| ACTIVITIES
REPORT MARCH 2003 - MARCH 2004 - PROJETO BIOPESCA
MONITORING
THE INCIDENTAL MORTALITY OF CETACEANS IN THE ARTISANAL FISHERY
OF
SÃO PAULO (BRAZIL) WITH EMPHASIS ON THE FRANCISCANA (Pontoporia
blainvillei) |
 |
|
|
| MSc. Carolina Pacheco Bertozzi |
MSc. Valeria Ruoppolo |
MSc. Juliana Marigo |
| Universidade Monte Serrat |
Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária
e Zootecnia |
Aquário de Ubatuba |
| Projeto BioPesca |
Universidade de São
Paulo |
Projeto BioPesca |
|
Projeto BioPesca |
|
|
|
| 1.
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND |
Mortality in fishing gear
is possibly the most important threat to the conservation of marine vertebrate
populations throughout the world (e.g. IWC, 1994). In Brazil, marine mammals
are legally protected and are of no commercial value. Still, several species
are incidentally captured in fishing activities (e.g. Pinedo, 1994; Siciliano,
1994; Secchi et al., 1997; Zerbini and Kotas, 1998). Many are listed as
‘vulnerable’ or ‘endangered’ by national and international organizations
such as the Brazilian Environmental Agency (IBAMA), the US National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN).
The NGO Projeto BioPesca
has been developing research and environmental education activities since
1998. Its main objective is the conservation of the marine fauna, with
emphasis on the incidental capture of cetaceans and marine turtles in the
artisanal fisheries on the São Paulo coast.
This report summarizes the
studies conducted along the past 5 years, in three main areas: Praia Grande,
Mongaguá and Ubatuba. |
|
| 2.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT |
This project represents
the first long term monitoring of cetacean mortality in fishing gear in
São Paulo State. The survey started with one landing location (Praia
Grande - 6 fishing boats) (Bertozzi and Zerbini, 2002) and expanded to
different fishing communities in Praia Grande (Bertozzi et al., 2003) and
other areas (Mongaguá e Ubatuba), systematically monitoring a total
of 20 boats utilizing artisanal fishing practices.
Among the species
incidentally captured by the monitored artisanal fleet is the franciscana
(Pontoporia blainvillei), which is believed to be the most impacted cetacean
off the eastern coast of South America (e.g. Secchi et al., 1997), and
is the only dolphin species listed to be in danger of extinction in Brazil
(IBAMA, 2003). São Paulo State is part of the franciscana management
area 2 (FMA2) (Secchi et al., 2001), which is the less known among all
franciscana management areas. Franciscanas’ by-catch has been observed
along the coast of Sao Paulo State (SP) since early 1960’s (Carvalho, 1961).
Despite that, the characteristics and dynamics of the fishing fleet is
poorly known, mainly because the communities are spread along the coast,
some in areas with difficult access and therefore monitoring of those is
of great importance for the conservation of the species along its distribution. |
|
| 3.
OBJECTIVES |
a) Monitor the incidental
mortality of marine mammals in the artisanal fishery of Praia Grande and
Mongaguá and strandings in Ubatuba;
b) Characterize the fishing
methods, and gear;
c) Estimate franciscanas’
by-catch, season and areas of greater mortality; calculate catch per unit
of effort (CPUE) of incidentally captured species and monitor its trends
over time;
d) Collect samples for biological
studies;
e) Conduct divulging and
environmental education campaigns with fishermen and the local community. |
|
| 4.
SAMPLING METHODS |
| a)
Study area |
- Central coast of São
Paulo State
The fishing communities
monitored are located in the cities of Praia Grande and Mongaguá,
in the central coast of São Paulo State (Figure 1). This area is
also known as “Baixada Santista”, and it is characterized by being highly
urbanized, with highly populated areas, such as the cities of São
Vicente, Santos and Cubatão. The area is also recognized by the
most important Brazilian harbor, located in Santos, and by one of the biggest
iron and steel industry areas of the country, the Cubatão pole (CETESB,
1985).
The region of Baixada Santista
is one of the most productive marine ecosystems of the Brazilian coast.
Despite the intense pollution, still is a zone of production and growth
of many species of commercial interest (Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento,
1989).
- Northern coast of São
Paulo State
The municipality of Ubatuba
(~22o 53’S, 45 o 08’W) (Figure 1) has a 100 km of coast with 74 beaches.
