The ‘‘Lord of the Rock’s’’ conservation program in Brazil: the need for a new perception of marine fishes Received: 22 April 2004 / Accepted: 17 May 2004 / Published online: 28 September 2004 Ó Springer-Verlag 2004
Epinephelus itajara (Lichtenstein 1822) is the largest Atlantic grouper (Serranidae), reaching lengths of about 2 m and weighing up to 455 kg (Bullock et al. 1992). The translation of its name to ‘‘Lord of the Rock’’ (‘‘ita’’= rock, ‘‘jara’’ =lord), provides a vivid description of this magnificent, top-level predator. However, the species is now threatened by overfishing throughout its geographical range. Its large size, slow growth, late maturity, and habit of forming spawning aggregations contribute to its vulnerability, while habitat degradation of its mangrove nursery areas has also caused serious problems (Bullock et al. 1992). Its fishing was banned in the US in 1990 and throughout the Caribbean in 1993. In Brazilian waters, E. itajara became protected by Federal law in September 2002. For the first time in this country, it was illegal to harvest, transport or trade a marine fish species. The ban has been implemented for 5 years, during which time studies Fig. 1 The ‘‘Lord of the Rock’’ (E. itajara) 1.5 m total will address future management options. length, above a shipwreck in Santa Catarina, Brazil. Photo This approach is new to Brazil and represents an ´ by Athila Bertoncini/Projeto Meros do Brasil important development for marine conservation in this country. Lively discussions are currently taking place between scientists, the government and NGOs on whether marine fish populations should be treated, as ‘‘fishing resources’’ or ‘‘wild fauna’’ (see Rosa 2003). This is important since these categories have very different legal implications. The debate has also helped increase public awareness about the risks facing E. itajara. More research about E. itajara is urgently required in Brazil. Studies of ecological knowledge show that fishermen have been aware about declining populations for a long time (Ferreira and Maida 1995). However, supporting biological data is rare (Bullock et al. 1992; Sadovy and Eklund 1999). Part of the reason for this is due to the fish s rarity and the lack of a wide and structured research program. Consequently an organization called the ‘‘Inter-institutional Group for the Protection of Meros’’, (Meros, being the Brazilian name for E. itajara) has been established, as part of a national campaign to study and conserve E. itajara (http://www.vidamar.org.br/meros). Research has been mapping habitats and spawning aggregation sites. Juveniles inhabit mangrove areas and adults can be found outside estuaries, on shipwrecks (Fig. 1), and large rocky reefs. The occurrence of large fish in these locations is highly seasonal, and limited to warmer summer months. Future studies may identify and protect habitats critical to sustaining populations, by strategically locating marine protected areas. References Bullock LH, Murphy MD, Godcharles F, Mitchell ME (1992) Age, growth, and reproduction of jewfish Epinephelus itajara in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Fish Bull 90:243–249 Ferreira BP, Maida M (1995) Projeto Mero: apresentac¸a˜o de resultados preliminares. Bol Te´cn Cient CEPENE Tamandare´ 3(1):210–210 Rosa R (2003) Os peixes brasileiros mais ameac¸ados do que nunca. Boletim da Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia. Joa˜o Pessoa 71:6–7 Sadovy Y, Eklund AM (1999) Synopsis of biological data on the Nassau grouper, Epinephelus striatus (Bloch 1792), and the jewfish, E. itajara (Lichtenstein 1822). U. S. Dep Commer, NOAATech Rep. NMFS 146, and FAO Fisheries Synopsis, vol 157, p 65
M. Hostim-Silva (&) Universidade do Vale do Itajaı´ (UNIVALI/CTTMar) Lab. Ictiologia, Rua Uruguai 458, Caixa Postal 360, Itajaı´ , SC, 88302 202, Brazil E-mail: hostim@matrix.com.br A. A. Bertoncini Æ L. C. Gerhardinger Æ L. F. Machado VIDAMAR ONG, Av. Atlaˆntica, no. 1938 Enseada, Sa˜o Francisco do Sul, SC, 89242 000, Brazil
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Coral Reefs (2005) 24: 74 DOI 10.1007/s00338-004-0437-3