Participatory research with fishers to improve knowledge on small-scale fisheries in tropical rivers

Freshwater small-scale fisheries sustain millions of livelihoods worldwide, but a lack of monitoring makes it difficult to check the sustainability of these fisheries. We aim to compare and describe participatory research methods used in studies with fishers in the Tapajos River, a poorly known tropical river in the Brazilian Amazon. We address three interview approaches, two ways to do fisheries monitoring and two approaches for georeferenced mapping based on fishers’ knowledge, which can provide data about at least 16 topics related to fisheries. We highlight major advantages and shortcomings of these methods and illustrate their potential with examples of results on fisheries and fish biology of Peacock bass (Cichla spp. tucunaré in Brazil), an important commercial fish in the Brazilian Amazon. The interviews, participatory monitoring and mapping revealed which fish are more valued by local communities, how fish abundance and sizes varied over time, when fish are more often caught and show reproductive activity, and which sites or habitats fish need to reproduce. In addition to providing useful data from many sites in a cost-effective way, participatory methods can bring the additional benefit of including local stakeholders in the monitoring, management, and research activitie

Fishers' knowledge indicates extensive socioecological impacts downstream of proposed dams in a tropical river

Brazil’s hydroelectricity sector is rapidly expanding, and several dams are planned in Amazonian rivers. The impacts on the fisheries downstream of the dams have largely been overlooked by official impact assessments. Here, we gather fishery baseline data from interviews with 171 fishers in 16 communities along a 275-km stretch of the Tapajos River, located downstream of a proposed dam. The results indicate that fishing constitutes a key source of food and income for fishers and their communities and that the impact of the dam on the fisheries will potentially extend much further than the officially recognized affected area. By ignoring the effects of the dams on downstream communities, impact assessments have severely underestimated the number of people who would be affected by the dams. Therefore, a thorough evaluation of downstream fishers needs to be conducted prior to river impoundment and be considered by development plans

‘Taking Fishers’ knowledge to the lab’: an interdisciplinary approach to understand fish trophic relationships in the Brazilian Amazon

Trophic levels can be applied to describe the ecological role of organisms in food webs and assess changes in ecosystems. Stable isotopes analysis can assist in the understanding of trophic interactions and use of food resources by aquatic organisms. The local ecological knowledge (LEK) of fishers can be an alternative to advance understanding about fish trophic interactions and to construct aquatic food webs, especially in regions lacking research capacity. The objectives of this study are: to calculate the trophic levels of six fish species important to fishing by combining data from stable isotopes analysis and fishers’ LEK in two clear water rivers (Tapajós and Tocantins) in the Brazilian Amazon; to compare the trophic levels of these fish between the two methods (stable isotopes analysis and LEK) and the two rivers; and to develop diagrams representing the trophic webs of the main fish prey and predators based on fisher’s LEK. The fish species studied were Pescada (Plagioscion squamosissimus), Tucunaré (Cichla pinima), Piranha (Serrasalmus rhombeus), Aracu (Leporinus fasciatus), Charuto (Hemiodus unimaculatus), and Jaraqui (Semaprochilodus spp.). A total of 98 interviews and 63 samples for stable isotopes analysis were carried out in both rivers. The average fish trophic levels did not differ between the stable isotopes analysis and the LEK in the Tapajós, nor in the Tocantins Rivers. The overall trophic level of the studied fish species obtained through the LEK did not differ from data obtained through the stable isotopes analysis in both rivers, except for the Aracu in the Tapajós River. The main food items consumed by the fish according to fishers’ LEK did agree with fish diets as described in the biological literature. Fishers provided useful information on fish predators and feeding habits of endangered species, such as river dolphin and river otter. Collaboration with fishers through LEK studies can be a viable approach to produce reliable data on fish trophic ecology to improve fisheries management and species conservation in tropical freshwater environments and other regions with data limitations

RELAÇÕES PESO-COMPRIMENTO E COMPRIMENTO-COMPRIMENTO DE QUATRO ESPÉCIES DE PEIXES DE PEQUENOS RIACHOS DA BACIA DO RIO TROMBETAS, AMAZÔNIA BRASILEIRA

