ETHNOECOLOGY OF Mussismilia braziliensis (Verrill 1868) IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF CARAVELAS, BAHIA, BRAZIL

Abstract

This work is the first record of the perception of fishers and artisanal fishers in the Caravela city- Bahia and its respective districts (Ponta de Areia and Barra de Caravelas) regarding the species Mussismilia braziliensis, its ethnozoological aspects and its socio-environmental importance. The main objective is to associate the knowledge of these artisanal fishers about this species with the ethnoconservation of the Abrolhos Marine National Park (PARNAM-Abrolhos). Data collection was conducted from March to August 2019 through semi-structured interviews with 14 fishers from each fishing communities (Caravelas, Ponta de Areia and Barra de Caravelas). An ethno-mapping was carried out with two focal groups in order to know if the fishing grounds have received their names due to the presence or absence of corals. Using morphological characteristics, the focus species is grouped together with other corals belonging to different families, which are all considered to be brain corals. Other studies are recommended to appreciate the knowledge of the Caravelas fishers and use it for future environmental education, management and conservation projects of the PARNAM-Abrolhos.