GEO Brasil - UNEP

the State of Fishing Resowrces:
Fish Extraction and Agua culture
the state of environment in Brazil
production started growing again, reaching 118,000
tonnes in 1997, with a slight decline in 1998 (82,000
tons) and a drastic drop in 1999 (25,000 tons) (IBAMA,
2001) Studies carried out over a 21-year period (1977-
1997) identified two periods in which the stocks were
most favourable (1980-1984 and 1989-1994) and
unfavourable (1985-1989 and 1995-onwards) The year
of 1997 seems to be the beginning of a new
unfavourable period, ending up in an extremely low
production in 1999 Ten-year cycles, involving
favourable and unfavourable periods, are clearly
identifiable in relation to the Brazilian sardine A similar
phenomenon is observed in California and Japan
(Cergole et al, in press) However, the present crisis is
considered the most serious instance of resource
depletion
- In the Souheast and South, the most important fishery
resources are the demersal fish, particularly the whitemouth
croaker (Micropogonias furnieri), the Argentine
croaker (Umbrina canosai), and the striped weakfish
(Cynoscion guatucupa) C striatus), the king weakfish
(Macrodon ancylodon) and pink pargo (Pagrus pargus)
In a lesser degree, we find elasmobranchs such as the
tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus), the angel shark
(Squatina spp) and the viola (Rhinobatus horkelli)
(Haimovici et al, 1996; Vooren et al, 1990) The production
of the four first species in the states of São Paulo,
Santa Catarina and Rio Grande Do Sul grew up to 1977,
when it reached 53,669 tonnes From then on, it
presented some fluctuations and a severe drop in 1988,
when the production was only 24,934 tonnes After that,
it started to recover, but never reached 50,000 tonnes
again (Dias-Neto & Dornelles, op cit) The production
of the last five years has varied between 30,000 tonnes
40,000 tonnes (IBAMA, op cit) According to GPE, the
four main species have been fully exploited or even
overfished since 1984
- Commercial shrimp fishery in the Southeast and South
of Brazil is directed at the following species: pinkspotted
shrimp (Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis and F
paulensis) white shrimp (Litopenaeus schmitti),
seabob shrimp (Xiphoepenaeus kroyeri), Argentine
prawn (Artemesia longinaris) and Argentine red shrimp
(Pleoticus muelleri) Fishery of Farfantepenaeus genus
shrimps is practised on two population extracts: the
industrial segment acts on reproductive adults in the
continental platform, and the artisan segment on the
younger populations in estuaries and bays (D’Incao,
1991) The other species are shrimps whose lifecycles
only take place in the ocean (Valentini et al, 1991b, 1991c;
D’Incao, op cit) Amongst the shrimps, the most
important economic resource is the pink-spotted
shrimp (Valentini et al, 1991a) The volume of catches
effected by artisan fishery dictates the behaviour of
the total production The highest production was 16,629
tonnes in 1972, and one of the worst years was 1994,
with only 2,072 tonnes (IBAMA, 1995a) The total 1998
production of the pink-spotted shrimp in the Southeast/
South was the lowest of the historical series (only 1,901
tons), and in 1999 it was 2,143 tonnes (IBAMA, op cit)
The situation of this resource is considered critical
(Dias-Neto, 1999a) The seabob shrimp is captured in
the southeastern and southern regions of the State of
Espirito Santo and in the State of Santa Catarina The
behaviour of the total production of this resource
shows a growth trend up to 1973 (13,954 tons), with
some decreases and a recovery leading to the new
record, reached in 1982 (15,580 tons) From then on, a
period of fluctuations was observed, with a decreasing
tendency up to 1991 (4,657 tons) It recovered again
after that, reaching 7,119 tonnes in 1997 The 1999
production was only 4,116 tonnes, the lowest in thirty
years (IBAMA, op cit) The situation of this resource
is considered preoccupying (Dias-Neto, 1999a)
- Tuna fishery in Brazil is one of the most complex
because of the variety of catching methods used and
the number of different species involved Besides, it is
practised all along the coast (Dias-Neto, 1996) The
most important species are: the skipjack tuna
(Katsuwonus pelamis), the yellowfin tuna (Thunnus
albacares, T alalunga, T atlanticus), the swordfish
(Xiphias gladius), the seabream coryphene (Coryphaena
hyppurus), the mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla), the
serra Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus brasiliensis),
the Atlantic sailfish (Istiophorus albicans, Makaira
nigricans and Tetrapterus albidus) and several species
of shark, amongst others Tuna fishery in Brazil has
shown modest development if one considers that the
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