Socio-economic profile and ethnobiological knowledge of the gatherers of caranguejo-uçá, Ucides cordatus (Linnaeus, 1763), in the Environmental Preservation Area of the Parnaíba River Delta

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish the socio-economic profile of the gatherers of caranguejo-uçá working in the Environmental Preservation Area (APA) in the Parnaíba River Delta, and to assess their knowledge of the biology and the interaction with the environment and the protection laws regarding this species. Twenty-six gatherers were interviewed from August 2005 through July 2006. They were questioned about their social situation, their folk knowledge on the biology of these crabs, the ways used to capture them, and how they perceive the protection of the mangrove environment. All the interviewees were males, ranging from 16 to 51 years old. They caught around 51 crabs/day during the rainy season and around 83 in the dry season. The gatherers went to the mangrove forest about 4 times per week. Their monthly household income was R$ 291.00. Out of 26 gatherers, 92.31% claimed to know the off-season period for crabbing; however, only 65.39% were correct. According to the gatherers, molting occurs from August to October, the same period as the presence of “caranguejo leite” (milk crab). They recognized the “andada” period from January to March. The presence of ovigerous females is in synchrony with the “andada”, from January to April. The gatherers stated that the crabs feed on leaves, roots and buds, and their predators are the capuchin monkey and the raccoon. 69.2% of the gatherers perceived a sizeable decrease in the number of crabs, and the need for increased catching effort. Study of such ethnobiological knowledge can provide a basis for studies on the preservation of this species, as well as the preservation and sustainable exploitation of the ecosystem.