CHARACTERIZATION OF RECREATIONAL SPEARFISHING IN A SUBTROPICAL ROCKY REEF

Spearfishing is a highly selective activity, but the selectivity does not necessarily make it a sustainable one, as the majority of defenders of this fishing method claim. This study aimed to evaluate which traits make fished... [ view full abstract ]

Spearfishing is a highly selective activity, but the selectivity does not necessarily make it a sustainable one, as the majority of defenders of this fishing method claim. This study aimed to evaluate which traits make fished species more or less attractive to spearfisher and the relationship between fisher expertise and characteristics of the catch in rocky reefs in the Southeastern Atlantic. The investigation was carried out in the Marine Extractive Reserve of Arraial do Cabo. In terms of abundance, the family Scaridae was caught most, and the biomass of the caught fish was mainly composed of herbivores and macro-carnivorous fish. The main attributes that make a species a more preferential target of spearfisher are, firstly, a pelagic habitat, followed by a larger size, and a tendency to form schools. Our studies have also shown a direct relation between the fishers's experience and the catch composition, where experienced spearfishers catch mainly fish with larger sizes and weight. That the oldest spearfishers recognize that stocks of targeted fish have reduced throughout their practice can be taken as evidence that environmental reference is changing, a phenomenon reported in other areas of the world as well. Spearfishing permits selective fishing, but it is up to the fisher to exercise selectivity, so if the activity are not selective, itself will not be. To minimize the effects of spearfishing on target species and to enhance protection of functionally important fishes, we recommend that fishery managers adjust controls on the catch.