Human-wildlife conflict between Neotropic cormorant and artisanal fisheries induces dubious management policies in southern Brazil

Abstract

Human-wildlife conflicts pose significant challenges, requiring nuanced solutions rooted in ecological understanding and community engagement. In this sense, this opinion essay explores the first documented South American conflict scenario between Neotropic cormorants (Nannopterum brasilianum) and artisanal fisheries, located on Laguna Estuarine System, southern Brazil. Local reports converge on the information that, after 2015, Neotropic cormorants began to establish a reproductive colony on a non-breeders dormitory located at Noca Lagoon, near the estuary mouth. The colony’s consistent presence over the years and intense feeding activity, along with possible recruitment of cormorants, may lead to the perspective of increased population and nuances among fishermen. These concerns include vegetation suppression dealt by guano deposition, food competition, property damage, and fishery resources depletion. Despite no evidence of cormorant population increase and due the fact that fishing is an important regional activity, there was a response from local lawmakers to address this issue (Municipal Ordinary Law number 2.154/2020). The law imposes the harmful status to the native bird species and permit measures to “clean” harmful populations from properties. In addition, this law lacks control guidelines to cormorant populations, threating the local biodiversity and exacerbating the emerging human-wildlife conflict. To address these challenges, holistic and interdisciplinary approaches that understand cormorant behaviors and its interaction with fisheries activity are needed. From the knowledge bridge built from lawmakers, stakeholders, scientists, and fishermen, it is possible to foster dialogue and adopt a conceptual framework to mitigate conflict outputs and promote harmonious coexistence between wildlife and human activities.