Comparative study of artisanal catch of sea bob shrimp and its by-catch fauna in two fishing grounds of the Espí­­rito Santo coast, Brazil

Abstract

The Penaeidae prawn fishery has huge social importance because it is largely distributed and targets a high valuable commercial resource. However, this fishery shows low selectivity and is responsible for the highest captures of by-catch. In a study realized at Manguinhos and Itaoca, both sited in Espí­­rito Santo state, Brazil, samples were collected on a monthly basis on board of otter trawl vessel from October of 2003 to September of 2004 and recorded the shrimp CPUE, by-catch composition and fate. Seventy seven species were identified in the samples, being thirty nine common for two localities. The teleostei fish group was the most specious and the highest biomass caught in both sites. The proportion of targeted-species:by-catch was 1:3. The used fauna composition differs between both localities, being intimately linked to local fishery dynamics. Targeted and by-catch annual catches estimates are present, moreover alternatives that aim the sustainability and valorization of exploited resources are shown.