Scientific publication (e.g., journal articles and book chapters independently peer-reviewed)
The harvesting process and fisheries production of the venus clam Anomalocardia flexuosa in a Brazilian extractive reserve, with implications for gender-sensitive management
Unknown/not recorded
Is the species endemic HIDE
Unknown
Population Status
Common and wildly distributed
No formal international protection in place
National Level
Unknown/not recorded
Extractive reserve management rules
Population Trend
Unknown/not recorded
Sub-national Level
Formal sub-national protection in place
Name
Emma Hemmerlé
Scientific Name
Anomalocardia flexuosa
Common Name(s)
Venus Clam
Type of Use
Extractive (i.e., the entire organism or parts of the organism are removed from its environment)
If extractive, for the target species, is this use
Lethal
Does this use involve take/extraction of
The whole entire organism
Are specific characteristics/traits being targeted?
Unknown/not recorded
Purpose of Use
Basic subsistence (meeting day to day essential needs)
Income generation from trade at individual or household or community
What is the main end use for any living organisms, parts or products taken/extracted?
Local people (e.g., individuals, communities, co-operatives)
If more than one box ticked, please provide more details
The Acaú community comprises 300 shellfishers registered in the Association of Shellfish Harvesters of Acaú. They depend on artisanal fisheries as their main income source
Is the use part of a strategy to generate conservation incentives, to finance conservation, or to improve tolerance/stewardship?
Unknown/not recorded
Is there evidence that the use is affecting the conservation status of the species? HIDE
Yes – use is negatively affecting the status (e.g., population is declining; extraction effort is increasing)
Is there evidence that the use is affecting natural selection?
Unknown/not recorded
Is there evidence that the use is affecting poaching of illegal wildlife trade?
Unknown/not reported
Is there any evidence that this use of the species is having a knock-on effect on the status of non-target species
Unknown/not recorded
Unknown/not recorded
Details of assessment carried out
The practicalities, and ecological as well as economic benefits and risks of the three currently applied techniques differ. Hand- or handle rake collection require least force and equipment, but are less efficient compared to the dip net. The latter provides a higher financial return, however the fact that the number of clams collected is greater compared to the other two techniques, using the dip net increases the risk of overfishing.
Has a valuation of financial flows from this use at the site/national/international level been recorded
da Silva Mourão, J., Baracho, R., de Faria Lopes, S., Medeiros, M., & Diele, K. (2021). The harvesting process and fisheries production of the venus clam Anomalocardia flexuosa in a Brazilian extractive reserve, with implications for gender-sensitive management. Ocean & Coastal Management, 213, 105878. doi: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2021.105878
Shell length and abundance of A. flexuosa have decreased over time in several locations in Brazil (Rocha et al., 2008; Oliveira et al., 2014; Silva-Cavalcanti and Costa, 2011; Pezzuto and Souza, 2015), often linked to high exploitation levels.
Is there any gender/age specificity in the various roles
Yes
The species is collected and its meat extracted throughout the year, in an artisanal manner, by hand or with the aid of instruments, mostly by women; . The present study revealed the predominance of women in the A. flexuosa fishery in the North-east Brazilian marine extractive reserve (ER) Acaú, and their preference and dependency on certain capture techniques.
How many of these local jobs accure to the following categories?
How many people outside the local area are employed
Is there any evidence of other economic benefits associated with this use beyond direct income and jobs
As is the case for all ERs (Rueda, 1995), the ER Acaú-Goiana is a co-management area where users have a say in the formal decision-making process. ER agreements such as the one approved for Acaú-Goiana in 2017 are made involving representatives from all stakeholder groups. Therefore, compliance is often better than in protected areas with a top-down management approach.
In the north-east Brazilian Goiana River estuary, in the late 90s, following land use changes and increased fishing pressure, local stakeholders demanded the creation of an ER (extractive Reserve) to protect their rights and futures, including the shellfishers of the Acaú community who formulated and submitted a petition. Consequently, in 2007 the ER Acaú Goiana was created, located inside the Goiana River estuary