Ethnotaxonomy of sharks from tropical waters of Brazil
Abstract Background Accessing folk knowledge from small-scale fishers is an affordable and reliable approach to understand the dynamic and diversity of shark species worldwide, especially of those eventually caught. In this context, ethnotaxonomy (folk identification and classification) may represen...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13002-018-0273-0 |
| _version_ | 1829513361034838016 |
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| author | Marcelo Moreira de Carvalho Mônica Rocha de Oliveira Priscila Fabiana Macedo Lopes Jorge Eduardo Lins Oliveira |
| author_facet | Marcelo Moreira de Carvalho Mônica Rocha de Oliveira Priscila Fabiana Macedo Lopes Jorge Eduardo Lins Oliveira |
| author_sort | Marcelo Moreira de Carvalho |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Accessing folk knowledge from small-scale fishers is an affordable and reliable approach to understand the dynamic and diversity of shark species worldwide, especially of those eventually caught. In this context, ethnotaxonomy (folk identification and classification) may represent an alternative to support sharks fisheries management, especially in data-poor places. This study aimed to investigate fishing and ethnotaxonomy of the main shark species caught by small-scale fisheries from the coastal waters of the Brazilian Northeast. Methods Semi-structured and structured interviews were conducted with fishers targeting general aspects of fishing activities and specific topics regarding ethnotaxonomy, capture, and commercialization of sharks. For species identification, an ethnobiological systematic perspective was used to analyze the folk nomenclature and classification criteria. Non-parametric statistical tests were used to verify associations between species caught, fishing gear, and harvest period. Results Fishers mentioned 73 binomial names, 21 main folk species, and eight synonymies. Some species belonging to the same scientific genus are often named and grouped by the same folk name, with no distinction between species by fishers. Sharks are most landed as bycatch and correspond to less than 5% of the total commercial fisheries in the communities, with socioeconomic value for subsistence consumption and local commercialization. Sharks were said to be mainly caught with hand line and surface long line during the rainy season, while gillnet captures were associated to the dry season. At least three of the species most mentioned by fishers are currently classified as vulnerable and endangered worldwide. Conclusions Even though landed sharks account for a small proportion of the fishing catches, their biological and life history features place sharks among the most vulnerable organisms globally. Such an ethnobiological approach towards shark identification may contribute to generate basic information on species caught, their frequency in the landings, and how different species belonging to the same genus can be landed and sold together. This type of information can generate subsidies to the development of conservation and management plans for these fishing resources, where knowledge is scarce. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T12:57:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-93294652d6fc484198c177092cc4e97c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1746-4269 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T12:57:34Z |
| publishDate | 2018-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-93294652d6fc484198c177092cc4e97c2022-12-21T22:30:58ZengBMCJournal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine1746-42692018-11-0114111110.1186/s13002-018-0273-0Ethnotaxonomy of sharks from tropical waters of BrazilMarcelo Moreira de Carvalho0Mônica Rocha de Oliveira1Priscila Fabiana Macedo Lopes2Jorge Eduardo Lins Oliveira3Department of Oceanography and Limnology, Centre of Biosciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte—UFRNDepartment of Oceanography and Limnology, Centre of Biosciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte—UFRNFishing Ecology, Management, and Economics Group, Department of Ecology, Centre of Biosciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte—UFRNDepartment of Oceanography and Limnology, Centre of Biosciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte—UFRNAbstract Background Accessing folk knowledge from small-scale fishers is an affordable and reliable approach to understand the dynamic and diversity of shark species worldwide, especially of those eventually caught. In this context, ethnotaxonomy (folk identification and classification) may represent an alternative to support sharks fisheries management, especially in data-poor places. This study aimed to investigate fishing and ethnotaxonomy of the main shark species caught by small-scale fisheries from the coastal waters of the Brazilian Northeast. Methods Semi-structured and structured interviews were conducted with fishers targeting general aspects of fishing activities and specific topics regarding ethnotaxonomy, capture, and commercialization of sharks. For species identification, an ethnobiological systematic perspective was used to analyze the folk nomenclature and classification criteria. Non-parametric statistical tests were used to verify associations between species caught, fishing gear, and harvest period. Results Fishers mentioned 73 binomial names, 21 main folk species, and eight synonymies. Some species belonging to the same scientific genus are often named and grouped by the same folk name, with no distinction between species by fishers. Sharks are most landed as bycatch and correspond to less than 5% of the total commercial fisheries in the communities, with socioeconomic value for subsistence consumption and local commercialization. Sharks were said to be mainly caught with hand line and surface long line during the rainy season, while gillnet captures were associated to the dry season. At least three of the species most mentioned by fishers are currently classified as vulnerable and endangered worldwide. Conclusions Even though landed sharks account for a small proportion of the fishing catches, their biological and life history features place sharks among the most vulnerable organisms globally. Such an ethnobiological approach towards shark identification may contribute to generate basic information on species caught, their frequency in the landings, and how different species belonging to the same genus can be landed and sold together. This type of information can generate subsidies to the development of conservation and management plans for these fishing resources, where knowledge is scarce.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13002-018-0273-0Bycatch faunaFishers’ local knowledgeCoastal fishing resources |
| spellingShingle | Marcelo Moreira de Carvalho Mônica Rocha de Oliveira Priscila Fabiana Macedo Lopes Jorge Eduardo Lins Oliveira Ethnotaxonomy of sharks from tropical waters of Brazil Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine Bycatch fauna Fishers’ local knowledge Coastal fishing resources |
| title | Ethnotaxonomy of sharks from tropical waters of Brazil |
| title_full | Ethnotaxonomy of sharks from tropical waters of Brazil |
| title_fullStr | Ethnotaxonomy of sharks from tropical waters of Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ethnotaxonomy of sharks from tropical waters of Brazil |
| title_short | Ethnotaxonomy of sharks from tropical waters of Brazil |
| title_sort | ethnotaxonomy of sharks from tropical waters of brazil |
| topic | Bycatch fauna Fishers’ local knowledge Coastal fishing resources |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13002-018-0273-0 |
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