key: cord-0284536-4w4sx8wn authors: Begossi, Alpina; Salivonchyk, Svetlana; Glamuzina, Branko; Alves-Pereira, Alessandro; Araújo Batista, Carlos Eduardo De; Priolli, Regina H. G. title: Filling gaps: fishing, genetics, and conservation of groupers, especially the comb grouper (badejo) (Mycteroperca acutirostris), in SE Brazil (2013-2020) date: 2021-04-13 journal: bioRxiv DOI: 10.1101/2021.04.12.439484 sha: 9d4e4c0ae9d7814d1d1b9b84d9a9bde3e1812554 doc_id: 284536 cord_uid: 4w4sx8wn There are large gaps in our knowledge of the biology of important fish consumed by people in tropical countries, which makes conservation difficult. Small-scale fisheries are difficult to study and regulate, especially in countries with no systematic species monitoring. It is even more difficult to estimate the influence of these fisheries on vulnerable fish species and to diagnose possible damage to local fish populations. In this study, 490 individuals of badejo, or comb grouper (Mycteropeca acutirostris), were observed at the Posto 6 fishery in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, for the periods of 2013-2014 and 2018-2020. A pattern of decreasing catches was observed for comb grouper. Therefore, provided that the fishing gear and the number of fish have remained the same, the apparent decrease in comb grouper needs to be further investigated. The results provide information regarding the reproduction of comb grouper, with major spawning season around spring (September-December) and additional spawning during April in SE Brazil. Samples from 96 groupers along the coast of Brazil were obtained, and genetic analyses were conducted. The genetic information obtained for grouper species enabled us to determine the relative genetic proximity of M. acutirostris and Mycteroperca bonaci and to obtain information that can be useful for aquaculture and conservation. Small-scale fisheries (SSFs) are ubiquitous along maritime coasts. Despite a significant 43 lack of systematic data, such fisheries are a valuable food source for local populations and are an 44 important source of income [1, 2] . Small-scale fisheries account for approximately 50% all fish 45 captured for consumption worldwide; however, the lack of long-term monitoring in data-poor 46 countries contributes to failures in fishery management [3] . In this group are the 'badejo', as they are called in Brazil. Their dorsal fins have 11 58 spines and 15-18 rays. They are coastal fish, have high commercial value, and are considered to 59 be "noble fish". Groupers are part of the Epinephelinae subfamily. Nevertheless, there is debate 60 based on genetic data regarding whether the subfamily Epinephelinae should be treated as a 61 family (Epinephelidae) and not a subfamily [7] . 62 Mycteroperca acutirostris has a dark brown color and a head with long striations, and it 63 is characterized by 11 dorsal spines and 15-17 rays and 50-56 rackers in the first branchial arch, 64 along with a rounded caudal fin. It is associated with rocky bottoms (adults), and juveniles are 65 found in shallow waters and mangrove areas; its major threat is fishing pressure [7, 8] Epinephelus marginatus is found in the Atlantic and in the western Indian Ocean with a 118 decreasing population trend and is considered by the IUCN to be "EN" (endangered); 119 Mycteroperca acutirostris is found in the western Atlantic and is considered to be heavily fished, 120 but it is viewed by the IUCN to be of "LC" (least concern) [7,11]. 121 Here, we chronologically describe the research results for garoupa, dusky grouper. The 122 most recent study [16] showed relative catches and price stability. The studies that were begun 123 Mature gonads for comb grouper, were observed in April, September and October: these 229 spring months coincide with mature gonads being observed in dusky grouper [16,18,28] (Fig 2) . 230 The months mentioned by fishers from Copacabana (13 fishers) as the months in which comb 231 grouper was "ovado" (with mature gonads) were September (5 fishers) and November-December 232 (8 fishers). 233 ; Fig 2) . The average monthly 241 prices were slightly higher in July and August than in other months. They fluctuated most 242 strongly in July and October (Figs 3a and b) . The average exchange rate for 2018 was 243 US$1.00=R$3.65) (https://www.exchangerates.org.uk/USD-BRL-spot-exchange-rates-history-244 2018.html). 245 The genetic distances between the five grouper species (Fig 6) were determined from a 287 set of neutral SNP loci and revealed that M. acutirostris is more closely related to M. 288 interstitialis (0.343) than to M. bonaci (0.48). Epinephelus morio was the species that was most 289 distant from the others, except for another species from the same genus (E. marginatus) (Fig 6) . 290 In Fig. 6 neighbor-joining trees based on Nei's genetic distances were produced using the set of 291 817 SNP loci identified with Stacks pipeline considering all the five Grouper species 292 simultaneously. 293 that depend on small-scale fisheries for consumption and cash. This study provides important 302 information for the conservation of this species and provides information on the reproduction 303 period and on genetics that may be useful for managing this species. In addition, it provides 304 alerts for a species that is becoming scarce and for a species with poor data and that is still 305 considered of LC (least concern). 306 In this study, we found different catch patterns for each of the grouper species, namely, 307 stability of catches and prices for dusky grouper, and a decreasing pattern for comb grouper, for 308 the Copacabana small-scale fishery. We added genetics to better understand the species and to 309 gain insights into their conservation and biology. With this study, we hope to fill some gaps in 310 Brazil and contribute to management efforts. 311 312 By comparing catches of dusky grouper and comb grouper, contrasting patterns are found 313 in the catches of the studied groupers: while we found relative stability for the catches of dusky 314 grouper, we found very irregular and decreasing catches in terms of number and weight for comb 315 groupers. Even considering that comb grouper is of LC (least concern, IUCN Red List), there is 316 an information gap concerning its diet and reproduction [11] . Thus, an optimistic prognosis is 317 offered from the studies of dusky grouper and Copacabana [16], but there is a pessimistic 318 prognosis for comb grouper due to its decreasing catches when the fishing effort is maintained at 319 a constant level, as was observed for the Copacabana fishery. 320 The results for the genetics of groupers reveal that E. morio shows the greatest genetic 321 distance from Epinephelus; however, the Mycteroperca subfamily has a relatively short genetic 322 distance. 323 How could these data aid in the conservation of species? Such information can help 324 directly and indirectly. 325 Directly, information regarding the reproduction period is helpful for managing fish 326 resources, as fishing closures for comb grouper in the spring could help maintain stocks. 327 Information on diet, in addition to its importance in maintaining available prey, could provide 328 insights for possible aquaculture, which exists in SE Brazil for dusky grouper [29, 30] . 329 Indirectly, grouper genetics provides basic information for aquaculture; it engenders 330 information that could aid in conservation by finding bottlenecks at some points, as was found 331 for dusky grouper [31] . Here, genetic information could also be helpful for taxonomic analysis of 332 the subfamily Epinephelus. Grouper systematics has been reevaluated, restricting the genus 333 Small-scale fisheries: Assessing their contribution to rural livelihoods in 354 developing countries Threatened fish and fishers along the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Coast Barriers to effective monitoring and evaluation of 359 small-scale fisheries in small island developing states: An example from Mauritius Predicting species distribution from fishers' 362 local ecological knowledge: An alternative for data-poor management Hidrelétricas na Amazônia Brasileira: Questões ambientais e sociais Viability and sustainability of small-367 scale fisheries in Latin America and the Caribbean Groupers of the world: A field and market 370 guide Manual de peixes marinhos do sudeste do Brasil When does this fish spawn Fishermen's local knowledge of migration and reproduction of Brazilian coastal fishes Comb grouper (Mycteroperca 377 acutirostris) information from catches at Copacabana FishBase. 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