Perceptions and reality in fisher coexistence with aquatic predators in the Peruvian Amazon

Humans and large aquatic predators compete for fish and negative interactions are widely reported as 'human-wildlife conflicts'. When aquatic predators are perceived to damage fisheries or fishing equipment, lethal control can occur. The perceptions and reality of damage are infrequently compared, but this relationship is key to determining how negative outcomes can be mitigated. We examine coexistence between people and six large aquatic piscivores (two caiman, two dolphins, two otters) in Amazonian Peru. We determine the extent of damage to fishing equipment caused by each species and compare this to the amount of damage perceived by fishers. Giant otter populations have recently recovered in some areas, so we expected different perceptions relating to experiences with otters. We trained fishers to complete fishing registers (n = 278, 1173 h of fishing) to record damage to nets by wildlife. We interviewed 302 people from three sites to determine perceptions of damage by predators, and attitudes towards giant otters. Rates of damage to nets reflected the presence and populations of different aquatic predators at each site, but when present, dolphins and caimans damaged nets more than otters, which rarely damaged nets. People living where giant otters had recently recovered perceived higher relative levels of damage to nets by them and had more negative attitudes about them, compared to people from areas where giant otters had been present for longer, aquatic predators were more abundant, and community resource management was longer-established. Better knowledge and more experience with a species may lead to more accurate perceptions of damage and increased tolerance. Where humans and animals compete for natural resources, conflict mitigation rarely includes better resource management. If tolerance of predators is greater where predators are common, and resources have not been overexploited, resource management may yield greater gains for stakeholders than other commonly prescribed forms of mitigation. The perceptions and reality of 'human-wildlife conflict' are infrequently compared, but this relationship is key to determining how negative outcomes can be mitigated. We trained fishers to complete fishing registers to record damage to nets by six large aquatic piscivores (two caiman, two dolphins, two otters) in Amazonian Peru, and compared these data to perceptions and attitudes. Perceptions of damage were closer to reality where predators were more common and fishers most familiar with them, while tolerance of predators was greater where resources had not been overexploited. Resource management may yield greater gains for stakeholders than other commonly prescribed forms of mitigation. image Las comunidades de la Amazonia peruana son principalmente riberenas y el pescado proporciona proteinas importantes. Las interacciones con depredadores acuaticos son potencialmente hostiles. Examinamos la coexistencia entre personas y seis piscivoros acuaticos (dos caimanes, dos delfines, dos nutrias). Determinamos la medida en que cada especie causa dano a los equipos de pesca y lo comparamos con la cantidad de dano percibido por los pescadores. Las poblaciones de nutrias gigantes se han recuperado recientemente en gran parte de la region, por lo que esperabamos nuevas incidencias de interacciones negativas con los pescadores. Capacitamos a 12 pescadores para completar registros de pesca (n = 278, registrando 1173 horas de pesca) para registrar el dano real a las redes por parte de la vida silvestre. Entrevistamos a 302 personas en tres reservas en la Amazonia peruana para determinar los niveles de interaccion, percepciones y actitudes hacia los depredadores acuaticos. Los delfines y los caimanes danaron las redes mas que las nutrias, mientras que varias especies de peces rompieron las redes con una frecuencia similar a la de los depredadores acuaticos. Las personas en las reservas donde las nutrias gigantes se habian recuperado recientemente tenian actitudes muy negativas hacia las nutrias gigantes y percibian altos niveles de dano en las redes, aunque esta especie rara vez danaba las redes. Cuando los depredadores acuaticos son percibidos como responsables de romper las redes, es probable que se tomen represalias y un control letal a pesar de la proteccion formal. Actitudes mas tolerantes hacia las nutrias gigantes y percepciones mas realistas de su dano neto ocurrieron en la reserva donde las nutrias habian estado presentes por mas tiempo y donde los depredadores acuaticos eran mas abundantes. Un mejor conocimiento y mas experiencia con una especie puede conducir a una mejor coincidencia entre las percepciones y el dano y una mayor tolerancia. Cuando los humanos y los animales compiten por los recursos naturales, la mitigacion de conflictos rara vez incluye una mejor gestion de los recursos. Si la tolerancia a los depredadores es mayor donde los depredadores son comunes y los recursos no han sido sobreexplotados, la gestion de los recursos puede generar mayores ganancias para las partes interesadas que otras formas de mitigacion comunmente prescritas, como las estrategias de compensacion o control.