Lake Winnipeg is under examined, yet a very interesting lake. This 10th largest lake in the world supports a small-scale fishery, which today is pre-dominantly for walleye. Currently, the fishery is very strong. Historically, however, it has been characterized by fluctuations in both catches and returns. The end of the 1960s and the beginning of the 1970s was a turning point for the fishing industry. At that time, the fishery experienced declining catches and diminishing returns. In order to reverse the trend, the Provincial Government of Manitoba introduced a quota system while the Federal Government established the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation (FFMC) to handle the marketing of freshwater fish. Today, the fishery on Lake Winnipeg has been at a record level of production and these two institutions play a significant role in the fishery. To gain an insight into fishers’ social context in the Gimli area, a social well-being analysis was applied following design of the ESRC Wellbeing in Developing Countries Research Group adapted by Sarah Coulthard and colleagues. The social well-being analytical tool shed light on three domains of fisher’s life; material well-being, subjective well-being and relational well-being. Together, these domains give an insight into how satisfied fishers are with their current social environment. The analysis of fishers’ social experience in the Gimli area shows that current policy seems to be working equally well in the areas of relational and subjective well-being. In fact, the quota system and the FFMC still have great impact on the fishers, not only from an economic view but also for their subjective values and relational well-being.

Women's contributions to fisheries have often been made invisible. Their leadership in general and in fisheries has also not always been recognised, especially if it is informal or more "behind-the-scenes". The aim of this study is to contribute to the gap in the women and fisheries literature on what leadership roles women play in the South African fisheries value chain. While it is more widely known that women play diverse roles within the fisheries value chain, the leadership roles they play (at various scales) are currently less well-known. This research involved finding women to interview from the various "patches" in the value chain. Without the generation of new relationships/leads occurring in the background, it would not have been possible to find particular patches. When the research was pivoted to digital research due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the "patches" seemed more adrift, and possibly more "siloed", than ever. However, three common threads emerged that showed how these patches are not so isolated after all. The threads were: Networks and relationships; lineage, blood and sustainability; and acts of pioneering, innovating and self-empowerment. Interviews were semi-formal, with most in-person, one done via the messaging service WhatsApp, and one done via email. Digital research consisted of collecting Instagram posts, finding relevant news articles, looking at newsletters, and industry body-related media. Women in fisheries are situated within various networks and "patches" of knowledge. This dissertation has drawn on the notion of "patches" as a central concept. Underlying this were the sub-themes of gender and market access (in this case, markets for marine resources). It is clear that while different women in different patches may not necessarily know each other or interact with each other, the patches themselves still have an effect on each other. This is especially true in the case of how the Covid-19 pandemic affected small-scale fisheries. Effects higher up the value chain meant that small-scale fishers were negatively affected. Thus, fishing industry patches do not seem to exist in silos. Specifically, women in the fisheries value chain are not in silos either. Both print and online media can still allow women to find out where women are working in the value chain, and for which companies or organisations. Such media can also allow women in fisheries to develop knowledge about each other. Firstly, technology, including digital newsletters, allows for women to extend themselves and enrich themselves with relationships with or knowledges of, other people. With the proliferation of both online media and cell phone access in South Africa, parasocial relationships may be formed. These parasocial relationships may help women in fishing to know "who's who" and also for consumers desiring a more transparent buying experience to form a type of relationship with each other, through learning about people's stories. Fishers encountered both in real life and online tended to come from a long history of working in fisheries themselves, as well as coming from multi-generational fishing families. While not all of the women interviewed are leaders in formal positions and/or formal organisations, their knowledge of species, fish processing and other areas was something that seemed to be valued within fisheries-related spaces. This is one factor that indicates the importance of keeping the fishing lineage going into the future for fishers. Fishers were also concerned about the effects on them which were caused by changes at the commercial level, such as a decline in market access due to Covid-19. Keeping a fishing livelihood going, both for this generation and the next, is something very important to the fishers encountered throughout this research. The diversity of jobs women held, both those personally interviewed and those interviewed in digital publications, was significant throughout this research. Some women are in supportive spaces that allow them to pioneer new paths for women in the fishing engineer, such as being a boat skipper or engineer. Women are gradually making their way up through middle management and to executive management levels. However, it is also important to consider the intersections of women's identities, e.g. socioeconomic status, geographic location, and education obtained. Different approaches to empower different groups of women can help the process of women's empowerment in fisheries to be inclusive.

