RESUMO

Identifying the origin of plastic pollution is essential for the development of effective preventive and mitigatory strategies and guidelines for companies, governments, and stakeholders. In 2022, a considerable amount of plastic waste stranded on beaches of the northeastern coast of Brazil. A preliminary analysis of this waste revealed that most of the items were likely foreign made, and a brand auditing approach was applied to identify the brands, parent companies, and potential origin of the plastic waste. The items were also examined to determine their degree of degradation, polymer resin codes, colors, and probable uses. Given their probable foreign origin, a numerical simulation was employed using the OpenDrift dispersion model to determine the likely route each item would have taken before reaching the Brazilian coast. The brand audit confirmed that most of the plastic waste came from Africa (78.5 % of the items), followed by Brazil (15.7 %), and other nations (5.8 %). A total of 31 brands from seven African countries were identified, of which, >90 % originated from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Drift simulations were consistent with the results of the brand audit, indicating that the plastics originated from the west coast of African, primarily between latitudes 5° N and 10° S. This analysis indicated that the Congo river was the principal source of the plastic waste that found its way to the Brazilian beaches. The present study highlights the widespread occurrence of plastic pollution across the Atlantic Ocean and underscores the need for mitigatory and regulatory measures that consider foreign sources, as well as local drivers of pollution. In this context, continuous monitoring programs will be essential to advance our understanding of the magnitude of the international plastic pollution problem, and provide insights to delineate specific enforcements dealing with this issue.

RESUMO

After successful invasions in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, lionfish (Pterois spp.) have recently invaded another important biogeographical region -the Brazilian Province. In this article, we discuss this new invasion, focusing on a roadmap for urgent mitigation of the problem, as well as focused research and management strategies. The invasion in Brazil is already in the consolidation stage, with 352 individuals recorded so far (2020-2023) along 2766 km of coastline. This includes both juveniles and adults, including egg-bearing females, ranging in length from 9.1 to 38.5 cm. Until now, most of the records in the Brazilian coast occurred in the equatorial southwestern Atlantic (99%), mainly on the Amazon mesophotic reefs (15% of the records), northeastern coast of Brazil (45%), and the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (41%; an UNESCO World Heritage Site with high endemism rate). These records cover a broad depth range (1-110 m depth), twelve protected areas, eight Brazilian states (Amapá, Pará, Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, and Pernambuco) and multiple habitats (i.e., mangrove estuaries, shallow-water and mesophotic reefs, seagrass beds, artificial reefs, and sandbanks), indicating a rapid and successful invasion process in Brazilian waters. In addition, the lack of local knowledge of rare and/or cryptic native species that are potentially vulnerable to lionfish predation raises concerns regarding the potential overlooked ecological impacts. Thus, we call for an urgent integrated approach with multiple stakeholders and solution-based ecological research, real-time inventories, update of environmental and fishery legislation, participatory monitoring supported by citizen science, and a national and unified plan aimed at decreasing the impact of lionfish invasion. The experience acquired by understanding the invasion process in the Caribbean and Mediterranean will help to establish and prioritize goals for Brazil.

Assuntos

RESUMO

This study evaluated the growth of the dusky grouper submitted to different diets. A sample of fishes (5.56 ± 0.84 g and 7.1 ± 0.4 cm total length) was captured in the nature and distributed in 12 tanks (80 L, 15 fishes tank-1). They were fed with three different diets (diet 1 = commercial ration; diet 2 = mussel; diet 3 = sardine) for 60 days. The variables of water quality (water temperature, oxygen level, total ammonia and salinity) were maintained inside ideal parameters for the species. No significant differences among the tested diets on the performance indicators (survival rate, specific-growth rate and daily growth rate) were found, although diet 1 (commercial ration) provided similar performance as natural food. Its facility of supply, stockpiling and handling make it as the better choice for the growth of the studied species on the tested conditions.

Avaliou-se o desempenho da garoupa-verdadeira submetida a diferentes dietas. Exemplares com 5,56 ± 0,84 g e 7,1 ± 0,4 cm coletados na natureza foram distribuídos em 12 tanques (80 L, 15 peixes tanque-1) e submetidos a três diferentes dietas (dieta 1 = ração comercial; dieta 2 = mexilhão; dieta 3 = sardinha) por 60 dias. As variáveis de qualidade de água (temperatura, oxigênio dissolvido, amônia total e salinidade) foram mantidas dentro da faixa recomendada para a espécie. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas, entre as dietas testadas, para os indicadores de desempenho avaliados (sobrevivência, taxa de crescimento específico e ganho diário de peso e comprimento). A dieta 1 (ração comercial) proporcionou desempenho zootécnico similar ao do alimento natural. Entretanto, pela praticidade e maior facilidade de estocagem e fornecimento, pode ser considerada a melhor escolha para o crescimento da garoupa-verdadeira nas condições avaliadas neste estudo.