Caracterização do Estado Atual da Pesca Artesanal no Distrito de Mosqueiro e no Município de Vigia, Pará

Abstract

Fishing is one of the most important economic activities developed in the state of Pará, constituting a vital source of food, labor, and income for the population. However, artisanal fishing assumes a great socioeconomic dimension, being developed in practically all the municipalities of the state. Among these municipalities are Vigia and Mosqueiro, whose economic base is based on extractive fishing developed by artisanal fishermen. The present work is a contribution to the knowledge of the current state of artisanal fisheries in both municipalities. To date, interviews were conducted with local artisanal fishermen, aiming to characterize the fisheries of both municipalities. A total of 80 questionnaires were applied, 35 in Vigia and 55 in Mosqueiro. It was verified that the highest percentage of fishermen are legally registered in associations or in the colony (Vigia = 83%, Mosqueiro 64%). And the most significant percentage in relation to monthly income from fishing is around R$500.00 to R$l,000.00 (Mosqueiro-34%), while in Vigia it is around R$200.00 to R$500.00 (28%). The summer period (June to November) in Mosqueiro was considered the best of the year for fishing (84%), while in Vigia there was a balanced percentage between seasons (48.28% - summer and 48.28% - winter), with landings/fishing (kg) around 100 - 500 kg (32%) and production over 2,000 kg (34.48%), for Mosqueiro and Vigia, respectively. In Mosqueiro (64 %) and Vigia (59 %), vessels with length less than 10m prevailed. In Mosqueiro the species most caught and of greatest economic interest are hake (29%) and seabream (28%), while in Vigia the yellowtail hake (19%), seabream and gurijuba (each 13%). Most fishermen in Mosqueiro (88%) and Vigia (93%) report that there is a large reduction in the amount of fish available in the wild. Possible causes are: the use of nets with mesh sizes smaller than allowed (Mosqueiro - 40%) or the high level of fishing, i.e. large number of vessels and fishermen in the activity (Vigia - 48%). Therefore, given this information, artisanal fishing in both locations has been suffering from the impacts caused by anthropic action, reflecting on its socioeconomic condition.