PESCA ACIDENTAL DE ESPÉCIES NÃO-ALVO NO BRASIL: UMA REVISÃO SISTEMÁTICA

Incidental fishing of non-target species in BrazilL: A systematic review

Abstract

The incidental capture, referred to as bycatch, involves the unintentional capture of non-target resources, which are typically not commercially viable due to economic or legal reasons. This poses a significant threat to various marine species, resulting in the wastage of potential food resources. However, fisheries management still faces numerous challenges, particularly the lack of information regarding the impacts of fishing on non-commercially targeted fauna. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compile information on incidental fishing in Brazil through a systematic review of available literature. Using the PRISMA protocol for systematic reviews and meta-analyses, a search was conducted across four databases, yielding 34 articles. The data revealed that the South region of Brazil had the highest incidence of incidental catches (36%) compared to other regions. Approximately 76% of incidental catches described in this review occurred during the fishing of two shrimp species: Xiphopenaeus kroyeri (seven-barb shrimp) and Farfantepenaeus paulensis (pink shrimp). Trawling was found to be the most commonly used fishing gear during incidents involving bycatch, accounting for 57% of the catches documented in the literature. The bony fish group was the most impacted, with the highest representation of families in incidental catches. Specifically, the Sciaenidae family had the highest number of affected species among all the groups evaluated. Overall, the available literature on incidental captures remains insufficient to fully characterize the extent of degradation caused by the unintentional capture of non-target species, highlighting the need for further studies.

Key-words: Bycatch. Discard. Environmental Impacts. Brazil.