Coastal social-ecological system: an integrative analysis to fishery conservation in Brazil
human ecology, co-manegement, ecosystem services, overfishing, ecosystem-based approach.
Promoting conservation of fisheries in Brazil is important because the country has a dense hydrographic network and a huge coastline, as well as high fishing productivity and a high degree of dependence of this ecosystem service by society. However, it is known that the majority of fish stocks are overexploited, putting at risk the sustainability of fisheries and the livelihoods of human communities that depend upon fisheries resources. In this context, fishing management strategies are important for maintaining the stocks and sustainability of these communities. However, this strategy, if poorly planned, can interfere in the resilience of the socioecological system and in the provision of ecosystem service. In this work, socioeconomic, political and ecological relations of the marine socioecological system were investigated using an integrative analysis on the coast of Brazil. Information on the regional fishing dynamics, socioeconomic aspects, geographic and ecological variables were collected from a database available on-line. Data collected through questionnaires with fishers were also used. In the first chapter, the current situation of fish stocks of some endangered species was analyzed, as well as the behavior of these stocks and the economic gains from fishing in different conservation scenarios. In the second chapter, an index of coastal vulnerability was created to access the socioecological vulnerability of coastal states. Finally, in the third chapter, the ecological effects of new fishing management strategies, the management potential of the fishing communities and the adaptive capacity of the artisanal fishers were analyzed. Our findings can be used in the zoning and selection of areas for conservation actions, and in the implementation of new management strategies or evaluation of those already existing. It is hoped that this study will contribute to the maintenance of fishing activities, the protection of fishing resources and the sustainability of the fishery communities.