Differing from the central coast it does not have high populational densities,
fact that is closely related to the proximity of the coastline to Serra
do
Mar, forming a narrow plain and limiting its occupation. The main activities
in the region are tourism and fisheries, being one of the most important
fish producers for the State. |
|
| b)
Fisheries monitoring |
The fisheries are monitored
regularly through interviews with fishermen and on-board observations.
Information about the fishery is obtained according to the recommendations
of the International Whaling Commission Scientific Committee (IWC, 1994
– Annex E). These include data on gear characteristics, effort, fishing
operations, and composition of target and not target species in the captures.
Onboard observations are carried out whenever possible.
The fishing community of
Praia Grande and Mongaguá has been monitored through interviews
with local fishermen and on-board observers with the following main goals:
1) Understanding the dynamics
of the fishing fleet and collect data on the fishing gear characteristics;
2) Monitoring cetaceans’
incidental catches;
3) Collecting biological
data on both target and non-target species. |
| c)
Data analysis |
The total fishing effort
data of each boat is added seasonally, annually and by area of fishery
for each kind of net, providing us information on the amount of nets utilized
by the artisanal fleet. The data is expressed by: km of net x hours
of fishing.
To the incidental capture
data analysis we used the relative abundance index CPUE (capture per unit
of effort). This index is calculated as a function of the size of the net
and the time it spends in the water by the total number of franciscanas
net caught x hours of fishing. Which, in this study is expressed by: number
of individuals captured x 1000/ net extension in km x hours of fishing.
The CPUE is calculated for
each season, kind of net and fishing area. This provides information on
the season of higher relative abundance of the species in the study area,
higher impact net and higher abundance area for franciscanas, respectively. |
| d)
Animals |
| Live captured cetaceans
are released from the nets, while dead animals are landed for biological
studies. They are measured and sampled according to Norris (1961) and Geraci
& Lounsbury (1993). Necropsies, sample collection, storage and analyses
are performed by a team of biologists and veterinarians in Faculdade de
Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, at the Universidade de São
Paulo (Figure 2). Samples are stored in the LAPCOM-Marine Mammal Tissue
Bank (LAPCOM-MMTB) (Ruoppolo et al., 2002). The goal of the biological
specimen banking system is to provide long-term storage of tissue samples,
histological slides, pathogens and images originated from the material
for current and future studies. This biological samples are already being
used for a variety of studies including: age determination; reproduction;
food habits; contaminants; genetics; osteology; pathology; parasites; anatomy
and others (see Results). |
 |
Necropsy of different specimens
of Pontoporia. blainvillei incidentally caught by the artisanal fishery
in Praia Grande, SP, Brasil. |
|
| e)
Environmental education and divulging work |
It is important to carry
out environmental education and divulging work on several levels, ranging
from the fishermen, their communities and the local population. One important
stage in conservation efforts is community involvement; therefore a number
of activities are being conduced:
1. Continued: destined to
the fishing communities. Divulging work focus on encouraging fishermen
to interact with researchers by showing them the importance of their cooperation
to improve the conservation of protected species. Daily contact of researchers
and fishermen communities allows them to learn and participate effectively
on the study, transforming their participation as co-executers. Newspapers,
magazines, pictures and other project results are constantly presented
to the fishermen to stimulate discussions about the subject and increase
their knowledge and awareness about the information they provide.
2. Exhibitions: destined
to the general public. Environmental education campaigns bring to the general
public's attention the natural world and its problems, aiming to develop
values and feelings of concern for nature and the motivation for people's
participation in environmental improvement and protection. Aiming to reach
a larger number of people, exhibitions were set at areas of public interest,
displaying pictures, franciscanas’ assembled skeletons, educational posters
presenting the goals and results obtained by the project, talks about marine
mammals and a small play for children, all about the importance of preserving
the marine environment and its species.
3. Talks: destined to students
in schools and universities. Performed by Projeto BioPesca researchers
aiming to introduce the project and its results, as well as to bring awareness
about conservation of the marine environment.
4. Media reports:
during its work Projeto BioPesca was subject of many media reports on newspapers
and TV showing the results of our work to the knowledge of a higher number
of people.
5. Webpage: in January 2004
Projeto BioPesca’s webpage was published: www.biopesca.oceanografia.org.
