Exportation of reef fish for human consumption: long-term analysis using data from Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Abstract

Marine fisheries constitute a major economic activity. Several species of fish have recently been added to the list of exploited stocks, including reef-dwelling species traded on international markets. The aim of the present study was to outline a profile of local fisheries in terms of species caught, weights exports and import markets, using data obtained from firms operating in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Over the period covered by the study (1996-2008), 3,335.49 metric tons of fish belonging to 32 species (16 genera, 10 families) caught from 7,377 shipped lots for export. The most abundant families were Lutjanidae (36.77%), Scaridae (21.06%), Serranidae (20.57%), Mullidae (12.73%) and Acanthuridae (8.64%). Most of the production was air-shipped fresh to importers in the United States.