Environmental perception of gatherers of the crab 'caranguejo-uçá' (Ucides cordatus, Decapoda, Brachyura) affecting their collection attitudes

Introduction Mangrove forests are productive ecosystems found along the coastal zones of Brazil, providing several profitable resources such as timber, medicinal products, natural dye, fish, crustaceans, and molluscs. For the littoral dwellers of Northeast Brazil, the Brachyura crabs are a major economic resource. The main species they commercialize are the 'goiamum' (Cardisoma guanhumi), 'siris' (Callinectes spp), and the land crab 'caranguejo-uçá' (Ucides cordatus). The land crab is the most exploited species, and of most relevance for people living in the surrounding mangrove areas in the State of Paraiba [1-3].