Caracterização de uma pescaria de pequena escala em uma área de importância ecológica para elasmobrânquios, no Recreio dos Bandeirantes, Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

Small-scale fisheries are the sole source of income for millions of people around the world and operate mainly in coastal waters. This zone is used by many elasmobranch species as feeding, mating, pupping and/or nursery areas. APREBAN is a group of small-scale urban fishermen that explores the coast of Rio de Janeiro (RJ), working mainly about the 30-meter isobath, using gillnets of variable dimensions and mesh sizes. During two years of monitoring landings, 1,617 elasmobranchs of 27 species were registered, including nine threatened with extinction. Different stages of maturity were observed, including neonates and gravid or post-partum females of eight, in addition to Squatina spp.. The study area has shown important ecological relevance for elasmobranchs, especially Rhizoprionodon spp., Sphyrna spp., Squatina spp., Rhinobatos horkelii and Carcharhinus spp. We recommend a more extensive monitoring of the landings along Rio de Janeiro State in order to better characterize coastal habitat use by Elasmobranchs and their interactions with smallscale fisheries.