The length‒weight (LWR) and length‒length (LL) relationships were estimated for four fish species of small streams from the Trombetas River basin, Lower Amazon tributary, western of Pará State, Brazil. Fishes were collected using sieves with 70 cm x 40 cm and 1 mm mesh size in December 2018. The a parameter ranged from 0.0150 for Copella nattereri (Lebiasinidae) to 0.0252 for Laimosemion dibaphus (Rivulidae). The allometric coefficient b ranged from 2.837 for Copella nattereri to 3.263 for Crenuchus spilurus (Crenuchidae). The present study reports the first estimates of LWRs for two species, the first LLR to four fish species from small streams of Trombetas River basin, and the new record of maximum total length for Copella nattereri.Keywords: Fish biometry; Allometric coefficient; Fish ecology; Amazon basin; Western Pará.As relações peso-comprimento (LWRs) e comprimento-comprimento (LLRs) foram estimadas para quatro espécies de peixes de igarapés da bacia do Rio Trombetas, afluente do Baixo Amazonas, oeste do estado do Pará, Brasil. Os peixes foram coletados com puça de 70 cm x 40 cm e malha de 1 mm em dezembro de 2018. O parâmetro a variou de 0,0150 para Copella nattereri (Lebiasinidae) a 0,0252 para Laimosemion dibaphus (Rivulidae). O coeficiente alométrico b variou de 2,837 para Copella nattereri a 3,263 para Crenuchus spilurus (Crenuchidae). O presente estudo registra as primeiras estimativas de LWRs para duas espécies, o primeiro LLR para quatro espécies de peixes de igarapés da bacia do Rio Trombetas e o novo registro de comprimento total máximo para Copella nattereri.Palavras-chave: Biometria de peixes, Coeficiente alométrico, Ecologia de peixes, Bacia Amazônica, Oeste do Pará

Which fish is this? Fishers know more than 100 fish species in megadiverse tropical rivers

Ethnobiological studies on folk, common, or popular names that fishers use to identify fish can help improve fisheries monitoring and collaborations between fishers and researchers. This study investigates fishers’ knowledge (recognition, naming, and habitat use) on 115 and 119 fish species, respectively, in the Negro and Tapajos Rivers, two megadiverse rivers in the Brazilian Amazon, and investigates the relationship between such knowledge and fish importance to fisheries, fish abundance, and fish size. We also compared fishers’ perceptions on fisheries and fish abundance with literature data on fish harvests and fish sampling. We interviewed 16 fishers in 16 communities (one fisher per community, 8 communities along each river). These fishers recognized an average of 91 ± 10.4 species in the Negro River and 115 ± 7.2 species in the Tapajos River, but all fishers recognized 114 species in Negro and all species in Tapajos. The fishers’ knowledge of fish species was positively related to fishers’ perceptions on fish abundance, size, and importance to fisheries in the Negro, but only positively related to fish size in the Tapajos. Our results highlight the usefulness of fishers’ knowledge to providing data on use and cultural relevance of fish species in high diversity aquatic ecosystems

Cartilha de pesca: estimulando e orientando a organização comunitária

A pesca é uma das atividades hu­manas mais antigas e com grande importância em todo o mundo. Da mesma maneira, as populações Amazônicas possuem alta depen­dência dos recursos pesqueiros, seja para a geração de renda ou como fonte de alimento para a população que reside às margens dos rios e la­gos, como ocorre no município de Oriximiná-PA. Dada a importância econômica, so­cial e cultural da atividade pesquei­ra, a Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará-UFOPA através do projeto de extensão: “Etnoconservação, gestão comunitária e uso sustentável da biodiversidade aquática no Oeste Paraense”, desenvolveu esta carti­lha. O objetivo da cartilha é divulgar informações sobre a atividade pes­queira ao público em geral e espe­cialmente àqueles ligados a pesca, abordando a importância, legisla­ções, relações com o ambiente, en­tre outros assuntos que enfatizam o desenvolvimento da pesca de forma sustentável na região amazônica.Fishing is one of the oldest and most important human activities in the world. In the same way, the Amazonian populations are highly dependent on fishing resources, either for income generation or as a source of food for the population living on the banks of rivers and lakes, as occurs in the municipality of Oriximiná-PA. Given the economic, social and cultural importance of the fishing activity, the Federal University of the West of Pará-UFOPA through the extension project: “Ethnoconservation, community management and sustainable use of aquatic biodiversity in West Paraense”, developed this booklet. The purpose of the booklet is to disseminate information about the fishing activity to the general public and especially to those related to fishing, addressing the importance, legislation, relations with the environment, among other issues that emphasize the development of fisheries in a sustainable manner in the Amazon region

Fishers’ knowledge on abundance and trophic interactions of the freshwater fish Plagioscion squamosissimus (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) in two Amazonian rivers

