Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: VINICIUS DA SILVA ALVES

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : VINICIUS DA SILVA ALVES
DATE: 11/02/2026
TIME: 09:00
LOCAL: Google Meet (meet.google.com/gsr-vndr-qws)
TITLE:

Influence of waste from artisanal fishing on the fish assembly in the surf zone of oceanic beaches

KEY WORDS:

Environmental impact; Fish assembly; Surf zone; Fish waste; Applied ecology

PAGES: 48
BIG AREA: Ciências Biológicas
AREA: Ecologia
SUMMARY:

Human population growth and the intensification of coastal activities have increased anthropogenic impacts on marine ecosystems, especially on sandy beaches, which are highly dynamic and biologically diverse environments. In these areas, artisanal fishing stands out as a recurring source of organic waste, often discarded directly on the beach, constituting a form of pollution, but also a potential food source for coastal fauna. Despite this, there are still few studies evaluating the effects of fish processing waste on the ichthyofauna of the surf zone. The objective of this study was to evaluate how the disposal of fish waste from artisanal fishing, together with abiotic variables and seasonality, influence the abundance, biomass, and composition of the fish assemblage in the surf zone. It was hypothesized that areas with waste disposal would have greater abundance and biomass, in line with the theory of optimal foraging and the effects of predictable food subsidies of anthropogenic origin. The study was conducted in Caiçara do Norte, on the northern coast of Rio Grande do Norte, between October 2024 and September 2025. The ichthyofauna was sampled monthly by beach trawling in three areas with different levels of anthropic impact and hydrodynamics, covering dry and rainy periods. Environmental variables were measured in situ, and the data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate approaches, including PERMANOVA, NMDS, GAMLSS, and RDA. A total of 3,466 individuals were recorded, distributed across 30 species, with greater abundance and biomass in the dry season and in the area impacted by waste disposal. The composition of the assemblage varied spatially and temporally, being strongly influenced by salinity, transparency, algal biomass, and the presence of solid waste. It can be concluded that the disposal of fish processing waste alters the structure of fish assemblages in the surf zone, reinforcing the need for proper management, reuse of this waste, and awareness-raising and enforcement actions in artisanal fishing communities.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - 1545394 - FULVIO AURELIO DE MORAIS FREIRE
Externo à Instituição - BIANCA BENTES DA SILVA
Externa à Instituição - MARIE-CHRISTINE RUFENER