The Role of Local Ecological Knowledge in the Conservation and Management of Reef Fish Spawning Aggregations

The goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara is a large sized (> 400 kg) and critically endangered marine fish, which is protected in many countries, including Brazil. Through the application of semi-structured interviews, we investigated the local ecological knowledge of seven fishermen specialist on catching E. itajara from the Babitonga bay, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Local long-line fisheries for E. itajara seemed to be a disappearing tradition in the studied site, with a detailed inherent local ecological knowledge system, which is also being lost. Our study also showed that fishermen engaged in recent fisheries, such as spear-fishing, can also possess a detailed local ecological knowledge system. Through the analysis of fishermen local ecological knowledge, several aspects of E. itajara life history were registered. This species is found in the inner and outer Babitonga bay, from saline waters to areas with a large input of freshwater, and inhabits submerged wooden substrates and artificial reefs such as shipwrecks, mooring pillars and cargo containers. It is known to spawn in December and subsequent summer months in the studied area. Spawning aggregations are usually seen in December (during full moon), being also eventually observed in January and February by our informants. While lobsters, spadefishes and octopuses seem to constitute the most important food items of inner bay E. itajara, outer bay individuals may feed on catfishes, crustaceans and other fish species. The goliath grouper is regarded as pacific and curious fish, but frequently display agonistic behavior in the presence of divers. Based on the perception of well experienced spear fishermen, we hypothesize that E. itajara undertakes seasonal migrations from the inner to the outer bay during summer, and that the studied population is suffering from growth over-fishing. Our data provides a practical evidence of how joining scientific and local ecological knowledge will likely benefit E. itajara local conservation and management practices by adding important new biological data into the decision-making process.

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Biogeography of transient reef-fish spawning aggregations in the Caribbean: a synthesis for future research and management

Oceanography and Marine Biology ◽

10.1201/b15406-6 ◽

2013 ◽

pp. 289-334

Keyword(s):

Reef Fish ◽

Future Research ◽

Spawning Aggregations ◽

Fish Spawning ◽

The Caribbean

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Sustainable frugality through EIA: role of socio‐ecological linkages in poverty alleviation

Management of Environmental Quality An International Journal ◽

10.1108/14777830710778319 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 556-567 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

T. Rajaram ◽

Ashutosh Das

Keyword(s):

Economic Growth ◽

Poverty Alleviation ◽

Local Ecological Knowledge ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Ecological Knowledge ◽

Content Type ◽

Marginalized Communities ◽

The Cost ◽

Ecosystem Linkages

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to bring out the shortcomings of the EIA model imported from developed countries when it is assessed for its focus on poverty alleviation in a developing nation (India) and to suggest improvements in the existing framework.Design/methodology/approachThe paper explores the current performance of EIA process in India, critically analyses the philosophy of continued sidelining of environmental protection in favour of unrestricted economic growth in the light of evidence regarding growing inequality.FindingsThe paper finds that for the proponent driven EIA model to contribute towards poverty alleviation, a new “socio‐ecological linkage document” is needed. This will bring out the fragile linkages that marginalized communities have with their local ecosystems and can be prepared with the help of local ecological knowledge. A framework to integrate the socio‐ecological linkage document into the EIA‐SEA‐SA domain is presented.Practical implicationsThe paper shows that the supportive framework of generating the “socio‐ecological linkage document” has the potential to enhance the EIA‐SEA‐SA process in terms of ensuring that plans, policies, programs and projects are sensitive to the need of ecosystem dependent poor.Originality/valueThe paper proposes a framework to support the alternative thinking that poverty alleviation can be enhanced through preservation of ecosystem linkages, in contrast to the modern paradigm of economic growth at the cost of ecosystem.

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