It contains information on the research developed and educational texts
on the threats for the marine environment. |
|
| 5.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION |
| a)
Monitoring of artisanal fishery of Praia Grande, SP, Brazil |
| The
Fisheries |
| 27 fishermen compose the
fishing community of Praia Grande. They operate 11 small fishing boats
(4.2 to 7.8m long) equipped with outboard engines (18-40Hp) and 2
‘Tamancas’ propelled by paddles by one of the fishermen (Figure 3). Five
different types of gillnets and one beach seine net are used. The gillnets
are either set in the bottom or left adrift for periods ranging from 1
to 22 hours. The fleet operates in coastal waters (depths of up to 20m)
from Praia Grande to Mongaguá and Moela Island – Guarujá. |
| Franciscana
by-catch |
The relative small size
of the fleet operating in the area allowed all fishing boats to be monitored.
Therefore the number of franciscana catches recorded in this study is considered
absolute for the area and period the fishery was monitored.
From August 1998 to June
2003 the local fishing community accidentally took a total of 51 franciscanas
(Figura 4). Three franciscanas were captured in a beach seine net in November
1998 and were released alive. Such events are uncommon and were only observed
once. Most animals are found dead.
A total of 24 dolphins were
landed by the fishermen, been 16 females (length = 69-122cm) and 8 males
(length=71-134cm). Females were mostly immature, while the proportion of
juvenile and mature males was equal. |
 |
 |
Franciscanas’ by-catch in
artisanal nets, Praia Grande, SP, Brasil. |
|
| CPUE
Analysis |
| Catch per unit of effort
(CPUE) analysis was performed for a period of four years, during which
43 franciscanas were incidentally captured. The CPUE analysis suggests
that a greater mortality occur near Moela Island, in depths of up to 10m
and may indicate that abundance is higher in this location. Captures occurs
throughout the year and in all seasons but CPUE is higher in the fall and
indicate that franciscanas are more vulnerable to net types ‘boeira’ and
‘fundo grossa’. |
| Conclusion |
| The annual mortality of
franciscanas in Praia Grande seems to be low. However, Praia Grande is
a small fishing community and there are several small communities similar
to this one distributed along the coast of SP. It is possible that the
mortality numbers may become important when summed for the different locations
on the whole state. It is necessary to expand the systematical monitoring
to other fishing communities to be able to evaluate the damage on the FMA2’s
population. |
| b)
Monitoring the artisanal fishery in Mongaguá, SP, Brasil |
| The
Fishery |
The fishing activities in
the municipality of Mongaguá are very similar when compared to Praia
Grande’s fleet.
 |
Both communities use gillnets,
small fishing boats equipped with outboard engines and also have other
boats that don’t present any kind of mechanization or equipment on board.
Due to the limited autonomy of the fleet the fisheries are restricted within
the 20m isobath.
The fleet monitored in Mongaguá
was composed by 2 wooden boats with 7,6m length and powered by a 9 and
13 Hp centered motor. The nets utilized by these boats were gillnets. Thee
mesh size used ranged between 7 to 30 cm and the time the nets were left
in the water ranged from 2 to 24 hours. |
|
| Franciscana’s
by-catch |
 |
During the period the by-catch
of 4 franciscanas was recorded. Two were landed, necropsied and sampled.
The nets involved were bottom nets (mesh 7cm) and surface nets (mesh 10cm).
The area was below the 10m isobath. The stranding of a live calf was also
recorded in Mongaguá. The animal was rescued but died soon after. |
|
| Conclusion |
| Besides the small number
of fishing boats monitored the incidental catch of franciscanas’ was confirmed
in the area by artisanal fishermen. These results suggest that the number
of animals caught may be substantial along this municipality due to the
fact that similar boats are found in the area. |
| c)
Monitoring strandings in Ubatuba, SP, Brazil |
In December 1996 the institution
“Aquário de Ubatuba” started monitoring strandings. In July 1997
“Project Delphinus” was created and also monitored until May 1998. During
this period 15 strandings were recorded. Sotalia fluviatilis was the most
common species recorded (73,3%, 11/15). Two Pontoporia blainvillei, one
Delphinidae and one Balenopteridae were also recorded. Thirteen strandings
(87%, 13/15) were recorded during summer months, when the number of people
frequenting the area is larger and increases observation efforts (Higa
et al., 1998).
Since then “Aquário
de Ubatuba” has been responding to local calls for live and dead marine
mammals. In 2002, Projeto BioPesca started getting more involved, helping
with the rehabilitation of a franciscana calf and in 2003 one of our researchers
has moved to Ubatuba to collect more data in collaboration with this institution.
 |
 |
Between July 2000 and March
2004, 25 records of marine mammals occurred. Pontoporia blainvillei and
Sotalia fluviatilis were the most common species (28%, 7/25 and 24%, 6/25
respectively) |
|
| d)
Environmental education and divulging work |
As described in methods,
the divulging work was conducted in different ways: constant contact with
the fishermen communities and exhibitions in public locations.
