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Foraging Strategies of Artisanal Fishers in a Brazilian Reservoir

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Abstract

Ecological models derived from Optimal Foraging Theory have been used to understand the decision-making processes and optimization of artisanal fisheries. However, many studies do not consider the influence of fishing techniques or seasonality on foraging strategies. We analyzed the optimization strategies and decision-making processes of the fishers at a Brazilian reservoir. Data were collected through interviews and questionnaires involving 65 artisanal fishers, and daily catches were monitored in July/2015 and January/2016. Fishing techniques and seasonality influenced the fishers’ behavior. The fishery activities monitored here were partially or totally consistent with the predictions of the Central-Place Foraging model, but due to the complexity of these activities, other factors also influenced the decision-making of individual fishers. Furthermore, the adoption of strategies that involve “non-ideal” behaviors may be advantageous for the fishers in the context of their individual necessities.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Coordination for Higher Education Training (CAPES) for the postgraduate stipend to the first author. We also thank the artisanal fishers of the Z-18 fisher colony and their families for their friendship and collaboration during the development of this study.

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No funding was received.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Post-Graduation Program of Ethnobiology and Conservation of Nature, Department of Biology, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, P.O. Box 52171–900, Recife, Brazil

    Miguel Santana de Almeida Neto & Carolina Alves Collier de Almeida

  2. Department of Oceanography, Federal University of Pernambuco, P.O. Box 50670–901, Recife, Brazil

    José Souto Rosa Filho

  3. Post-Graduation Program of Ecology, Department of Biology, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, P.O. Box 52171–900, Recife, Brazil

    Ana Carla Asfora El-Deir

  4. Department of Biology, State University of Paraíba, P.O. Box 58000–000, Campina Grande, Brazil

    José da Silva Mourão

Authors
  1. Miguel Santana de Almeida Neto
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  2. Carolina Alves Collier de Almeida
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  3. José Souto Rosa Filho
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  4. Ana Carla Asfora El-Deir
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  5. José da Silva Mourão
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Correspondence to Miguel Santana de Almeida Neto.

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Informed Consent

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee for human research of the University of Pernambuco (UPE), under protocol 1,374,363. The objectives of the research were explained to the informants, who were invited to sign an informed consent form, authorizing their participation in the study, in accordance with the recommendations of resolution number 466/12 of the Brazilian National Health Council.

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de Almeida Neto, M.S., de Almeida, C.A.C., Rosa Filho, J.S. et al. Foraging Strategies of Artisanal Fishers in a Brazilian Reservoir. Hum Ecol 46, 561–571 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-018-0016-9

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