Exploraçao dos recursos marinhos na praia de Mecufi

Abstract

The study was carried out from February to April 1997, on two rocky platforms of Mecufi District. The objectives were to determine and compare the specie composition of marine invertebrates collected in the intertidal zones per rocky shelf in relation to the semi lunar tidal cycle. Samplings were carried out on the beach and on consecutive days per shelf. A total of 39 species were listed . Of these, 11 were exclusively collected on the Mecufi rocky platform, 1 exclusively collected on the Cambaia platform and 27 were common to both platforms. At high tide 37 species were collected and at low tide 32 species were collected. It was also intended to compare and relate the total catch and average lengths by area, semi lunar tidal cycle , age group and sex of the collector. There were no differences in the total catch of the two rocky platforms. The highest amount of invertebrates was. collected during dead tide . Adults collected more invertebrates than juveniles and children. Female collectors collected more invertebrates than male collectors. In a 500g sample, the lengths of each species were measured. For this purpose, the species Modiolus aurículatus, Atrína pectinata, Neríta textilis, Oxystele tigrína and Cailiostoma afrícanum were analysed as they accounted for 55% of abundance. There were differences in the mean lengths of Atrína pectinata between the two rock platforms, where the greatest lengths were collected on the Mecufi platform compared to the Cambaia platform. For the species Oxystele tigrinya the greatest lengths were collected on the dead tide than on the high tide and for the others there were no significant differences. No differences were found in the mean lengths of individuals caught by the three age groups in 3 species out of the 5 chosen. In the species Modiolus aurículatus and Oxystele tigrína, adults collected individuals with longer mean lengths than juveniles and children. There were no significant differences in the average lengths of individuals caught by collectors of both sexes. Of the collectors surveyed 80% had 1 active collector per household and only 20% had 2 collectors per household. The total catch did not influence the frequency of collection or the time of consumption. It was found that the species Modiolus ^aurículatus contributes more to the diet than Atrína pectinata 38 species were for consumption and only the species Holothuría sP had commercial purpose (TRADUÇAO NOSSA)