| Resumo: |
Sharks have certain biological characteristics, such as late sexual maturation, slow growth and low fecundity, which make them vulnerable to the pressure exerted by industrial and artisanal fishing activities. The development of research into catches and the production chain of target species is important given the increase in consumption of meat from populations of species that are overexploited or for which information is scarce. This study is an initiative to update information on the scenario of shark meat capture and marketing in the municipality of Raposa, Maranhão. To this purpose, individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with fishermen, traders and consumers, as well as the participation of masters to identify and map shark catching areas. Twelve species of shark, nine of which were classified as endangered, were identified as being frequently caught. These species were regularly traded and the price of the meat varied from R$ 2.83 (US$ 0.57) to R$ 17.80 (US$ 3.60) depending on the species, with a preference for consumption by hammerhead sharks (genus Sphyrna). The nurse shark Ginglymostoma cirratum was the predominant species in shark landings, with a relative frequency of 51.28%. The average catch per unit effort (CPUE), considering the number of individuals caught per 24- hour period of effective fishing at each site, ranged from 4.09 to 6.33 sharks. The average CPUE per 24-hour period for Carcharhinus porosus was 6.81 sharks, indicating that occasional catches in large numbers (shoals) interfered in the results. The main consumption criteria identified were taste, quality, price and the absence of thorns. The lack of fishing control and planning in the locality makes it possible to maintain illegal fishing and trade in endangered shark species. Finally, against a backdrop of the structural weakness of environmental institutions, actions such as communication campaigns and social mobilization are urgently needed and should be directed at the last link in the supply chain, the consumers, who are exposed to eating a type of meat potentially contaminated by toxic metals and metalloids, including mercury, rubidium, lead and arsenic, which also cause damage to endangered species. |
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