CADEIA PRODUTIVA E STATUS DE CONSERVAÇÃO DAS ESPÉCIES DE TUBARÃO (CHONDRICHTHYES: ELASMOBRANCHII) DO ESTADO DO MARANHÃO COM BASE NO CONHECIMENTO TRADICIONAL DOS PESCADORES

• Ano de defesa: 2013
• Autor(a) principal: MARTINS, Ana Paula Barbosa
• Orientador(a): LESSA, Rosângela Paula Teixeira
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Tipo de acesso: Acesso aberto
• Idioma: por
• Instituição de defesa: Universidade Federal do Maranhão
• Programa de Pós-Graduação: PROGRAMA DE PÓS-GRADUAÇÃO EM BIODIVERSIDADE CONSERVAÇÃO/CCBS
• Departamento: BIOLOGIA
• País: BR
• Palavras-chave em Português: costa amazônica equatorial; elasmobranchii; nordeste do brasil; pesca artesanal.
• Palavras-chave em Inglês: amazonian equatorial coast; elasmobranchii; northeast brazil; artisanal fishing.
• Área do conhecimento CNPq: CIENCIAS BIOLOGICAS::ZOOLOGIA::ZOOLOGIA APLICADA::CONSERVACAO DAS ESPECIES ANIMAIS
• Link de acesso: http://tedebc.ufma.br:8080/jspui/handle/tede/526

Introduction: Sharks are essential to maintain the balance of the food chain of estuarine, marine, coastal and ocean ecosystems. These animals have specific biological and ecological characteristics that, when facing overexploitation situations, can result in critical conditions of vulnerability. In recent years such situations have increased exponentially, mainly due to the demand for shark fins in the Asian trade. Due to this tremendous fishing pressure, many species are already in imminent danger of extinction. To analyze this scenario, it is essential that the social actors involved in the exploitation are considered to assess the motivations of the communities in entering into such economic activity and to contextualize the environmental impacts. In this regard, the use of the fishermen knowledge is an important tool. Hypothesis: According to the current legislation in the country, direct fishing towards sharks and the trade of endangered species are prohibited activities. Therefore, it should be of common knowledge that the group is on major threat and the existence of an active productive chain of sharks in Maranhão is unlikely. Objectives: This study aims to determine the presence and to detail the productive chain of sharks in Maranhão, and suggests the regional conservation status of shark species in the state through ethno knowledge tools. Methods: Three municipalities of Maranhão s coast were chosen as sampling points based on shark fishing history. For each location, evaluations were performed through direct observation and the application of semi-structured questionnaires addressed to fishermen, traders and middlemen who work or have worked directly in exploratory shark activities. Answers cited by more than 50% of those interviewed are presented and discussed. Results: It was observed that the productive chain of sharks is active in the state, with fresh meat as the main commercialized product. A drastic drop in sales of shark fins, previously common in the state, was reported. Declines in several species populations have been widely reported, as well as their possible causes, showing that the environmental awareness in the communities exists, but is not practiced. Conclusions: The study described the productive chain of sharks in Maranhão and showed that the fishing community is aware of the imminent population collapse of several shark species, but rarely act for the conservation and maintenance of the group.