Mulheres pescadoras de Camarão-da-Amazônia à jusante da usina hidrelétrica de Tucuruí, Pará, Brasil

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the sociodemographic and environmental perception of the Amazon shrimp fisherwomen. The manuscript was based on the collection of available information from the past, interviews with Amazon shrimp fisherwomen and observations of this fishery in communities downstream of Tucuruí Hydroelectric Power Plant, of the lower Tocantins River. For the collection of data, 55 fisherwomen were interviewed during the months September, October and November 2011, September 2012 and October 2014. Most fisherwomen are born in the federal state of Pará and indigenous of the communities that cover this study area, they are aged between 21 and 68 years, have a low level of education, are Catholic (80%) and married (76.3%), averaging 4 children and 4.3 dependents per fisherwoman. Parents pass on the fishing activity, and it is common for children to participate in the capture, processing and marketing. It was observed that there is an input of women in the Amazon shrimp fishery every year and that about 80% of these women have more than 10 years of active experience. Regarding the complementary activities to financial income, it was recorded that 93% of this women have more than one incoming source. Living conditions are precarious and the quality of life is poor, although the majority of interviewed fisherwomen have their own residence. Women have a very critical opinion regarding necessary steps for the sustainability of the fishery. Environmental conservation and alternative ways to reduce the stress on the Amazon shrimp, amongst them, highlighting the close fishery season, supervision of juvenile shrimp marketing, environmental protection, prohibition of beaters and fishing nets in Amazon shrimp fishing areas and as well the use of selecting fishing gear. For environmental preservation, this study suggests (1) to control the pollution of the rivers and (2) to reduce pressure on stocks of the Amazon shrimp to implement Shrimp farming in net cages. The importance of the Amazon shrimp downstream from the Tucuruí Hydroelectric Power Plant is unquestionable, both economically and socially.