Contribution for the co-manangement of "uçá†crab, Ucides cordatus (L., 1763), in Cananéiaí SP

Abstract

The mangrove has a high level of productivity as well as an important role in the sea coast. In this ambient, the crab Ucides cordatus, or "uçá†crab, is an economic resource with high value. However, an effective resource management does not exist, and its adding value to local economy is underestimated. This situation is partially due to the absence of a satisfactory co-management, which could put together the scientific and etnoecological knowledges and also interact with governmental agencies. As a contribution to management plan, the population structure of "uçá†crab (density of galleries and carapace width) was studied in two different places, both located in Cananéia City. The first one was the mangrove at Aratu River, a Unit of Sustainable Use (USU) in Cananéia Island, and the second one was the mangrove at Pererinha River, a Unit of Preservation of Integral Protection (UPIP) in Cardoso Island. It was observed that a slight reduction in carapace width is occurring in the crabs of Cananéia Island, in opposition to that observed in the crabs of Cardoso Island. Field research was complemented through interviews with fishermen dedicated to crab collect, and the results corroborate that observation and point to a predatory collecting technique as the possible cause. Based on the reflection about all the results obtained, it is possible to propose a theoretical model for a co-management plan, including complementary studies and population monitoring schedule.