Tubarões capturados em pescarias de pequena escala do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte: abordagens etnotaxonômica e reprodutiva com vistas à gestão e conservação

Abstract

Sharks are important regulators of fish and invertebrate populations in aquatic ecosystems. At small-scale fisheries, these animals are translated as socioeconomic resources, generating income on coastal communities. The inshore-dependent life cycle species Rhizoprionodon porosus (Poey, 1861) is one of the most frequent on landings, therefore liable to overfishing. Despite ecological and socioeconomic importance, alternatives providing fundamental information on monitoring and assessment of population stocks are limited, compromising the development of management and conservation plans. Thus, this study aimed to identify sharks species captured by small-scale fisheries from the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Northeastern Brazil, by using ethnotaxonomic approach; and also present reproductive aspects of Rhizoprionodon porosus. Data were obtained from literature review, semi-structured interviews with local fishers and specimens sampling from fishery landings along the coast of the State. Fishers identified 23 shark ethnospecies and among them, there are species under risk of extinction at national and global scale. Specimens of R. porosus were mainly neonate individuals with body size lower than the calculated for the first sexual maturity. In general, fisheries operate within nursery zones for the species. This study has contributed by providing database regarding ethnotaxonomic identification of shark species and reproductive aspects of one commercial species frequently captured in coastal fisheries.