1.
Continued: The educational work with the fishery communities was
performed by the researchers during frequent interviews. Copies of the
research permits were handed to the fishermen encouraging them to collaborate
with information and specimens without the fear of been punished by law
enforcement. Information about the project and marine animals were constantly
presented to them aiming to bring information of their interest.
In addition, posters are being fixed at the landing spots to inform locals
about the project goals and conservation efforts.
2.
Exhibitions: Environmental educational campaigns to inform
the general public about the project:
2.1
Universidade Monte Serrat, Santos, SP, Brazil: consisted of a big
exhibition showing educational posters, research results and information
on the main species captured by the fishery communities (franciscanas and
sea turtles). Graduation students from the Oceanography faculty were trained
to act as monitors during the exhibition. The exhibition lasted for (January
27th to February 2nd 2003?) and was visited by more than 1458 people, who
are the ones who signed the guest book (see pictures sent by mail). The
exhibition was published by local newspapers.
2.2.
“Shopping Boqueirão”: In February 2004 the Projeto BioPesca
exhibition II was set at Shopping Center Boqueirão (a shopping center
located at Praia Grande’s main street). This year’s exhibition had educational
posters presenting the results obtained and information on the main species
captured by the fishery communities
 |
 |
(franciscanas and sea turtles);
picture panels, franciscanas’ assembled skeletons and a formalin fixed
fetus; other marine species, fishing gear, natural sized franciscanas and
marine turtles made of wood, and a magnifier for observation of zooplankton.
To make the exhibition more dynamic |
there were daily talks about
marine animals, a play for children and an origami workshop. |
| The puppets play was entitled
“The deep sea” and lasted 15 minutes, played several times a day. |
 |
 |
It presented the incidental
capture threat and the importance of the pollution of the beaches in a
ludic way. Videos were exhibit during all day and a children area was set
where kids could paint marine animal pictures. Members of the project were
available for questions and mini lectures. |
|
| T-shirts were given to the
fishermen at the exhibition encouraging them to attend and learn more about
the project, the animals and their importance. The exhibition lasted for
a week (February 2 –8, 2004) and was visited by at least 1458 people, which
are the ones who signed the guest book (see pictures sent by mail). The
exhibition was divulged by local newspapers, radio and TV (see newspapers
sent by mail). |
| 3.
Talks: Researchers from the project have been invited to give talks
in different schools, high schools, universities and other events related
to the marine environment, for example: Universidade Santa Cecília,
Santos, SP; CEESMAG, Praia Grande, SP and Aquário de Ubatuba, Ubatuba,
SP. |
|
| 6.
FUTURE |
It is necessary to continue
our divulging work with this and other fishing communities in order to
clear the importance of their participation, becoming more involved and
participating of the research team, rather than just being simple ‘collectors’.
The success of management
and conservation actions of species threatened by by-catch depends on how
well the biology of the species, the structure of the fisheries and its
interaction is known.
Therefore, the continuity
and expansion of this monitoring study is extremely important for the evaluation
of the impact of fisheries on franciscana’s population in São Paulo
State and to propose appropriated actions of management for its conservation. |
|
| 7.
PROJECT COORDINATOR AND STAFF |
MSc. Carolina P. Bertozzi
(Biologist, coordinator)
Projeto BioPesca / Universidade
Monte Serrat, Santos, SP
Address for correspondence:
Rua Paraguai, 241
Guilhermina - Praia Grande,
SP
11702-070 Brazil
phone: (13) 3473.5414, (13)
9706.7831
email: carolinabertozzi@hotmail.com
MSc. Valeria Ruoppolo (Veterinarian)
Projeto BioPesca / Departamento
de Patologia
Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária
e Zootecnia da Universidade de São Paulo
Address for correspondence:
Av. Benedito Ferreira Silva,
472
04786-000 São Paulo
- SP, Brazil
email: vruoppolo@hotmail.com
MSc. Juliana Marigo (Veterinarian)
Projeto BioPesca / Aquário
de Ubatuba
Address for correspondence:
R. Dr. Gabriel dos Santos,
420 ap. 42
01231-010 São Paulo
- SP, Brazil
email: jumarigo@hotmail.com
Juliana Viotto (Biologist)
Instituto de Ciências
Biomédicas
Universidade de São
Paulo
email: jviotto@ig.com.br
Janaina Ribeiro (Biologist)
Projeto BioPesca, Praia
Grande, SP
email: stenella_l@hotmail.com |
back...
| zurück... |
