As part of the activities of the REBYC-II LAC Project in Brazil
various bycatch reduction devices have been tested by the project DEFA (Projeto de Dispositivo de Exclusão de Fauna Acompanhante- DEFA)
financed by the Secretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Brazilian Government
 in the fishing community of Barra de Sirinhaém
After the results were compiled and analyzed
they had to be presented to the fishing community
Although the shrimp-trawling fishery is an important economic activity in Sirinhaém
part of the community has long held a suspicious view of this fishing method
It has been thought to be very harmful to the marine environment and other fishing activities carried out locally
The DEFA project has been developed in very close collaboration with the local fishers
who were much interested in demonstrating that the shrimp-trawling fishery can be done in a more sustainable manner
by significantly reducing the amount of bycatch
with the use of the proper technology (Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRDs))
the difficulties and challenges to run the experiments were explained
The methodology for developing the BRDs included both hard (aluminum grids) and soft (square mesh) devices
Because of the geographical isolation of the fishing community
the research staff strived to use the simplest and cheapest material possible
was done with a tubular structure fixed by rivets
The final cost of the grid was estimated to be less than US$ 20,00
a much cheaper iron bar was successfully used to frame the structure
 The project team presented the results of three types of BRDs tested in the trawl nets locally used by the fishers
The device that achieved the best results was the vertical square-mesh panel
It did not significantly change the amount of shrimp caught
while achieving a significant reduction of bycatch
Another device that had good results was the aluminum grid
this device presented some limitations in areas with high density of seaweed
because of its propensity to become easily clogged
some of the fishers gave their own testimony
expressed his satisfaction with the results achieved so far and for having contributed to the development of the project
He stated that he was very proud for having trusted the initiative since the very beginning
as a prominent member of the fishing community
since he emphasized the importance of the use of BRDs to make the shrimp-trawling fishery more sustainable
while retaining the larger specimens that were important for the food security of so many community members
all fish bycatch is donated to the poor members of the community
The great acceptance of the devices tested by the fishing community was a consequence of the direct involvement of the fishers from the very beginning of the project
The only way a significant change can happen in a traditional fishery is by being driven by the fishers themselves
they have understood that their future depended very much on their capacity to become more sustainable
not only as a mean to reduce the environmental impact of the shrimp-trawling fishery
but of ensuring the very future of this fishing activity
 Written by Vanildo Souza de Oliveira (DEFA Project Coordinator DEFA/ Brazil) and Fabio Hissa Vieira Hazin
Shrimp products are among the most valuable fisheries export in the world
the shrimp trawling fishery is a crucial source of income and livelihood worldwide that employs thousands of people
while shrimp trawling is very effective in capturing target species
this activity is based on gears with low selectivity which commonly has an associated catch of untargeted organisms (e.g
These unwanted catches may lead to adverse impacts on populations and ecosystems
making the activity unsustainable in economic
the project on the Sustainable Management of Bycatch in Bottom Trawl Fisheries of Latin America and the Caribbean (REBYC-II LAC) represent FAO's attempt at improving tropical shrimp fisheries and implementing the International Guidelines on the Management of Bycatch and Discards
The Global Environment Objective of the project is to reduce the negative ecosystem impact and achieve more sustainable shrimp/bottom trawl fisheries in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region through implementation of an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF)
including bycatch and habitat impact management
The Development Objective is to strengthen resilience of coastal communities through promotion of responsible fishing practices
livelihoods enhancement and diversification contributing to food security and poverty eradication
the project REBYC-II LAC has been implemented since 2016 and has achieved results in two main axes: (i) bycatch exclusion devices in trawl nets and (ii) improvement of the knowledge on the ecology and status stock of target and bycatch species
One of the study sites of the Project was carried out in the Community of Barra de Sirinhaém
in the State of Pernambuco- Northeast Brazil
Most part of the bycatch (around 80%) is donated for poor people of the local community
Many experiments on Exclusion Devices were coordinated by the laboratories of Sustainable Fisheries Laboratories (LAPESU) and Construction of Fishing Gears (LACAPE)
located on the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco – UFRPE
panel of square meshes in the body of trawl net
square mesh panel in the bag net (video 01)
vertical panel with square meshes and analyzed considering its efficiency and acceptance by local fishers
the panel with square meshes has been proved highly efficient in excluding undesired bycatch species and keeping low shrimp loss
this new technology is helping the local fisheries in Sirinhaém and it is already been exported for others states in Brazil (e.g
Piauí and Sergipe) that are facing similar issues in shrimp fisheries
Studies concerning the biology and status of the target shrimp and fish bycatch were carried out by Studies of Anthropic Impacts on the Marine and Estuarine Biodiversity lab (BIOIMPACT) and Technology in Aquaculture Laboratory (LTA)
Three main target species are caught: sea-bob shrimp (Xiphopenaeus kroyeri)
white shrimp (Litopenaeus schmitti) and pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus subtilis)
reproductive dynamics and stock assessment were undergone
The white and pink shrimp have its life cycle between estuaries (to feed) and the open sea (to reproduce)
while the sea-bob shrimp has its entire life cycle in the open ocean
They reproduce during all year but mainly in the warmer months
Even though these species are close to its full exploitation limit
A total of 93 species of fish is caught as bycatch of this fisheries
Those species are mainly croakers (Family Sciaenidae) and herrings (Family Pristigasteridae)
The results here presented have been intensively discussed with the local fishers at several meetings carried out in Sirinhaem
taking into account the concept of a co-management
through the production of knowledge and new technologies
the project REBYC-II LAC is helping Brazilian trawl fisheries to (i) improve institutional and regulatory arrangements for shrimp/bottom trawl fisheries and bycatch co-management
(ii) improve the bycatch management and encourage applying responsible trawling practices within an EAF framework
Written by Flávia Lucena-Frédou (Fisheries and Aquaculture Department – UFRPE)
Leandro Nolé Eduardo (Doctoral's student in Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources – UFRPE)
de Siqueira Lima (Master's student in Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources – UFRPE) Thierry Frédou (Fisheries and Aquaculture Department – UFRPE) and Vanildo Souza de Oliveira (DEFA Project Coordinator DEFA/ Brazil)