Caracterização da pesca e comercialização do Arapaima gigas (Schinz, 1822) no município de Pracuúba, Estado do Amapá, Brasil

Abstract

The state of Amapá presents rich hydrological diversity, consequently a variability of aquatic species. The county of Pracuúba is located in the lakes region and flows many fish of commercial value. However, the catch and commercialization data of pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) are not included in the statistics, since this is an activity suspended by determination of the organ state. Based on this context, the objective was to characterize the fishing, transportation, commercialization and ethnobiological aspects of the species in the county of Pracuuba, Amapá, Brazil, in order to assist the conservation process of the species. The research was based on the ethnographic method, of descriptive nature and qualitative and quantitative approach, instrumented by interviews and field observations. We interviewed 34 fishermen, selected through the technique "snowball" in order to reach the largest sample number. The predominance of males in the activity was observed, and the average age of 44 years, more than half live in a consensual union, and 76% of the respondents come from the county itself. As for schooling, 41.2% of fishermen studied until elementary school, and 97% of interviewees are registered in Z-11 Fishermen's Colony. No respondent claimed that the pirarucu fishery was exclusively commercial, they also catch other species of fish to market. Fishermen use canoe and barge boats. Regarding the time spent by the pirarucu fishery, respondents' responses indicated a variation of 3 to 52 years. Most fishermen use more than one tool, which is used as needed, determined by economic and / or environmental factors. The harpoon is the most used tool to capture pirarucu and 52% of the interviewees choose it as a priority art in fishing for the species and use ice as the main form of conservation. The fish is commercialized, in large part (93.5%) in the region itself, mostly retail, often in the fisherman's own house. Most (68%) of respondents, reported income of R$ 150.00 to R$ 600.00 monthly with the sale of fish. The interviewed presented ethnoichthyological knowledge of the species, very close to what is described in the literature, besides pointing out some social conflicts that involved pirarucu fishing