Relações benéficas e prejudiciais entre as populações pesqueiras artesanais e peixes-boi marinhos (trichechus manatus) na área de proteção ambiental Costa dos Corais, Alagoas, Brasil

Abstract

The West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) is one of the most endangered marine mammal species in Brazil, and its reintroduction has emerged as one of the strategies to recover the population and expand its distribution. In this context, currently, the relationships and interactions between artisanal fishing communities and the marine manatees are a key point in the conservation of both the species and the maintenance of the ways of life of these communities. Thus, the objective of this study was to identify the beneficial and detrimental relationships that occur between marine manatees and artisanal fishermen through their interactions and perceptions. Additionally, a sociodemographic profile of these fishermen was also drawn. To achieve this, we interviewed 84 fishermen from 4 cities around the Costa dos Corais Environmental Protection Area (APACC) between the months of January and June 2019. The data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics with the software Past and R. The results showed that 77.4% of the respondents rely solely on fishing as their source of income. Approximately 47.62% of the fishermen had detrimental relationships, with damages to nets and interference in fishing activities being the most common. Beneficial relationships were associated with intangible benefits. Positive perceptions were linked to the sense of value in the profession and good relationships between fishermen and representatives of the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio). However, negative perceptions were related to the frequency of negative interactions, coupled with feelings of undervaluation of fishermen by ICMBio. Therefore, the origin of conflicts between fishermen and manatees appears to be multifaceted. They arise and intensify not only due to the impacts of negative interactions between them but also in conjunction with the interpretations and perceptions of fishermen about their relationship with ICMBio representatives and the sense of injustice due to the loss of areas after zoning. In light of this, initiatives that seek to establish a relationship of trust between fishermen and environmental agency representatives, as well as those that increase tangible and intangible benefits for local populations, are essential for the conservation of the species and the ways of life of these communities.