Incidência de resíduos de pesca antes e durante a pandemia do COVID-19 no litoral norte de Pernambuco – Brasil

Abstract

Abandoned, Lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), described in 2009, refers to equipment such as cables, nets and traps that continue with an active catching function without any monitoring. These devices have generated growing concern, as they are responsible for causing several negative environmental impacts, such as ghost fishing, responsible for the mortality of species present on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In addition, ALDFG account for approximately 10% of marine litter. In 2019, with the start of the new Coronavirus pandemic (SARS-CoV-2), the use of beaches was prevented, interfering directly on the fishing activity. Given this scenario, the aim of this study was to analyze the influence of the social isolation on the fishing activity and the incidence of ALDFG in northern Pernambuco. As well as describing and characterizing the ALDFG found in the beach region and comparing their frequency among the analyzed beaches. The surveys were carried out in 2019 and 2020, in four beaches on the north coast of Pernambuco, one of which is located within the Acaú-Goiana Extractive Reserve. Active searches were carried out in the beach environment, by a group consisting of four people. Each pair walked the beach in the same cities, simultaneously, for an hour. The ALDFG were photographed and collected, in addition to being taken to the Fishing Oceanography Laboratory for quali-quantitative analysis. Additionally, observation per unit of effort (OPUE) and absolute and relative frequencies were calculated. Much of the collected material was grouped into bands of smaller length, weight, diameter and height, demonstrating the predominance of fragments. There was a significant decrease in the frequency of ALDFG after the period of prohibition of the use of the beaches, but the seasonal variation remained the same, indicating that the fishing activity in the north of the state was probably not completely interrupted. The cities showed a significant difference between them, probably due to differences in the use and management of space, demographic density, tourism and the presence of a fishermen community. Thus, measures are needed to promote greater awareness of the topic and prevent the formation of new ALDFG.