Herpetology Notes, volume 13: 249-252 (2020) (published online on 14 March 2020)

Artisanal fisheries interactions and bycatch of freshwater turtles at the Tapacurá reservoir, Northeast Brazil

Rayssa L. Santos¹,²,*, Thaís L. Bezerra², Jozélia M. Sousa Correia², and Ednilza M. dos Santos²

Interactions between freshwater turtles and artisanal mortality rates of two species of freshwater turtles P. are well described in the literature (Brito et al., 2015). geoffroanus and M. tuberculata were recorded. A total Environmental pressure from fisheries, coupled with of 23 carcasses were observed in various states of habitat loss, pollution and climate change, have been decomposition, both on the banks of the reservoir and cited as the main causes for the decline of these aquatic trapped in gillnets arranged vertically within the water reptile populations, which are listed in the IUCN body (Figure 1). Endangered Species List (IUCN, 2018). Biometric parameters were obtained and sexing was The term bycatch is defined as the capture of specimens performed when possible, by observing the anal plate that are not the intentional target of a given fishing opening and tail size, following the methodology activity, i.e. the action occurred in a causal, unexpected proposed by Balestra et al. (2016). Necropsies were way (FAO, 1990). Several studies report that the use performed at the Veterinary Hospital belonging to the of different types of fishing gears, especially gillnets, Pernambuco Federal Rural University. contribute to the decline of several aquatic marine M. tuberculata (n=3) had a mean Maximum Straight species (Reeves et al., 2013) and reiterate the limited Carapace Length (MSCL) of 25.3 ± 1.2 cm, and all three amount of information on bycatch species. During individuals were females. P. geoffroanus (n=20) had a foraging, Testudines are attracted by the presence of mean MSCL of 23.3 ± 6.8 cm. The eight P. geoffroanus fish caught in fishing gear and are trapped in the nets by females presented 20.0-42.0 (28.3 ± 7.6 cm), one male their front or rear legs or their heads. Thus, they cannot presented (23.1 cm) and 11 undefined sex specimens emerge to breathe and drown. These long-term incidents presented 14.0-28.0 (20.4 ± 4.5 cm), as they were either may alter population dynamics, directly impacting other juveniles and did not present sexual dimorphism or had organisms within the food chain (FAO, 2016). a high degree of carcass decomposition. In the state of Pernambuco there are three species The reproductive season of P. geoffroanus is from of freshwater turtles: Phrynops geoffroanus October to July, which corresponds to its high levels (SCHWEIGGER, 1812), Mesoclemmys tuberculata of feeding and reproduction in areas near the reservoir (LUEDERWALDT, 1926) and Kinosternon scorpioides banks, as well as the large number of specimens (LINNAEUS, 1766). During bimonthly monitoring accidentally caught and the bias towards females activities between October 2018 and March 2019 at (Molina, 1992). The same is noted for M. tuberculata, the Tapacurá reservoir (8°2’39.39” S, 35°11’44.42” which displays a marked reproduction period between W), São Lourenço da Mata, Pernambuco, Brazil, high January and July (Corazza and Molina, 2004). The animals did not display any predation signs or indications of death by natural causes during necropsy evaluations. In addition, a high number of autolysed animals were observed, and the cause of death could not 1 Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Programa de Pós- be diagnosed (18 in a state of decay and 03 autolysed). Graduação em Biologia Animal, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, The necropsy report indicated pulmonary oedema as a 1235 Recife - Brazil, 50670-901. possible cause of death, because of the presence of fluid 2 Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Laboratório in the lungs, confirming death by drowning (Figure 2). Interdisciplinar de Anfíbios e Répteis, Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n - Dois Irmãos, Recife - Brazil, 52171-900. Most records of Testudines interactions with fishing * Corresponding author. E-mail: are assessed only for sea turtles. In this regard, several [email protected] authors have published data that indicate fishing 250 Rayssa L. Santos et al.

Figure 1. Freshwater turtle found entangled in a gillnet during active searches carried out in the Tapacurá reservoir, São Lourenço da Mata, PE, in March 2019 (A) and (B) seven dead animals found on the banks of the Tapacurá reservoir, between October and November 2018.

Figure 2. Presence of fluid in the lungs of two necropsied Phrynops geoffroanus from the Tapacurá reservoir between October 2018 and January 2019. Artisanal fisheries interactions and bycatch of freshwater turtles, Brazil 251 1

2 activities, such as bottom trawling, pelagic nets, gillnets and fixed-fencing, as one of the factors for the mortality of 3 these animals (Brito et al., 2015). For freshwater turtles, 4.4

APW 4 Laroque et al. (2012) assessed two lakes in southeastern Ontario (Canada) and reported that bycatch may also 5 cause physiological losses and behavioural changes to 6 the animals in case of survival, compromising basic reproductive and biological activities after their release. - -

2.3 During the dry season the level of the Tapacurá APL reservoir decreases drastically, due to a semidecidual stationary climate, facilitating the interception of chelonians because of low water volume (Lyra-Neves et al., 2007; Balestra et al., 2016). In addition to biological - - damage, this type of catch also impairs fishing activities, 6.1 CH reducing the time of fishing operations due to the time required for removal of the animal, also frequently damaging the fishing gear (Brito et al., 2015). Gillnets are used in artisanal fishing activities carried out by the riverside community living in the area - - 13.5