This thesis applies the food security concept to assess the significance of seagrass-associated invertebrate gleaning for providing food security in Kaole, Tanzania. It assesses the availability, accessibility, utilisation and stability over time of this food source. To explore this, a multi-strategy research design was used. Structured interviews were held with 30 gleaning women in Kaole, using a self-developed questionnaire designed to address the four components of the food security framework. Two focus group discussions were thereafter held to explore how local ecosystem services, in particular seagrass meadows, and their food provisioning services have developed over time. The findings show that a great majority of the women who engage in seagrass- associated gleaning in Kaole rate this activity as important or very important for providing food to the household. The seagrass-associated gleaning activities were perceived as important, despite the fact that most women also glean in the mangrove area and that almost all women have alternative incomes. However, seen from a strict food security perspective, it is questionable how significant this activity currently is for food security. The study found that availability has decreased and it is not a food source that is stable throughout the year. The findings also suggest that the mangrove-associated Terebralia palustris may be easier to utilise, considering that you can store it in a sack, without being kept cold. If mangrove related gleaning hence seems to play an increasingly important role in local food security, and is a fishery that is available in all seasons, this area is less accessible to potential gleaners with small children, elderly and people with physical disabilities. The study also found that the decline in seagrass-associated gleaning activities have coincided with a number of human stressors and deteriorating seagrass meadows. Despite its’ declining signinficance for food security, most women rate the seagrass-associated gleaning as important and want to protect this food source. Action should therefore be taken to sustainably preserve this provisioning resource. Bearing in mind the fine balance between ecological and food security needs, such measures need to be interdisciplinary. It also needs to involve different community members, as well as other stakeholders. More research would be needed to determine the nutritional content and potential toxic contents in the most fished invertebrate species.

Fishing is one of the main extractive activities of marine resources and constitutes an important source of food, income and livelihood for millions of people around the world. Fishing communities are highly susceptible to economic, social, natural and climate changes. Climate change has affected the livelihoods of fishing communities, and the impacts and consequences are still poorly understood. Therefore, this thesis sought to provide a better understanding of the impacts of climate change on small-scale fishing communities, using an analytical approach focusing on perception and vulnerability. The study area was the South Brazil Bight region, defined as the continental shelf area that extends between Cabo Frio (RJ) and Cabo Santa Marta (SC). The region has unique characteristics, as it is located in the most urbanized and industrialized region of the country and has several small- and large-scale fishing communities. To represent the diversity of the fishing communities in the region, 8 communities with distinct characteristics were selected: Itaipu (RJ), Ilha do Araújo (RJ), Enseada (SP), Bonete (SP), Boqueirão Sul (SP), Mandira (SP), Pontal de Leste (SP) and Praia do Porto (SC). A total of 151 households were interviewed in the selected communities from November 2014 to September 2016. In the first chapter of this thesis, an ethno-oceanographic approach was applied to investigate fisher perceptions on climate and ocean changes and the impact of such changes on fisher livelihoods. The results show that fishers detected changes in the environment and that these changes are positively and negatively impacting their yields and livelihoods. In the second chapter, a cross-scale approach was used to assess and identify the key factors that affect the vulnerability of fishing communities to climate change. Among the vulnerability factors, the distance to the market and urban