to the
species (Gerhardinger et al. 2006a, b). Such evidence was fundamental to arguments to maintain the moratorium for 5 more years (from 2007 to 2012).
Later, new studies considering the reproductive aspects and threats, based on the
knowledge of fishermen using similar methods, became widespread throughout the
Brazilian coast (Bertoncini et al. 2012; Ferreira et al. 2014; Jesus et al. 2016).
In regard to the methods and data collecting techniques used in the research with
the Goliath Grouper, the information related to the ecological knowledge was
obtained preferably from the identified native intellectuals, considered expertinformers (Fig. 14.1), documented by semi-structured interviews, surveys, and
mental maps (Hostim-Silva et al. 2005; Gerhardinger et al. 2006a, b, 2007a, b;
Bertoncini et al. 2012). The mapping of experts was supported by the use of wellknown methods and techniques in Ethnoecological research, such as snowball sampling (Babbie 2012), which is based on the identification and recognition of the
main experts in certain topics, who will point out other members of the group they
belong to.
Nowadays, works based on traditional/local knowledge about Goliath Grouper
by the Projeto Meros do Brasil focus on the identification of new spawning aggregation areas. As an example, one of the efforts in which the Projeto Meros do Brasil
was involved (2009–2011) was the Projeto Pró-Arribada: Agregações Reprodutivas
de Peixes Recifais no Brasil: Subsídios para o Licenciamento Ambiental de
Atividades de Exploração e Produção (“Reproductive Aggregation of Reef Fish in
14 The Atlantic Goliath Grouper: Conservation Strategies for a Critically Endangered…