AUTHOR=Ternes Maria Laura Fontelles , Freret-Meurer Natalie V. , Nascimento Rodolfo Leandro , Vidal Marcelo Derzi , Giarrizzo Tommaso 

TITLE=Local ecological knowledge provides important conservation guidelines for a threatened seahorse species in mangrove ecosystems

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1139368

DOI=10.3389/fmars.2023.1139368

ISSN=2296-7745

ABSTRACT=Local Ecological Knowledge and social perceptions of human communities that depend on natural resources can provide important baseline information on local threats and impacts at a fine scale for conservation management. Seahorses play important economic role in Brazilian mangroves, being sought-after for seahorse-watching tours. This touristic activity is not yet formally regulated and our work is a contribution to seahorse-watching management at three study sites located in two Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) – Jericoacoara National Park, and Delta do Parnaíba Environmental Protection Area – in the Brazilian states of Ceará, Piauí, and Maranhão. Through semi-structured interviews, we investigated the perception of seahorse-watching operators regarding seahorse abundance, local threats, and conservation insights in mangrove ecosystems. We interviewed all 38 existing informants at the study sites. Half informants rely exclusively on seahorse-watching as income source. Overall, 55.3% highlighted seahorse declines, 100% believed that seahorses are threatened with extinction, matching Brazilian and international conservation status. Silting (57.9%), fishing (55.3%), and pollution (37%) were cited as main threats to seahorses and mangroves. Among the proposed conservation actions, environmental surveillance (57.9%), zoning (26.3%), education (26.3%) were most cited. Respondents support the MPAs and want engagement of management institutions towards the communities, considering local needs and increasing conservation effectiveness. Some differences of perception between communities reflect the particular local realities and social contexts, which should be considered for conservation. Therefore, local scale studies on social perceptions can improve conservation and local management, especially for data-poor species. Our study contributes supporting this approach, adjusted to local realities.