) found dead on the banks of the Tapacurá reservoir, São Lourenço da Mata, Mata, da Lourenço São reservoir, Tapacurá the of banks the on dead ) found surrounding the Tapacurá reservoir, Pernambuco, Brazil, MRPW crossing the entire dam by means of floats connected in the upper portion, thus maintaining the nets vertically

Phrynops geoffroanus ) found dead on the in the water column. Mascarenhas-Júnior et al., (2018) also recorded the presence of gillnets in this reservoir and and provided evidence of interactions between caimans - - Phrynops geoffroanus Phrynops

20.7 (Caiman latirostris (DAUDIN, 1802)) and local fish. MRPL

and and Finally, the present study provides evidence for the need for environmental education actions within the Chã de Alegria, São Lourenço da Mata community regarding the use of fishing gear and its relation with Tapacurá reservoir resident animals. It is important to point out - - MSCL- Maximum straight carapace length; MSCW- Maximum straight carapace Mesoclemmys tuberculata 26.5 CCL that the presence of the riverside communities residing in conservation areas are essential for the implementation

Mesoclemmys tuberculata Mesoclemmys and maintenance of conservation actions, with the creation of management plans appropriate to the reality of both parties, establishing partnerships and creating links between the scientific and local culture. - - 16.4 MSCW

Mesoclemmys tuberculate tuberculate Mesoclemmys References

Aprile, F.M.; Bouvy, M. (2010): Heavy metal levels in surface waters from a tropical river basin, Pernambuco State, northeastern Brazil. Acta Scientiarum. Biological Sciences 32: 357–364. - - presented only one male; 3.1

2 Balestra, R.A.M., Valadão, R.M., Vogt, R.C.; Bernhard, R., MSCL Ferrara, C.R., Brito, E.S., Drummond, G.M. (2016): Roteiro para Inventários e Monitoramentos de Quelônios Continentais. Biodiversidade Brasileira 1: 114–152. Brito, T.P., de Oliveira, A.N.D., da Silva, D.A.C., de Souza Rochas, Biometric parameters of freshwater turtle specimens ( specimens turtle freshwater of parameters Biometric J.A. (2015): Conhecimento ecológico e captura incidental There were onlyindividuals were female There for

Phrynops geoffroanusPhrynops de tartarugas marinhas em São João de Pirabas, Pará, Brasil. Table 1. Biometric parameters of freshwater turtles specimens ( * **

width; CCC – Curved Carapace Length; MRPL- Maximum height; length;Analplate APL- plate width.Anal inMeasures APW- (cm) centimeters rectilinear plastron length; MRPW- Maximum rectilinear plastron width; CH- Carapace banks of the Tapacurá reservoir, São Lourenço da Mata, Brazil. Undefinedtuberculata M. - 14.0 ± 4.5)28.0 (20.4 11.0- ± (16.2 25.0 3.7) - 14.0 ± 5.0) (22.8 29.0 Females 13.0- ± (23.8 18.4) 81.0 - 8.0 ± 18.3) (17.6 75.0 Males** - 4.0 ±1.2) (6.0 8.0 - 24.0 ± 1.2) 26.0 (25.3 1.0- ±1.8) 7.0(2.8 19.0- ± (19.3 20.0 0.6) - 27.0 ± 1.5) (28.3 30.0 2.0- ± 7.01.4) (3.9 - 22.0 ± 1.2)24.0 (22.7 - 11.0 ± 2.1)15.0 (13.3 7.0 - ±0.6) 8.0 (7.3 7.0 -± 0.6) 8.0 (7.3 - 4.0 ±1.0) 6.0 (5.0 Undefined** P.geoffroanus GeneralFemales- 14.0 ± 6.8)42.0 Males* (23.3 11.0- ± (17.4 25.0 3.6) - 14.0 ± 4.7) (24.4 32.0 - 20.0 ± 7.6) 42.0 (28.3 13.0- ± (24.3 15.0)81.0 16.0- ± (19.0 24.0 2.6) - 22.0 ± 2.9) (27.0 32.0 8.0 -± 14.5) 7.5 (16.4 4.0 - ±1.2) 8.0 (6.2 - 19.0 ± 7.2) 40.0 (27 - 10.0 ±3.4) 13.0 (3.9 2.0 - ±1.6) 9.0 (4.4 9.0 -± (14.4 3.7)19.0 5.0 - ±1.1) 8.0 (6.6 2.0- ±4.5)13.0 (6.0 4.0 - ±1.8) 9.0 (5.3 Biotemas 28: 159–175. Table 1. 1. Table Brazil. MSCL- Maximum straight carapace length; MSCW- Maximum straight carapace width; CCC – Curved Carapace Length; MRPL- Maximum rectilinear plastron length; MRPW- Maximum Maximum MRPW- length; plastron rectilinear Maximum MRPL- Length; Carapace Curved – CCC width; carapace straight Maximum MSCW- length; carapace straight Maximum MSCL- (cm). Brazil. centimeters in Measures width. plate Anal APW- length; plate Anal APL- height; Carapace CH- width; plastron rectilinear 252 Rayssa L. Santos et al.

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Accepted by Eric Munscher