centers and the lack of institutional support increase fishing community vulnerability to climate change; community organization, strong leadership, partnership with researchers, co-management and livelihood diversification reduce the vulnerability of communities. In the third chapter, the vulnerability approach was used again but at the regional level, by comparing data from the South Brazil Bight with the southern Cape of South Africa. Among the factors that differentiate the two regions, a high dependence on fishing, a strong attachment to place, and the lack of policy focused on small-scale fisheries increase the vulnerability of the communities in the South Brazil Bight, while participation in the decision-making process, ownership of boats and fishing rights are factors that reduce the regional vulnerability of the South Brazil Bight. Therefore, these findings provide a better understanding of the impact of climate change on the livelihood of fishers and fishing communities and serve as a basis for the development of effective climate change adaptation strategies that have minimal social impacts. / A pesca é uma das principais atividades extrativistas de recursos marinhos e constitui importante fonte de alimento, renda e modo de vida para milhões de pessoas ao redor do mundo. As comunidades pesqueiras são bastante susceptíveis às mudanças econômicas, sociais, naturais e também climáticas. Desta forma, as mudanças climáticas têm afetado o modo de vida das comunidades pesqueiras e seus impactos e consequências ainda são pouco explorados. Com isto, a presente tese buscou contribuir para um melhor entendimento dos impactos das mudanças climáticas em comunidades de pesca de pequena escala, usando a percepção e a vulnerabilidade como abordagens analíticas. A região alvo do estudo foi a costa Sudeste do Brasil, definida como a área da plataforma continental que se estende entre o Cabo Frio (RJ) e o Cabo de Santa Marta (SC). A região possui características únicas, pois situa-se na região mais urbanizada e industrializada do país, e abriga uma série de comunidades pesqueiras de pequena e grande escala. Com o intuito de representar a diversidade de comunidades pesqueiras da região, 8 comunidades com características distintas foram selecionadas: Itaipu (RJ), Ilha do Araújo (RJ), Enseada (SP), Bonete (SP), Boqueirão Sul (SP), Mandira (SP), Pontal de Leste (SP) e Praia do Porto (SC). Um total de 151 unidades familiares foram entrevistadas nas comunidades selecionadas no período de Novembro de 2014 a Setembro de 2016. No primeiro capítulo a abordagem etno-oceanográfica foi utilizada para investigar a percepção dos pescadores a respeito das mudanças no clima e nos oceanos e o impacto de tais mudanças no modo de vida dos pescadores. Os resultados encontrados mostram que os pescadores detectam mudanças no ambiente e que tais mudanças estão impactando positiva e negativamente os seus rendimentos e o modo de vida dos pescadores. No segundo capítulo foi utilizado uma abordagem ampla e multiescalar para avaliar e identificar os principais fatores que afetam a vulnerabilidade das comunidades pesqueiras às mudanças climáticas. Dentre os fatores temos a distância ao mercado e aos centros urbanos e a falta de suporte institucional que aumentam a vulnerabilidade; enquanto que organização comunitária, forte liderança, parceria com centros de pesquisa, gestão compartilhada e alternativas de modos de vida que reduzem a vulnerabilidade das comunidades. No terceiro capítulo a abordagem da vulnerabilidade foi novamente utilizada, mas desta vez em nível regional, através da comparação dos dados da costa Sudeste do Brasil com a costa sul da África do Sul. Entre os fatores que diferenciam as duas regiões estão a alta dependência da pesca, forte relação com a comunidade e falta de política pública voltada para a pesca de pequena escala que aumentam a vulnerabilidade das comunidades da costa Sudeste do Brasil; enquanto que participação no processo de tomada de decisão, posse de barcos e das licenças de pesca são fatores que reduzem a vulnerabilidade regional da costa Sudeste do Brasil. Desta forma, estes achados contribuem para melhor compreender o impacto das mudanças climáticas no modo de vida dos pescadores e nas comunidades pesqueiras, servindo de base para a elaboração de estratégias de adaptação às mudanças climáticas mais eficientes e de menor impacto social.

