INDICADORES DE DESEMPENHO BIOECONÔMICO DA FROTA ATUNEIRA DE CARDUME ASSOCIADO NA REGIÃO DO ATLÂNTICO OESTE EQUATORIAL

Bioeconomic performance indicators of the associated school tuna fishing fleet in West Equatorial Atlantic Region

Abstract

The study of renewable natural resources implies developing management processes considering that fishing resources are used commercially to the limit to guarantee a fishing effort that will return a value equal to the cost of exploiting these resources. The present aimed to evaluate, from an economic point of view, tuna fishing and the like, focusing on the bioeconomic modelling of fisheries, and was part of the PROTUNA Project. Biological and economic parameters were surveyed for a bioeconomic analysis, and the dynamics of fishing activity were simulated to support management measures for the fishing operations of the tuna fleet based in Areia Branca (RN). Biological data were obtained from the National Tuna and Tuna Like Species Database – BNDA. In contrast, economic data were provided by the Fishing Boat Owners of the State of Rio Grande do Norte Association. A bioeconomic model was used for simple fisheries, such as small-scale fisheries, and it is called Economic Modeling - MECON, which allows for the identification of possible management strategies. The simulation indicates that the resource was overexploited. A balance point could probably be reached with a 32% reduction in fishing effort, in the number of vessels, and 20% in fishing mortality, with the possibility of increasing investments in catchability compared to the effort levels exerted.

Keywords: Bioeconomic modelling, Tuna fishing fleet, Associated school fishing, West Equatorial Atlantic.