Repository logo
 
Publication

A green strategy for shark attack mitigation off Recife, Brazil

2014-08Journal article Open access
Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorHazin, Fábio H. V.
dc.contributor.authorAndré S. Afonso
dc.date.accessioned2018-12-07T14:52:41Z
dc.date.available2018-12-07T14:52:41Z
dc.date.issued2014-08
dc.description.abstractShark attacks on humans have prompted the implementation of shark control programs aiming at reducing local populations of potentially aggressive species using mostly gillnets. However, shark meshing produces ecological disturbances by inflicting severe mortality not only to sharks but also to several harmless, frequently endangered taxa, including cetaceans, sirenians and chelonids. A different methodological approach to mitigate shark peril off Recife combines bottom longlining and drumlines with comparably better results. This region has been experiencing an abnormally high shark attack rate since 1992, but the protective fishing strategy was developed in 2004 only. Unlike traditional shark control programs, the Shark Monitoring Program of Recife (SMPR) aims at removing dangerous sharks not from their populations but from the hazardous area instead, which is achieved by capturing, transporting and releasing sharks offshore. During 8 years, the SMPR caught fish and turtles only and showed high selectivity for sharks compared with shark meshing. Target species comprised carcharhinids and sphyrnids and accounted for 7% of total catch. The fishing mortality of abundant taxa was generally low except for Carcharhinus acronotus and Gymnothorax spp., and protected species had similar to 100% survival. The shark attack rate diminished about 97% while fishing operations were being conducted (W = 1108.5, P < 0.001), whereas no-fishing periods and the period prior to the implementation of the SMPR had similar shark attack rates. Overall, the SMPR seems to be less detrimental than shark meshing strategies while clearly contributing for enhancing bather safety; thus, it may provide an effective, ecologically balanced tool for assisting in shark attack mitigation.
dc.description.sponsorshipState Government of Pernambuco; Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia, Portugal [SFRH/BD/37065/2007]
dc.description.versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/acv.12096
dc.identifier.issn1367-9430
dc.identifier.issn1469-1795
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/11160
dc.language.isoeng
dc.peerreviewedyes
dc.publisherWiley-Blackwell
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectNew-South-Wales
dc.subjectControl programs
dc.subjectMeshing program
dc.subjectQueensland
dc.subjectAustralia
dc.subjectAfrica
dc.subjectImpact
dc.subjectNets
dc.titleA green strategy for shark attack mitigation off Recife, Brazil
dc.typejournal article
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.awardURIinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/SFRH/SFRH%2FBD%2F37065%2F2007/PT
oaire.citation.endPage296
oaire.citation.issue4
oaire.citation.startPage287
oaire.citation.titleAnimal Conservation
oaire.citation.volume17
oaire.fundingStreamSFRH
person.familyNameAfonso
person.givenNameAndré
person.identifier.ciencia-idB513-502C-1865
person.identifier.orcid0000-0001-9129-278X
project.funder.identifierhttp://doi.org/10.13039/501100001871
project.funder.nameFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
rcaap.rightsopenAccess
rcaap.typearticle
relation.isAuthorOfPublicationf64bd98e-b302-46df-a0af-74393d406cc4
relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscoveryf64bd98e-b302-46df-a0af-74393d406cc4
relation.isProjectOfPublication9162cd45-5ec0-4b28-985a-08fd8ff03330
relation.isProjectOfPublication.latestForDiscovery9162cd45-5ec0-4b28-985a-08fd8ff03330

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
H11160.pdf
Size:
480.3 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

Collections

FCT2-Artigos (em revistas ou actas indexadas)