Fishing is one of the main extractive activities of marine resources and constitutes an important source of food, income and livelihood for millions of people around the world. Fishing communities are highly susceptible to economic, social, natural and climate changes. Climate change has affected the livelihoods of fishing communities, and the impacts and consequences are still poorly understood. Therefore, this thesis sought to provide a better understanding of the impacts of climate change on small-scale fishing communities, using an analytical approach focusing on perception and vulnerability. The study area was the South Brazil Bight region, defined as the continental shelf area that extends between Cabo Frio (RJ) and Cabo Santa Marta (SC). The region has unique characteristics, as it is located in the most urbanized and industrialized region of the country and has several small- and large-scale fishing communities. To represent the diversity of the fishing communities in the region, 8 communities with distinct characteristics were selected: Itaipu (RJ), Ilha do Araújo (RJ), Enseada (SP), Bonete (SP), Boqueirão Sul (SP), Mandira (SP), Pontal de Leste (SP) and Praia do Porto (SC). A total of 151 households were interviewed in the selected communities from November 2014 to September 2016. In the first chapter of this thesis, an ethno-oceanographic approach was applied to investigate fisher perceptions on climate and ocean changes and the impact of such changes on fisher livelihoods. The results show that fishers detected changes in the environment and that these changes are positively and negatively impacting their yields and livelihoods. In the second chapter, a cross-scale approach was used to assess and identify the key factors that affect the vulnerability of fishing communities to climate change. Among the vulnerability factors, the distance to the market and urban centers and the lack of institutional support increase fishing community vulnerability to climate change; community organization, strong leadership, partnership with researchers, co-management and livelihood diversification reduce the vulnerability of communities. In the third chapter, the vulnerability approach was used again but at the regional level, by comparing data from the South Brazil Bight with the southern Cape of South Africa. Among the factors that differentiate the two regions, a high dependence on fishing, a strong attachment to place, and the lack of policy focused on small-scale fisheries increase the vulnerability of the communities in the South Brazil Bight, while participation in the decision-making process, ownership of boats and fishing rights are factors that reduce the regional vulnerability of the South Brazil Bight. Therefore, these findings provide a better understanding of the impact of climate change on the livelihood of fishers and fishing communities and serve as a basis for the development of effective climate change adaptation strategies that have minimal social impacts. / A pesca é uma das principais atividades extrativistas de recursos marinhos e constitui importante fonte de alimento, renda e modo de vida para milhões de pessoas ao redor do mundo. As comunidades pesqueiras são bastante susceptíveis às mudanças econômicas, sociais, naturais e também climáticas. Desta forma, as mudanças climáticas têm afetado o modo de vida das comunidades pesqueiras e seus impactos e consequências ainda são pouco explorados. Com isto, a presente tese buscou contribuir para um melhor entendimento dos impactos das mudanças climáticas em comunidades de pesca de pequena escala, usando a percepção e a vulnerabilidade como abordagens analíticas. A região alvo do estudo foi a costa Sudeste do Brasil, definida como a área da plataforma continental que se estende entre o Cabo Frio (RJ) e o Cabo de Santa Marta (SC). A região possui características únicas, pois situa-se na região mais urbanizada e industrializada do país, e abriga uma série de comunidades pesqueiras de pequena e grande escala. Com o intuito de representar a diversidade de comunidades pesqueiras da região, 8 comunidades com características distintas foram selecionadas: Itaipu (RJ), Ilha do Araújo (RJ), Enseada (SP), Bonete (SP), Boqueirão Sul (SP), Mandira (SP), Pontal de Leste (SP) e Praia do Porto (SC). Um total de 151 unidades familiares foram entrevistadas nas comunidades selecionadas no período de Novembro de 2014 a Setembro de 2016. No primeiro capítulo a abordagem etno-oceanográfica foi utilizada para investigar a percepção dos pescadores a respeito das mudanças no clima e nos oceanos e o impacto de tais mudanças no modo de vida dos pescadores. Os resultados encontrados mostram que os pescadores detectam mudanças no ambiente e que tais mudanças estão impactando positiva e negativamente os seus rendimentos e o modo de vida dos pescadores. No segundo capítulo foi utilizado uma abordagem ampla e multiescalar para avaliar e identificar os principais fatores que afetam a vulnerabilidade das comunidades pesqueiras às mudanças climáticas. Dentre os fatores temos a distância ao mercado e aos centros urbanos e a falta de suporte institucional que aumentam a vulnerabilidade; enquanto que organização comunitária, forte liderança, parceria com centros de pesquisa, gestão compartilhada e alternativas de modos de vida que reduzem a vulnerabilidade das comunidades. No terceiro capítulo a abordagem da vulnerabilidade foi novamente utilizada, mas desta vez em nível regional, através da comparação dos dados da costa Sudeste do Brasil com a costa sul da África do Sul. Entre os fatores que diferenciam as duas regiões estão a alta dependência da pesca, forte relação com a comunidade e falta de política pública voltada para a pesca de pequena escala que aumentam a vulnerabilidade das comunidades da costa Sudeste do Brasil; enquanto que participação no processo de tomada de decisão, posse de barcos e das licenças de pesca são fatores que reduzem a vulnerabilidade regional da costa Sudeste do Brasil. Desta forma, estes achados contribuem para melhor compreender o impacto das mudanças climáticas no modo de vida dos pescadores e nas comunidades pesqueiras, servindo de base para a elaboração de estratégias de adaptação às mudanças climáticas mais eficientes e de menor impacto social.