Small-scale fisheries provide income and food security to local peoples around the world. In the Brazilian Amazon, the pescada (Plagioscion squamosissimus) is among the fishes that contributes most to catches in small-scale fisheries. Our main goal was to evaluate the abundance, size, relevance to small-scale fisheries and trophic ecology of P. squamosissimus in the Tapajós and Tocantins rivers, in the Brazilian Amazon. We combined data from fishers’ local ecological knowledge (LEK) and fish sampling. We expected that fishers in the Tapajós River, less altered by anthropic changes, would cite a higher abundance, larger size and more prey and predators of P. squamosissimus. We interviewed 61 and 33 fishers and sampled fish in nine and five sites in the Tapajós and Tocantins rivers, respectively. The comparison between fishers’ citations and fish sampled indicated a higher relevance of P. squamosissimus to fishers in the Tapajós River, where this fish had an average larger size and where the fishers mentioned more food items. This pattern could be partially related to the history of anthropogenic changes in the Tocantins River. These results indicated that P. squamosissimus is a generalist fish, which could be resilient to fishing and environmental pressures.A pesca de pequena escala fornece renda e segurança alimentar para as populações locais em todo o mundo. Na Amazônia brasileira, a pescada (Plagioscion squamosissimus) está entre os peixes que mais contribuem para as capturas em pescarias de pequena escala. Nosso objetivo principal foi avaliar a abundância, tamanho, relevância para a pesca artesanal e ecologia trófica de P. squamosissimus nos rios Tapajós e Tocantins, na Amazônia brasileira. Combinamos dados do conhecimento ecológico local dos pescadores (CEL) e amostragem de peixes. Esperávamos que os pescadores do rio Tapajós, menos alterado por mudanças antrópicas, citassem maior abundância, maior tamanho e mais presas e predadores de P. squamosissimus. Entrevistamos 61 e 33 pescadores e amostramos peixes em nove e cinco locais nos rios Tapajós e Tocantins, respectivamente. A comparação entre as citações dos pescadores e os peixes amostrados indicou uma maior relevância de P. squamosissimus para os pescadores do rio Tapajós, onde este peixe teve um tamanho médio maior e onde os pescadores mencionaram mais itens alimentares. Esse padrão pode estar parcialmente relacionado ao histórico de mudanças antrópicas no rio Tocantins. Esses resultados indicaram que P. squamosissimus é um peixe generalista, que pode ser resiliente à pesca e às pressões ambientais

Comparação da dinâmica da pesca em comunidades ribeirinhas e no município de Baião, Baixo Rio Tocantins, Amazônia Brasileira

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Etnoecologia e Pesca : influência de unidades de conservação e aplicação do conhecimento ecológico local de pescadores no manejo e conservação dos recursos pesqueiros no Baixo Rio Tapajós, Amazônia brasileira

