Sustentabilidade da pesca realizada em sistemas de lagos de várzea na Região do Aritapera do Rio Amazonas

Abstract

Fishing in the Amazon stands out in relation to the other regions of Brazil, having an artisan and subsistence character. The present paper had as objective to evaluate the fishing activity in the island lakes systems in the Aritapera region, located in Santarém, Pará. In order to provide information that can support the management of the fishery resources in these areas that are essential for the development of many species. The data were collected from October 2017 to August 2018 in four lowland communities belonging to the Aritapera region. The Interviews were made with fishermen using a form to obtain qualitative and quantitative data. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and Fisheries Sustainability assessment, using the MESMIS method. There were interviewed 96 fishermen in the four communities surveyed. Most of them are male, with 76% (73 fishermen), with a mean age of 44 years (± 13 years), with average fishing time around 40 years (± 16 years). Fishing in island lake systems has an artisanal character, where fishermen use small vessels. The characteristics of the island lakes system affect directly the species explored during the year. During the flood season (May to June), there is a greater diversity of fish species exploited by fishermen in the communities surveyed. The changes in the environments of island lakes make the fishermen modify the equipment used in the different periods of the hydrometric cycle to capture the same species. The analysis of the Sustainability Index showed positive values, indicating that the communities that make use of the island lakes have the capacity to obtain income from other sources, mainly through agriculture, due to the soil fertility, in this way, complementing the income. Good fisheries management in island lakes environments should be based on the unique characteristics of the environment, together with the local knowledge and experiences of the peoples..