Shark bycatch of the acoupa weakfish, Cynoscion acoupa (Lacèpede, 1801), fisheries of the Amazon Shelf

In recent years, the populations of many shark species have been depleted drastically around world. present study, we analyzed bycatch in monthly landing data acoupa weakfish ( Cynoscion ) gillnet fisheries state Pará, on northern coast Brazil, between January 1995 and December 2007. Based 4,659 landings, estimated that a total 1,972.50 tons were taken as during study period. The operate Amazon Shelf, an important fishing ground, landings relation to River Discharge anomaly (ARD) climatic variability Atlantic Ocean. We applied cross-correlation, cross-wavelet, wavelet coherence, redundancy analysis techniques time series. peaked 1998 2000, period associated with increase effort by fisheries, particular dry season basin. cross-correlation indicated Sea Surface Temperatures (SSTs), characteristics wind, Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), while was meridional wind component, AMO, ARD. cross-wavelet coherence analyses environmental linked systematically effort. observed phase change this signal due strong persistent La Niña event. Despite resistance from industry, development deployment devices designed reduce should be incentivized order unintentional capture endangered such sharks. findings highlight importance continuous accurate fishery database, need for statistics ensure adequate management practices. Adequate public policies must implemented urgently guarantee survival species, effective participation all actors involved process, including managers, researchers, fishers.