Pescarias tropicais são consideradas multiespecíficas, mas podem apresentar diferentes níveis de seletividade. A falta de longas séries temporais de dados pesqueiros, principalmente em ecossistemas tropicais, prejudica a avaliação das mudanças e impactos relacionados à pesca. A explotação pesqueira em ambientes tropicais está associada ao processo de substituição das maiores espécies por espécies de menor porte (fishing down process). O conhecimento ecológico local (CEL) de pescadores tem sido aplicado em estudos de ecologia, distribuição e abundância atual e passada de peixes para avaliar a conservação de espécies, de ecossistemas e na elaboração de normas de manejo. O objetivo da tese é analisar os padrões de seletividade da pesca continental da Amazônia através de dados secundários, investigar mudanças na abundância e composição das espécies capturadas no Baixo Rio Tapajós ao longo do tempo, bem como propor uma abordagem de manejo pesqueiro baseado no conhecimento ecológico local dos pescadores, registrados através de entrevistas e desembarques pesqueiros (dados primários). Analisamos a seletividade de pescarias em 46 locais ao longo da Bacia Amazônica, através da proporção da biomassa das principais espécies capturadas, proveniente de 15 estudos científicos já publicados. Entrevistamos 203 pescadores e 51 deles realizaram o monitoramento participativo de suas pescarias durante um ano, em 11 comunidades do Baixo Rio Tapajós. Analisamos o CEL de pescadores sobre possíveis mudanças na abundância e composição; tamanho e época reprodutiva das espécies de peixes mais capturadas, relacionando à literatura cientifica e desembarques pesqueiros. Avaliamos o nível de conservação dos recursos pesqueiros em três diferentes categorias de Unidades de Conservação (UCs), com diferentes tempos de criação. A maioria das pescarias Amazônicas foram consideradas moderadamente seletivas. Onze espécies de peixes (nove delas migratórias) têm recebido maior pressão de pesca nas regiões Amazônicas (Capítulo 1). A composição das espécies mais capturadas variou temporalmente no Baixo Rio Tapajós, apresentando tendência de diminuição das maiores espécies como o pirarucu (Arapaima gigas), tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) e tucunaré (Cichla spp.). O tempo de criação das UCs na Amazônia apresentou influência positiva na conservação das espécies, enquanto que a proximidade e o acesso ao mercado consumidor apresentaram influência negativa (Capítulo 2). Pescadores citam tamanhos reprodutivos das espécies de acordo com os tamanhos registrados na literatura científica. Pescadores citam o período reprodutivo das espécies de acordo com desembarques pesqueiros, mas parcialmente de acordo com a literatura (Capítulo 3). O CEL dos pescadores mostrou-se eficiente na avaliação do tamanho reprodutivo e mudança da composição das espécies explotadas ao longo do tempo, identificando o “fishing down process” no Baixo Rio Tapajós. O manejo dos recursos pesqueiros na Amazônia e no Baixo Rio Tapajós pode ser direcionado às principais espécies e deve considerar o conhecimento das populações locais de duas maneiras: a) abordagem ecossistêmica integrada direcionada a espécies migratórias e áreas de vulnerabilidade; e b) incentivo aos sistemas de co-manejo locais, onde os pescadores participam da elaboração, implementação e fiscalização das normas de pesca baseadas em seu conhecimento sobre os recursos, podendo focar no manejo de espécies sedentárias e na proteção de lagos e igarapés próximos às comunidades ribeirinhas.Tropical fisheries are considered multi-species, but these fisheries may show different degrees of selectiveness. The lack of long-term fisheries data, mainly in tropical ecosystems, affects the assessment of changes and impacts related to fisheries. The fisheries exploitation in tropical environments is associated to the process of replacing the larger species by smaller species, called fishing down process. The Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) of fishers have been applied to studies of ecology, distribution and current and past abundance of fishes to assess the conservation of species and ecosystems and in the development of management rules. The goal of this thesis is to analyze the patterns of selectivity of the inland fisheries of the Amazon through secondary data, to investigate changes over time in the abundance and composition of species caught in the Lower Tapajós River, as well as, to propose an approach to fisheries management based to fishers’ LEK, recorded by interviews and fish landings (primary data). The selectivity of fisheries was analyzed in 46 sites along the Amazon Basin through the proportion of biomass accounted for the most caught fish species from 15 scientific studies already published. We interviewed 203 fishers and 51 of them conducted participatory monitoring of their fish landings during one year, in 11 communities of the Lower Tapajós River. We analyzed the fishers’ LEK about possible changes in abundance and composition, size and spawning season of the most caught fish species and compared LEK with scientific literature and fish landings. We evaluated the level of conservation of fisheries resources in three different categories of Conservation Units (CUs) created at distinct periods. Most of the studied Amazonian fisheries were considered moderately selective. Eleven fish species (nine of them migratory) have received more fishing pressure in the Amazonian regions (Chapter 1). The composition of the most caught species changed over time in the Lower Tapajós River, showing a trend of decreasing abundance of larger species, such as, pirarucu (Arapaima gigas), tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) and tucunaré (Cichla spp.). The time of creation of CUs had a positive influence in the species conservation, while the proximity and access to the consumer market had a negative influence (Chapter 2). Fishers cited reproductive sizes of the species which agreed to sizes reported in the scientific literature. Fishers cited fish spawning seasons that agreed with fish landings, but were only partly in accordance with the literature (Chapter 3). The fishers’ LEK was efficient in the evaluation of the reproductive size and changes in the composition of the exploited species over time, identifying the fishing down process in the Lower Tapajós River. The fisheries management in the Amazon and in the Lower Tapajós River may be directed to the main fish species and must consider the knowledge of local populations in two ways: a) an integrated ecosystem approach directed to migratory species and vulnerability areas; and b) encouraging local systems of co-management, where fishers participate in the creation, design, implementation, enforcement and monitoring of fishing rules based on their knowledge about resources, and the management should focus on sedentary species and the protection of lakes and streams near the riverside communities

Ecologia humana da pesca e mudanças ambientais no Baixo Rio Tocantins, Amazônia brasileira