No Nordeste do Brasil, o estuário do Rio São Francisco apresenta extensas áreas de manguezais (32 km2) cujos recursos são utilizados por populações humanas. Este estudo considerou a metodologia de sistemas sócio-ecológicos complexos para analisar a pesca nos manguezais desse estuário, com ênfase no caranguejo Ucides cordatus. Por meio da integração de dados de diferentes áreas (etnobiologia, levantamentos socioeconômicos, estrutura populacional do caranguejo, características da vegetação, arranjo espacial da paisagem, sensoriamento remoto e geoprocessamento) em uma análise multicritério foi determina e mapeada a aptidão dos manguezais para a conservação e a pesca dessa espécie. Uma diversidade de recursos pesqueiros do manguezal (por exemplo, peixes, caranguejos e moluscos), constitui a principal base da economia de subsistência local, em que o caranguejo U. cordatus é o mais importante. As populações locais possuem um vasto conhecimento sobre o tamanho populacional e corporal, ciclo de vida, diferenciação sexual e habitat dessa espécie, e aplicam práticas conservacionistas no uso da redinha. A estrutura populacional do caranguejo revelou um alto potencial pesqueiro, com maior abundância de caranguejos de tamanho comercial do que os de tamanho não comercial. Os manguezais mais aptos para a conservação de U. cordatus (9,4 km2) estão localizados próximos à foz e apresentam alta abundância de caranguejos não comerciais, baixa densidade de caranguejos comerciais e baixo grau de utilização para a pesca. Os manguezais mais aptos para a pesca (10,2 km2) estão distantes da foz e apresentam alta abundância de caranguejos de tamanho comercial, baixa densidade de caranguejos em tamanho não comercial, caranguejos grandes, médio a alto grau de uso e estão próximos aos povoados. Os mapas de aptidão gerados podem auxiliar as agências governamentais no delineamento de áreas extrativistas e de exclusão da pesca, como sugerido no Plano Nacional de Gestão para o Uso Sustentável do Caranguejo-uçá / In Northeastern Brazil, the São Francisco River Estuary comprises a significant mangrove area (32 km2) used by local human populations. This study considered the framework of socio-ecological systems to analyze the mangrove fishery in this estuary, with emphasis on the crab Ucides cordatus. By the integration of data from different fields (etnobiology and socio-economic surveys, crab population structure, vegetation features, landscape arrangement, remote sensing and geoprocessing) in a multi-criteria analysis, we determined and mapped the suitability of the mangroves for the conservation and fishery of this species. We found that a diversity of mangrove fisheries (e.g. fish, crabs and mollusks) constitute the main base of the local subsistence economy, wherein the Ucides cordatus is the most important. The local populations have a substantial knowledge about this crab population and body sizes, life cycle, sexual differentiation, behavior and habitat, and apply conservation practices in the use of the \"redinha\". The population structure of the crab U. cordatus revealed a high fishery potential, with higher abundance (frequency and density) of crabs in commercial size than the non-commercial sized crabs. The mangroves more suitable for the crab conservation (9.4 km2) are those close to the river mouth, showing high abundance of non-commercial crabs, low density of commercial crabs and low degree of use for fishery. On the other hand, the mangroves more suitable for the crab fishery (10.2 km2) are those located far from to river mouth, showing high density and frequency of crabs in commercial size, low density of crabs in non-commercial size, big sized crabs, medium to high degree of use, and are close to the fishery villages. The maps of suitability can aid government agencies in delineating extractive and fishery exclusion areas, as stated by the Proposal of a National Management Plan for this crab, in order to achieve a sustainable fishery

Le plan de restauration des tortues marines aux Antilles françaises a été validé par le Conseil National pour la Conservation de la Nature en 2006. Les captures accidentelles dans les filets de fond, i.e. les trémail, folle et filet droit, sur le plateau continental constituent la principale menace. Des filets faisant varier la hauteur, le maillage et l’inclinaison ont été comparés à des filets professionnels au cours de 226 pêches expérimentales. Le trémail est peu sélectif. Des filets à profil bas permettent d’obtenir des rendements comparables et réduiraient les captures de tortues. Les captures accidentelles sont plus abondantes dans les trémails et les folles. Les pêches à longs temps de calée provoquent plus de 90% de taux de mortalité de tortues et augmentent les quantités de rejets. Près de deux milliers de tortues seraient capturées chaque année aux Antilles françaises, avec une mortalité avoisinant les 60%. Les tortues adultes pêchées l’ont été en période de nidification et les tortues dites résidentes sont dans la grande majorité des juvéniles