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In the northern regions of Brazil, shrimp fishing (mainly targeting pink shrimp, Penaeus subtilis) is predominantly carried out by an industrial trawling fleet of about 100 vessels, that operate from Tutóia, Maranhão to the Brazilian border with French Guiana. Given the intensity and the nature of this type of fishing, the amount of bycatch caught is significant, including, in some cases, endangered species. This situation highlights an urgent need to find ways to improve the selectivity of the fishing gear, minimize bycatch and discards, and overall, reduce the negative effects of this fishery on the ecosystem. The implementation of the REBYC II project came at a very important moment in this region, contributing to the discussion and efforts to ensure the conservation of the exploited species, but also, to fully understand the socioeconomic benefits stemming from this valuable fishery, which contributes to food security, as well as a source of employment and income to the local population.

            Like in other regions of Brazil, besides the baseline diagnosis performed by the REBYC Project during its initial phases, various Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRDs) have been developed and tested in order to reduce the catch of non-target species and discards, made up by small species of finfish, many juveniles, and invertebrates. The initial tests carried out in 2018 and 2019 were able to keep the shrimp catches stable, while reducing the amount of bycatch by about 40%. At least four more testing cruises are planned until the end of the project, in December 2020. Researchers involved in this work are academics from the Federal University of Pará and Federal Rural University of Amazonia, with the support of students from the Fisheries Engineering, Oceanography and Biological Sciences courses of these two institutions.

The REBYC Project can significantly contribute to a better management of bottom trawl fisheries in Brazil, as it goes beyond simply trying to develop techniques that minimize bycatch capture, but supporting above all, a change to the cultural paradigm of maximizing catches regardless of the impact caused by that ambition. Despite the fact that impacts caused by current fishing practices are well documented and understood by most of the consulted actors, the intention is to try to change the current mindset, defended mainly by the old suicidal argument that “if I do not catch it, someone else will”  

The REBYC II- LAC project has been instrumental to start this process in the region. The first stage - characterization of the baseline - is now completed and will serve as a control to what is happening today for future comparisons. The next step will be the implementation of ‘new’ fishing practices and the BRDs developed along with the fishing sector, coupled with an adequate measurement of the bycatch in order to allow a proper assessment of the environmental changes achieved. Even though the tests have already started and are showing very good results, there is a need for broader commitment and participation from the fishing the sector, in order to ensure the adoption of new technologies, which remains as the main challenge ahead. Besides the ecological aspects, it will also be important to evaluate the socioeconomic effects that these changes will bring to stakeholders, in the short and distant future. The local REBYC team understands these challenges well and is fully committed to provide continued support to fishers, so that the shrimp fishery in the region can not only continue to happen, but become increasingly sustainable, both ecologically and socioeconomically.