Organização e Gestão Atual da Pesca da Lagosta Vermelha (Panulirus argus Latreille, 1804) na Plataforma Continental do Ceará, Brasil.

Abstract

The spiny lobsters present a great importance in national fish landings, especially in Ceará state. Represented by the species Panulirus argus and Panulirus laevicauda, both pecies in a overfishing situation, it is necessary a recast of the current management system to ensure the sustainability of their fishery. An analysis of current resource management was taken and the consequences of the variation in composition of catches by length at depths of 0-10 m (shallow region) and 30-50 m (intermediary region), from on board sampling and Jones’length-based cohort analysis. It was found that there is no territorial division to avoid agglomeration of fishing effort in the same region. The catch has been taken using fishing gears (legal and illegal) non selective and vessels with different sizes, occurring constant noncompliance of use and access to regulatory measures. The marketing system does not benefit the fisherman, being part of the profit destined to a middleman. In practice, the access to the resource is open, originating a system of unrestricted access, in which there is negative externality generation and leading to over-exploitation of the resource. It was found a difference between the length distributions in the sampled regions, with higher occurrence of juveniles and pre-recruits in the shallow region (SR) and larger individuals in the intermediary region (IR). The selection curves reveal that in the SR the value of L50 is 12% smaller than the minimum legal size, while the IR is greater. It was also found that in the SR 86% of catches correspond to juveniles and pre-recruits, while in IR, this percentage decreases to 26%. The mean biomasses (Bm) estimated to SR and IR are constituted in 98% and 55% by smaller individuals than permitted, respectively. In SR, an increase of 13% in the value of L50 makes it achieve the minimum legal size, increasing biomass by 79%. Also an increase of 21% in the L50 elevates the optimal minimum size (80 mm), with an increase of 84% in biomass. As Brazilian lobster’s populations are closed metapopulations, a comprehensive management plan that includes measures to mitigate negative externalities such as the creation of a TAC (Total Allowable Catch), also the increase of the minimum catch size combined with the elimination of growth overfishing should be beneficial to increase the stocks of lobster, as well as to increase the catch by weight.