Abstract
Oysters play a critical role in providing ecosystem services along the Brazilian coast, functioning both as a fishery resource and as water filters in estuarine environments. The native mangrove oyster, Crassostrea brasiliana, is one of the most important resources along the São Paulo coastline. However, the oyster species Saccostrea cucullata was introduced to Brazil, likely through ballast water, with its first records dating back to 2014 in the municipality of Bertioga. Invasive alien species (IAS) are a threat to biodiversity, causing imbalances in ecosystems, competing with native species, and generating socioeconomic impacts. In Brazil, S. cucullata is already considered an IAS, with its distribution extending from Rio de Janeiro to Santa Catarina. In 2023, the 'Action Network for Addressing the Invasive Alien Oyster Saccostrea cucullata' was formalized, an interinstitutional network involving collaborators from UNESP, Fundação Florestal, ICMBio, IBAMA, Instituto de Pesquisas Ambientais (IPA-SP), CATI-SP, and local oyster farming communities. This proposal is an extension of the Network, aiming to enhance its capacity to generate knowledge and public policies. It seeks to develop and implement effective monitoring and management actions for S. cucullata, with the goal of controlling its distribution and abundance through a collaborative process involving academia, public management, and traditional communities. In terms of management, a model and pilot project for Environmental Service Payment (PSA) will be developed and implemented by Fundação Florestal. PSA is a financial mechanism that compensates for environmental services provided, with the potential to generate income for vulnerable communities, fostering socio-environmental development. The PSA will aim to incentivize the removal of the invasive oyster by local oyster farmers, reducing the pressure on the native species C. brasiliana and creating a new source of income for communities. In the research domain, investigations will be conducted at various scales, from genetic studies to verify possible hybrids and assess the impact of the IAS on local fishing communities, to citizen science initiatives, and defining uses for the IAS (meat and shell) to establish a well-developed market chain for PSA. Additionally, the project will explore alternative uses for the invasive oyster waste, including recipes using the cooked meat of the oyster, as the raw invasive oyster has not been accepted in the market, as well as possibilities for agricultural uses and soil recovery. Management objectives will be guided and monitored by research outcomes, ensuring that decisions are the result of co-creation among research, management, and affected local communities. The project will also include science-based protocols for monitoring and managing this IAS. Besides management and research developments, the proposal aims to ensure the maintenance and strengthening of Network activities, including annual workshops involving the communities, UNESP, Fundação Florestal, IBAMA, and ICMBio. It is expected that, with the implementation of this proposal, the population of S. cucullata will be controlled, reducing pressure on the native species and impacts on fishing activities, while also valuing and compensating traditional oyster farming communities and providing a deeper understanding of the current dynamics of this species along the São Paulo coast. (AU)
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