Fishers' and scientific histories: an example of consensus from an inland fishery (original) (raw)
2017, Marine and Freshwater Research
In this study we tested the basic premise that fishers’ knowledge provides similar perceptions about exploited stocks to data gathered by standardised monitoring in a small-scale commercial fishery. To that end, we compared temporal trends in catch and individual size for fish species between data obtained from interviews with fishers and a 25-year dataset from a landing monitoring program in the Itaipu Reservoir (Brazil). Fishers described with accuracy changes in species composition of the catches, from large migratory species of high commercial value (common before impoundment) to migratory species of low commercial value and sedentary species following damming. Temporal trends in catches reported by fishers and documented in the landing data matched for most species. Histories diverge when absolute values are involved, such as when fishers were asked to recall their largest catch. Fishers were homogeneous in their reports, indicating that instead of individual opinions, they rev...
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