Sustentabilidade socioeconômica e ambiental na pesca do caranguejo-uçá (Ucides cordatus Linnaeus, 1763): governança e gestão na RESEX Acaú-Goiana e no estuário do Rio Paraíba

Abstract

This study analyzes the fishing of the Ucides cordatus crab, focusing on governance, fishing practices, and the sustainability perceptions of fishermen. The first chapter investigates the capture of the Ucides cordatus crab and the related governance in two distinct areas: the Acaú-Goiana Extractive Reserve (EXTRES), a Conservation Unit (CU), and the Paraíba River Estuary, which lacks formal regulation. The research revealed that despite the differences in management models, the predominant capture techniques, such as the "redinha" and "ratoeira," are widely used in both estuaries, reflecting unregulated practices that challenge the sustainability of the fishery resources. The EXTRES, although more administratively organized, faces challenges related to enforcement and fisherman engagement, while the Paraíba River Estuary, without formal regulation, shows more pronounced socioeconomic and environmental vulnerabilities. In the second chapter, the research focuses on the fishermen’s perception of the sustainability of Ucides cordatus crab capture. Interviews with fishermen highlight the importance of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and sustainable practices, such as releasing females and young crabs, to ensure the continuity of fishing and the preservation of mangroves. The research also identified that fishermen consider the mangrove resilient, but face significant challenges, such as the laboriousness of work and criminality in the Paraíba River Estuary. Dependence on middlemen for the commercialization of the crabs was observed as a limiting factor for the fishermen's economic autonomy. The methodology used for data collection involved a qualitative approach, utilizing semistructured interviews with fishermen, local leaders, and environmental managers, as well as direct observations in the fishing areas. The interviews were conducted with a flexible script, allowing exploration of aspects related to fishing sustainability, fishing practices, and governance in both estuaries. Field visits were also conducted to observe the capture techniques and working conditions, as well as the analysis of documents related to the management and regulation of fishing in the studied regions. The results indicate the need for public policies that integrate traditional knowledge with modern management approaches, promote co-management, and encourage more sustainable fishing practices. The research emphasizes the relevance of mangroves as vital ecosystems for biodiversity and the livelihood of local communities, highlighting the urgency of actions that reconcile environmental conservation with socioeconomic development.