Caracterização da pesca do caranguejo-uça, Ucides cordatus (Linnaeus, 1763) com forjos na região do estuário do rio Mundaú, Trairi-CE

Abstract

The crab-uçá, Ucides cordatus is a species of crustacean that inhabits the zone of mangrove. Brazil has 25,000 km² of mangrove area, the largest on the planet, this environment is home to several species of fish, mollusks and crustaceans. This work was carried out in the region of the Mundaú river estuary in the municipality of Trairi-CE, from February to June 2018, and aimed to characterize the Ucides cordatus crab in the region near the estuary of the Mundaú river. The crab-uçá fishery in the Mundaú estuary is mainly made with the fishing apparatus known as "forjo". This fishing apparatus is considered passive and is made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle, chambers, wire, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic pieces and mangrove wood. Each fisherman uses from 50 to 60 "forges", placed scattered inside the mangrove. In the present study, 189 individuals of Ucides cordatus were measured and the mean and mean carcass width (Lc) measures of 164.9g and 69.1mm respectively for male, and 113.5g and 63.7mm for females . The production of the fishermen of the crab-uçá in the region of the estuary of the Mundaú river is commercialized for intermediaries. In view of the reality of this extractive activity, the crab-uçá fishery in the community located near the estuary is very important, since there are few income alternatives in the region.