THE IMPORTANCE OF CEARÁ STATE TO THE BRAZILIAN MARINE ORNAMENTAL FISH EXPORTS

Authors

  • Lívio Moreira de Gurjão Analista Ambiental, Núcleo de Pesca da Superintendência do Ibama no Ceará, Av. Visconde do Rio Branco, 3900, Joaquim Távora, CEP 60055-172, Fortaleza-CE, Brasil.
  • Tito Monteiro da Cruz Lotufo Professor Doutor, Instituto Oceanográfico da Universidade de São Paulo, Praça do Oceanográfico, 191, Sala 149B, Butantã, CEP 05508120, São Paulo-SP, Brasil.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32360/acmar.v51i1.33495

Keywords:

Marine ornamental species, marine aquarium fish, marine aquarium trade, Brazilian exports, Ceará state.

Abstract

Brazil is one of the main suppliers of marine aquarium fish in the world and Ceará state is the most relevant trader in the country. However, there is a paucity of updated information regarding the activity, which is crucial for the sustainable exploitation of those organisms. Thus, the present work provides the most recent data related to Brazilian and, more specifically, Ceará state marine aquarium fish exports, by means of the analysis of information from 420,871 authorizations of export issued by Brazilian environmental authorities in the last 10 years. Results corroborate the relevant participation of Ceará state in the Brazilian marine ornamental fish trade, but also show a substantial decline of exports along the last decade. Sixteen species were the most abundant and more frequently traded. Unsurprisingly, pomacanthids were the most important exported fish, and probably more than 283,525 individuals were wild-caught in an almost 10-years interval. Current Brazilian exports are mainly driven to Asian countries and seasonal displacements of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) seems to influence ornamental fish harvesting in Ceará state, impacting significantly the Brazilian performance in the trade.
 

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Published

2018-09-13

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Section

Artigos originais