Photo: Lauro A. Saint Pastous Madureira/Universidade Federal de Rio Grande

The striped skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) is of immense commercial importance in Rio de Janeiro, with an annual average of five thousand tons of the fish being produced over the last decade (FIPERJ, 2013), making it the third largest haul in the state.

The initiative “The Skipjack: Ecology and Socio-economics of Katsuwonus pelamis Fishing on the Coast of Rio de Janeiro” will evaluate species stocks, plan for its sustainable management and its addition to the school meals program. The project will generate scientific knowledge on the ecology and socio-environmental importance of the skipjack.

Part of this research drive will study the interactions and conflicts between striped skipjack fishing and other economic activities along the state’s coast, with focus on oil and gas drilling activities. It will also compare the ecological footprints of striped skipjack production and those of other forms of protein, including poultry and swine.