ou sub-adultes, cause de la surexploitation locale passée et signe de populations non stables. La menace « pêche » est d’autant plus importante qu’elle touche les femelles nidifiantes, meilleurs espoirs de rétablissement des stocks. En étroite collaboration participative avec les professionnels de la mer, la protection des tortues et des ressources marines passerait par une réduction de la hauteur des filets et de leurs temps de calée et l’interdiction totale ou partielle de ceux à mailles larges. / The national marine turtles recovery plan in FWI was adopted in 2006 by the National council for the nature conservancy. The bottom nets bycatch, i.e. the trammel, folle and gill nets, on the continental shelf are the main threat. Experimental nets with different heights, meshing and incline was compared to professional ones during 226 experimental trials. Trammel net is non selective. Low profile nets maintain a similar productivity and reduce the turtle bycatch. Trammel and folle nets cause more bycatch. The long soak times lead to more than 90 % of turtles mortality and more discards. Each year, about two thousands of turtles would be captured in FWI, with a mortality rate closed to 60 %. The mature turtles were captured during the nesting season and the resident ones are mostly juveniles or sub-adults, because of the local past overexploitation and indicator of non stable populations. The “fishery” threat is particularly important it affect nesting females, best stocks recovery hope. Closely to the marine professionals, the marine turtle and resources protection would be effective thanks to the reduction of the height and soak times nets and the total or partial ban of large meshing size nets.

No Nordeste do Brasil, o estuário do Rio São Francisco apresenta extensas áreas de manguezais (32 km2) cujos recursos são utilizados por populações humanas. Este estudo considerou a metodologia de sistemas sócio-ecológicos complexos para analisar a pesca nos manguezais desse estuário, com ênfase no caranguejo Ucides cordatus. Por meio da integração de dados de diferentes áreas (etnobiologia, levantamentos socioeconômicos, estrutura populacional do caranguejo, características da vegetação, arranjo espacial da paisagem, sensoriamento remoto e geoprocessamento) em uma análise multicritério foi determina e mapeada a aptidão dos manguezais para a conservação e a pesca dessa espécie. Uma diversidade de recursos pesqueiros do manguezal (por exemplo, peixes, caranguejos e moluscos), constitui a principal base da economia de subsistência local, em que o caranguejo U. cordatus é o mais importante. As populações locais possuem um vasto conhecimento sobre o tamanho populacional e corporal, ciclo de vida, diferenciação sexual e habitat dessa espécie, e aplicam práticas conservacionistas no uso da redinha. A estrutura populacional do caranguejo revelou um alto potencial pesqueiro, com maior abundância de caranguejos de tamanho comercial do que os de tamanho não comercial. Os manguezais mais aptos para a conservação de U. cordatus (9,4 km2) estão localizados próximos à foz e apresentam alta abundância de caranguejos não comerciais, baixa densidade de caranguejos comerciais e baixo grau de utilização para a pesca. Os manguezais mais aptos para a pesca (10,2 km2) estão distantes da foz e apresentam alta abundância de caranguejos de tamanho comercial, baixa densidade de caranguejos em tamanho não comercial, caranguejos grandes, médio a alto grau de uso e estão próximos aos povoados. Os mapas de aptidão gerados podem auxiliar as agências governamentais no delineamento de áreas extrativistas e de exclusão da pesca, como sugerido no Plano Nacional de Gestão para o Uso Sustentável do Caranguejo-uçá / In Northeastern Brazil, the São Francisco River Estuary comprises a significant mangrove area (32 km2) used by local human populations. This study considered the framework of socio-ecological systems to analyze the mangrove fishery in this estuary, with emphasis on the crab Ucides cordatus. By the integration of data from different fields (etnobiology and socio-economic surveys, crab population structure, vegetation features, landscape arrangement, remote sensing and geoprocessing) in a multi-criteria analysis, we determined and mapped the suitability of the mangroves for the conservation and fishery of this species. We found that a diversity of mangrove fisheries (e.g. fish, crabs and mollusks) constitute the main base of the local subsistence economy, wherein the Ucides cordatus is the most important. The local populations have a substantial knowledge about this crab population and body sizes, life cycle, sexual differentiation, behavior and habitat, and apply conservation practices in the use of the \"redinha\". The population structure of the crab U. cordatus revealed a high fishery potential, with higher abundance (frequency and density) of crabs in commercial size than the non-commercial sized crabs. The mangroves more suitable for the crab conservation (9.4 km2) are those close to the river mouth, showing high abundance of non-commercial crabs, low density of commercial crabs and low degree of use for fishery. On the other hand, the mangroves more suitable for the crab fishery (10.2 km2) are those located far from to river mouth, showing high density and frequency of crabs in commercial size, low density of crabs in non-commercial size, big sized crabs, medium to high degree of use, and are close to the fishery villages. The maps of suitability can aid government agencies in delineating extractive and fishery exclusion areas, as stated by the Proposal of a National Management Plan for this crab, in order to achieve a sustainable fishery

