Acronym CRUSTAPANHA
Category
Fisheries
Title Contribution to the sustainable management of the small-scale crustacean fishery (small crabs): study of the ecology, biology and population dynamics of small crabs with commercial interest along the portuguese coast Programme Nat. Programme (supported by ESIF)
Instrument (FP6)
Contact Type (FP7)
Strand (Interreg)
NA
Theme (FP7)
Activity Area (FP6)
Regional Area (Interreg)
Action (COST)
NA
Specific Programme (FP7)
NA
Funding source National-European Coordinator Francisco Leitão Coordinator email NA
Coordinator institution
CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (Portugal)
Institutions involved
NA
Start year 2018 End year 2021 Funding (€) € NA Website https://www.cesam-la.pt/projetos/crustapanha-contributo-para-a-gestao-sustentada-da-pequena-pesca-de-crustaceos-pequenos-caranguejos-estudo-da-ecologia-biologia-e-dinamica-populacional-dos-pequenos-caranguejos-com-interesse-com/ Summary The present work consists of the first scientific and integrated characterization of the study of crab fishing and harvesting in Portugal. The multidisciplinary work to be carried out involves scientific studies and professional collaboration in the sector (fishermen's and producers' associations), which aim to obtain information on various aspects of biology, ecology, fisheries and fishery-environment interaction with regard to small crabs caught in estuarine and lagoon areas in Portugal (South: Ria Formosa, Ria do Alvôr; Center: Tagus and Sado Estuary; North: Ria de Aveiro). The main objectives of the study are the general description of the fishery and characterization of the harvest (socioeconomic analysis) and experimental fisheries with the fishermen involved to evaluate the yields/abundances of crabs. Field trips will be carried out to characterize the communities and inhabitants associated with each species, as well as the quantification of abundances by areas for each site/study system (mapping of the distribution of different species). The study of the biology of the species will focus particularly on the estimation of age and growth and on the definition of the reproductive cycle of the target species. The biology work will make it possible to establish minimum catch measures, e.g. closed seasons, as well as limits and daily quantities of catches. Samples will be collected to capture crab larvae (zooplankton) and the effect of the environment on the populations of the crabs studied. This will make it possible to detect whether the fluctuations in the abundance of crabs, and their larvae, are due to fishing, the environment or fishing-environment interaction. Ecology studies will focus on competition for space and food. This task will make it possible to verify whether the harvesting of a certain species of crab facilitates the development of other species of crab, and the consequent effect on prey that may be communities of commercial interest, such as bivalves (clams). Another relevant aspect in this area is the role of crab activity for the quality of the funds/habitats. Overall, the information obtained will allow the implementation of various management measures, through the definition of the level of sustainable exploitation of the resource, development of conservation strategies, promotion of integrated management in natural protection areas and potential establishment of specific regulations for the harvesting and fishing of crabs. Finally, it is expected to have a high socio-economic impact since this activity allows the subsistence of several families dedicated to harvesting and indirectly that it can contribute to help regulate other fishing sectors that use crab with live bait, e.g. Octopus fishing.
Keywords
Environmental impact;
Fishing mortality;
Shellfish;
Biology;
Economy;
Fisheries management;
Integrated management;
Small scale fisheries;
Crab;
Crustacean fisheries;
Crustacean;
Marine Region
38
Portuguese Waters (27.IXa,27.IXb)
1
Marine Region Map
