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

Bycatch of non-target species in Brazil: A systematic review

Abstract

Accidental capture, known as bycatch, refers to non-target species that are caught but not marketed, either due to a lack of economic interest or legal restrictions, representing a serious threat to various marine species and resulting in a substantial waste of potential food resources. However, fisheries management still faces difficulties of various origins that limit its regulatory capacity, particularly the lack of information related to the impacts of fishing on fauna, especially those with no commercial interest. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compile information related to bycatch in Brazil through a systematic review of the available literature. A search was conducted in four databases following the PRISMA protocol for systematic reviews and meta-analyses, resulting in 34 articles. The data obtained showed that the Southern region of Brazil had the highest number of bycatch incidents (36%), compared to the other regions. Approximately 76% of the bycatch described in this review occurred during the fishing of two shrimp species: Xiphopenaeus kroyeri (seven-barb shrimp) and Farfantepenaeus paulensis (pink shrimp). Consequently, trawl nets were the most commonly used fishing gear during bycatch incidents, responsible for 57% of the documented captures. Among the most affected groups, bony fish had the highest number of families caught accidentally, with the Sciaenidae showing the highest number of impacted species among all the groups evaluated. In general, the available literature on bycatch is still insufficient to fully characterize the extent of degradation caused by the accidental capture of non-target species, highlighting the need for further studies.

Keywords: Accidental capture, discard, environmental impacts, PRISMA protocol.