Atualmente, a pesca de pequena escala enfrenta diversas dificuldades, dentre as quais se destacam as deficiências estruturais de armazenamento, conservação e processamento do pescado, mas também dos processos de distribuição e comercialização. Uma das principais necessidades de conhecimento consiste no mapeamento e compreensão dos processos e elos das cadeias produtivas das pescarias artesanais. O objetivo desse estudo foi tecer uma investigação comparativa focada na estrutura, função, e desempenho das cadeias produtivas de três sistemas pesqueiros do Estado de São Paulo com significância socioeconômica: o da corvina (Micropogonias furnieri) capturada por redes de emalhe em Ubatuba; o do camarão sete-barbas (Xiphopeneaus kroyeri) capturado por redes de arrasto, no Rio do Meio, Guarujá; e o da manjuba (Anchoviella lepidentostole) capturada por redes de emalhe na Barragem do Valo Grande, em Iguape. Os dados de campo foram coletados durante o período de março/2013 a janeiro/2015 por meio de questionários aplicados em entrevistas com os atores envolvidos nos processos de captura, processamento, distribuição e comercialização do pescado. A cadeia produtiva da manjuba se mostrou como a mais complexa do grupo, com maior número de atores e fluxos de distribuição, alta abrangência de distribuição e diferentes tipos de processamento. Quanto à distribuição dos benefícios, a maior margem de comercialização foi verificada na planta de processamento da cadeia do camarão, enquanto que a menor foi a dos atravessadores das cadeias da corvina e da manjuba. O produto final com maior valor de comercialização no varejo foi a da manjuba eviscerada (7,6 vezes maior que o valor de primeira comercialização). Em relação ao desempenho das cadeias estudadas, os indicadores de equidade, eficiência, e empoderamento apresentaram baixa adesão, sugerindo uma necessidade de melhorias em todos os segmentos. A partir dos métodos e resultados deste estudo, tópicos importantes sobre as cadeias produtivas e de valores da pesca de pequena escala, poderão servir de base para a definição de políticas de gestão mais eficientes visando a sustentabilidade do setor, ou ainda, para a melhoria da qualidade do pescado e dos segmentos envolvidos nessas atividades. / Currently, small-scale fisheries face several difficulties, such as structural deficiencies for fish storage and preservation, but also in the process of distribution and marketing. One of the main knowledge gap is the mapping and understanding of the processes and links of the small-scale fisheries value chains. In this study, a comparative investigation focused on the structure, function and performance of supply chains from three fishery systems with significative socioeconomic relevance in São Paulo State was performed. The systems comprise the whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri) fishery by gillnetters in Ubatuba, the seabob-shrimp (Xiphopeneaus kroyeri) fishery by Rio do Meio\'s trawlers in Guarujá, and the broadband anchovy (Anchoviella lepidentostole) fishery by canoes with gillnets in the Valo Grande Dam, in Iguape. The data were collected at field from March/2013 to January/2015 through questionnaires and inperson surveys with the actors involved in the processes of catch, processing, distribution and sale. The supply chain of broadband anchovy proved to be the most complex, with highest number of actors and distribution flows, high range of distribution and different processing forms. On the distribution of benefits, the highest marketing margin was verified in the processing plant of the seabob-shrimp\'s chain, while the lowest, was identified in the middlemen of croaker and anchovy chains. The final product with largest retail sale value was the eviscerated broadband anchovy (about 7.6 times higher than the first sale value). In regard to equity, efficiency and empowerment criteria on value chains performance, the three fishery systems showed low compliance in all considered indicators, suggesting a need for improvements in all segments. This study obtained relevant details on the supply and value chain of the three small-scale fisheries of São Paulo. These data and the methods proposed may support the definition of management policies more efficient for the sector\'s sustainability, in addition, to improve the quality of fish and human segments involved in these activities.

