Fishermen knowledge on botos (Inia geoffrensis) to support conservation strategies in the Middle Tapajós River, Brazil

• DOI: 10.22533/at.ed.0221905021

• Palavras-chave: Atena

• Keywords: Amazon River dolphin, Fisheries, Hydroelectric Dams, Local Knowledge

• Abstract:

  The Amazon River dolphin or “boto”

  (Iniageoffrensis) is a cetacean whose populations

  are increasingly vulnerable to exploitation by

  fishermen for bait, genetic isolation, habitat

  change and river impoundment by dams. This

  study presents an analysis of knowledge held by

  local fishermen from the Tapajós River regarding

  interactions between botos and fisheries, as

  well as perceived threats to these cetaceans,

  to inform conservation strategies. Through

  participant observation and semi-structured

  interviews with 20 artisanal fishermen, we found

  that fishermen hold comprehensive knowledge

  of botos populations, do not consider fisheries

  as significant threats to river dolphins (95%),

  but mentioned incidental catches in fishing

  nets. The majority of interviewed identified

  the construction of hydroelectric dams as the

  greatest threat to botos in the region (30.7%).

  Fishermen knowledge should be considered in

  the design of management strategies of botos

  populations, as well as for the maintenance of

  artisanal fishing in the Amazon. 

• Número de páginas: 15