Dozens of stingrays were found dead on Itararé Beach, located in San Vicente, on the coast of São Paulo. The animals, scattered along the sand, were discovered by beachgoers on February 25th.
Experts believe that the stingrays, specifically of the species Rhinoptera bonasus and Rhinoptera brasiliensis, were discarded by fishermen. This happened after being accidentally trapped in trawl fishing nets, a common but controversial practice.
According to Otto Bismarck Gadig, a biologist at São Paulo State University (Unesp) in San Vicente, “the fishermen probably released them, and they ended up dying on the beach.” Trawl fishing nets, designed to catch species such as shrimp and cod, often unintentionally capture other marine creatures, resulting in discards like this.
Environmental Impact and Scientific Studies
More than a hundred stingrays were collected by Unesp researchers to be analyzed in their laboratories.
These studies could provide relevant information about the causes of the incident and the status of the affected species.
However, there is still a possibility that some rays may have remained submerged near the coast, posing a risk to beachgoers, as their stingers remain dangerous even after their death.
The finding also highlights the issue of trawl fishing and its environmental impact. This type of fishing not only affects non-target species but also raises concerns about the sustainability and responsible management of marine ecosystems.
What is Trawl Fishing?
Trawl fishing is a non-selective method widely used to catch fish and marine invertebrates. It involves dragging a net through the water behind one or more boats and is a technique that can be divided into two types: midwater trawling and bottom trawling.
Midwater trawl nets are used to catch fish that are not on the seafloor but in the water column. They also affect biological diversity by removing large portions of the target population and other species through what is known as bycatch, but they do not disturb the seafloor itself.
Bottom trawling involves heavy nets whose gears are dragged across the seabed to capture fish and invertebrates living on or near it, in other words, benthic and demersal species.
This type of fishing not only has a direct impact on fish populations and benthic communities in the areas where it is used but can also have long-term effects on the ecosystem by altering the physical properties of the seafloor.
Cover photo: UNESP
Do you already know our YouTube channel? Subscribe!
