El consumo de cangrejo Ucides cordatus (LINNAEUS, 1763) en Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil

Abstract

The state of Ceará is considered the largest consuming centre of mangrove crab in Brazil, most is consumed in Fortaleza, although, here since 1997 the capital register the lowest production of the Brazilian Northeast. To meet the demand of the consumer market, the state capital imports the product of the major producers in Maranhão and Piauí states. In this study were analyzed landings and consumption of mangrove crab (Ucides cordatus) at Futuro beach, Fortaleza, Ceará. The study was conducted monthly in the period of November/2005 the Octuber/2006. 3.000 crabs were sampled getting the following results: the average of the carapace length (Lc) was calculated as 75.4 ± 4.53mm; the estimated average weight was 188g. It was found one female and another individual with carapace length (Lc) below that permitted by Ordinance 70/2000 which prohibits the capture of individuals less than 60mm. The average mortality rate was 17.27% with peak in October with 32.40% related to post-molt. The months classified by local business men as the period of high season were: December, January and July, the other months were low season. It was observed that this fisheries provides jobs and income for a considerable number of people. Approximately 1,970 employees in the off season, increasing 13% in high season. It was found that 85% of the catch that arrives in Fortaleza is landed at the site studied with 791.0 t/year or 4,207,446 crabs/year. The monthly average landing on Futuro beach was 65.0 t/month and ranging from 56.0 t/month in off season to 95.0 t/month in high season. So it is possible to classify the place of study as the largest consumer centre of mangrove crab of Fortaleza. Poor transportation is responsible for the discard of at least 165.0 t of crab a year. It is worrying the intensification of fishing of extractive resource together with bad transport