A pesca artesanal de pequena escala (ou subsistência) tem sido historicamente pouco estudada. Poucos estudos buscam compreender os fatores que influenciam a pesca nessa escala. Populações humanas que dependem dos recursos naturais apresentam bom conhecimento sobre o ambiente e os recursos explorados. Barramentos de rios são uns dos principais impactos na pesca de águas interiores, e pouco se sabe sobre esses impactos ao longo do tempo. Portanto, informações das populações locais e da pesca de subsistência podem melhorar e complementar o conhecimento científico sobre a pesca e os impactos causados por barramentos. O objetivo desse estudo é analisar as características da dinâmica da pesca artesanal de subsistência no Baixo Rio Tocantins (Amazônia brasileira) através de entrevistas e desembarques pesqueiros. Testamos a eficiência do conhecimento ecológico local de pescadores através de entrevistas no diagnóstico da dinâmica da pesca e de mudanças ambientais decorrentes de barragens em grandes rios (1º capítulo). Também analisamos o rendimento pesqueiro e as variáveis que influenciam na captura de peixes em cinco comunidades de pescadores artesanais do Baixo Rio Tocantins (2º capítulo). Foram realizadas 300 entrevistas com pescadores de nove comunidades ribeirinhas e registrados 606 desembarques pesqueiros em cinco destas comunidades, em 67 dias de amostragem. Através das entrevistas é possível identificar os peixes mais capturados, as artes de pesca e tamanhos de malhas de redes mais utilizadas pelos pescadores, além da sazonalidade da abundância dos peixes. Houve mudança na composição dos desembarques pesqueiros, 22 anos após o barramento. Através das entrevistas com os pescadores, foi possível identificar também quais espécies de pescado aumentaram (Plagioscion squamosissimus), quais diminuíram (Characidae, várias espécies de pacu), bem como quais desapareceram (Semaprochilodus brama) após o barramento. A produção anual e o rendimento financeiro da pesca foram reduzidos em cerca de 55% após o barramento do rio. A maior parte da variação da biomassa de peixes capturada é explicada pelas variáveis ligadas ao esforço e comportamento do pescador: tempo de pesca (35%), número de pescadores (30%) e a distância até local de pesca (20%). Entrevistas demonstraram ser um método rápido, confiável e de baixo custo para obter importantes informações sobre a pesca e os impactos à jusante de uma hidrelétrica em um grande rio amazônico. O conhecimento ecológico local pode complementar pesquisas ecológicas de longa duração de uma maneira rápida e eficiente. Considerar os pescadores, seu conhecimento e seu comportamento na elaboração de planos de manejo pesqueiro adequados com a realidade local, parece ser a maneira mais promissora de garantir a manutenção da biodiversidade, conservação dos recursos pesqueiros e manutenção da pesca artesanal como atividade econômica.Small-scale artisanal (or subsistence) fisheries have been little studied. Few studies have attempted to understand the factors that influence the fisheries on this scale. Human populations that depend upon natural resources show good knowledge about the environment and the exploited resources. Dams are among the main impacts affecting inland fisheries and there is little knowledge about the impacts of dams on fisheries over time. Information from local populations and subsistence fishing may improve and complement the scientific knowledge on fisheries and dam’s impacts. The aim of this study is to analyze the dynamics of subsistence fishing in the Lower Tocantins River (Brazilian Amazon) through interviews and fish landings. We tested the efficiency of recording fishermen’s local ecological knowledge through interviews for assessment of the fisheries dynamics and environmental changes caused by dams in large rivers (1st chapter). We also analyzed the fishing income and the variables that influence the biomass of fish caught in five fishing communities of the Lower Tocantins River (2nd chapter). We conducted 300 interviews with fishermen in nine riverine communities and recorded 606 fish landings in five of these communities in 67 sampling days. Through interviews it is possible to identify the most caught fish species, the fishing gear and gillnet mesh sizes used by most of the fishermen, and the seasonal fish abundance patterns. The composition of fish landings changed 22 years after the dam’s closure. Through interviews with fishermen, also it was possible to identify the species of fish that increased (Plagioscion squamosissimus), decreased (Characidae, several species of pacu) and even disappeared (Semaprochilodus brama) after the dam’s closure. The annual production and financial income of fishing have been reduced by about 55% after the dam’s closure. Most of the variation in the biomass of fish caught is explained by variables related to the fishing effort and to the fisherman’s behavior , such as fishing time (35%), number of fishermen (30%) and distance to fishing grounds (20%). Interviews with fishermen showed to be fast, reliable and inexpensive methods to obtain important information about the fisheries and the impacts downstream from a dam in a large Amazonian river. The local ecological knowledge of resource users can complement long-term ecological research efficiently. The fishermen, their knowledge and their behavior should be considered when developing fisheries management plans appropriate to local realities. This seems to be the most promising way to ensure the maintenance of biodiversity, conservation of fishing resources, and maintenance of artisanal fisheries as an economic activity