Atualmente, a pesca de pequena escala enfrenta diversas dificuldades, dentre as quais se destacam as deficiências estruturais de armazenamento, conservação e processamento do pescado, mas também dos processos de distribuição e comercialização. Uma das principais necessidades de conhecimento consiste no mapeamento e compreensão dos processos e elos das cadeias produtivas das pescarias artesanais. O objetivo desse estudo foi tecer uma investigação comparativa focada na estrutura, função, e desempenho das cadeias produtivas de três sistemas pesqueiros do Estado de São Paulo com significância socioeconômica: o da corvina (Micropogonias furnieri) capturada por redes de emalhe em Ubatuba; o do camarão sete-barbas (Xiphopeneaus kroyeri) capturado por redes de arrasto, no Rio do Meio, Guarujá; e o da manjuba (Anchoviella lepidentostole) capturada por redes de emalhe na Barragem do Valo Grande, em Iguape. Os dados de campo foram coletados durante o período de março/2013 a janeiro/2015 por meio de questionários aplicados em entrevistas com os atores envolvidos nos processos de captura, processamento, distribuição e comercialização do pescado. A cadeia produtiva da manjuba se mostrou como a mais complexa do grupo, com maior número de atores e fluxos de distribuição, alta abrangência de distribuição e diferentes tipos de processamento. Quanto à distribuição dos benefícios, a maior margem de comercialização foi verificada na planta de processamento da cadeia do camarão, enquanto que a menor foi a dos atravessadores das cadeias da corvina e da manjuba. O produto final com maior valor de comercialização no varejo foi a da manjuba eviscerada (7,6 vezes maior que o valor de primeira comercialização). Em relação ao desempenho das cadeias estudadas, os indicadores de equidade, eficiência, e empoderamento apresentaram baixa adesão, sugerindo uma necessidade de melhorias em todos os segmentos. A partir dos métodos e resultados deste estudo, tópicos importantes sobre as cadeias produtivas e de valores da pesca de pequena escala, poderão servir de base para a definição de políticas de gestão mais eficientes visando a sustentabilidade do setor, ou ainda, para a melhoria da qualidade do pescado e dos segmentos envolvidos nessas atividades. / Currently, small-scale fisheries face several difficulties, such as structural deficiencies for fish storage and preservation, but also in the process of distribution and marketing. One of the main knowledge gap is the mapping and understanding of the processes and links of the small-scale fisheries value chains. In this study, a comparative investigation focused on the structure, function and performance of supply chains from three fishery systems with significative socioeconomic relevance in São Paulo State was performed. The systems comprise the whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri) fishery by gillnetters in Ubatuba, the seabob-shrimp (Xiphopeneaus kroyeri) fishery by Rio do Meio\'s trawlers in Guarujá, and the broadband anchovy (Anchoviella lepidentostole) fishery by canoes with gillnets in the Valo Grande Dam, in Iguape. The data were collected at field from March/2013 to January/2015 through questionnaires and inperson surveys with the actors involved in the processes of catch, processing, distribution and sale. The supply chain of broadband anchovy proved to be the most complex, with highest number of actors and distribution flows, high range of distribution and different processing forms. On the distribution of benefits, the highest marketing margin was verified in the processing plant of the seabob-shrimp\'s chain, while the lowest, was identified in the middlemen of croaker and anchovy chains. The final product with largest retail sale value was the eviscerated broadband anchovy (about 7.6 times higher than the first sale value). In regard to equity, efficiency and empowerment criteria on value chains performance, the three fishery systems showed low compliance in all considered indicators, suggesting a need for improvements in all segments. This study obtained relevant details on the supply and value chain of the three small-scale fisheries of São Paulo. These data and the methods proposed may support the definition of management policies more efficient for the sector\'s sustainability, in addition, to improve the quality of fish and human segments involved in these activities.