title: The freshwater artisanal fishery of Patos Lagoon.
abstract: In this study data relative to the fishery in the freshwater area of the Patos Lagoon are analysed, and the dynamics, fishing gears used and catches evaluated. The results reveal the existence of two fishery strategies: forbidden mesh size gillnets (FMG; <35 mm; square measure) and allowed mesh size gillnets (AMG; ≥35 mm; square measure). In total, 31 species were caught (AMG = 27 and FMG = 24), but selectivity due to mesh size was significant (P < 0·001). The FMG may be very harmful since it captures individuals of most species below size at first maturity, including the target species, the armoured catfish Loricariichthys anus (61% of the total catch). In addition, this gear is used throughout the year, including the closed season (CS; November to January), when the target species is reproducing. Target species for the AMG are larger in size, comprising mainly the mullet Mugil liza, the marine catfish Genidens barbus and the whitemouth croaker Micropogonias furnieri. AMS gillnets were not used during the CS. The use of FMG reveals the need for effective fishery law enforcement and the need for additional studies to assess the status of populations of the exploited species.
authors.affiliation: Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Laboratório de Manejo Integrado de Ambientes Costeiros, CEP 88806-000, Criciúma, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ceni
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Departamento de Biodiversidade e Ecologia, C.P. 1429, CEP 90619-900, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: N F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Fontoura
authors.affiliation: MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Cabral
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002397:Catfishes; D003469:Culture; D005398:Fisheries / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005399:Fishes; D005618:Fresh Water; D010473:Perciformes; D012098:Reproduction; D012621:Seasons; D023701:Smegmamorpha
keywords: Loricariichthys anus; closed seasons; illegal netting; law enforcement; management