A pesca do camarão-da-Amazônia a jusante da usina hidrelétrica de Tucuruí, Pará, Brasil.

Abstract

The Amazon river prawn is one of the main species with social and economic interest found downstream Tucuruí dam. In order to achieve sustainability in fisheries, we need to understand the resource itself, but also the social actors involved in the activity. Therefore, this study aims to verify the socioeconomic status and environmental perception of fishermen, describe the fishery and capturing procedures, analyze the landings of commercial fisheries as well as processing and trade of the Amazon river prawn. The study was conducted in the municipalities of Baião, Mocajuba, Cametá and Limoeiro do Ajuru, all located downstream Tucuruí dam. Data were collected through direct observations and interviews using semistructured forms applied to Amazon river prawn fishermen from September to November 2011 and September 2012. Information on commercial landings of the species, were monitored in the period from 2000 to 2008. The Amazon river prawn fishery is a familiar activity. Most fishermen are native to the downstream area, where they raised families. Access to basic services, as health care, clean water, sanitation, electricity and education, are precarious. The main productive activities developed by fishermen and their families are fishing for shrimp and fish. The production is for own consumption and sale. However, this crustacean contributes with only 15.4% of the average monthly income (R$ 745.00), which is supplemented with income from other activities and social programs from the federal government. The perception of fishermen about the main problems faced in the Amazon river prawn fishery is associated with an increased number of fishermen, high number of matapis per fisherman and the lack of closed fishery seasons. The establishment of closed seasons was the most cited mitigation measure by fishermen to ensure the rational exploration of the Amazon river prawn. This crustacean is captured by various fishing gears, but matapi is the most used one. The financial resources used for purchasing traps and other material are derived from household income. The entire production process, such as the making of matapis, preparation of baits, catching methods and production storage is an artisanal process based on traditional methods, modified over the years, according to the local need. Fishing methods are diverse, some steps are common between municipalities and others are very specific. However, the fishery is closely related to the extensive knowledge that fishermen have on the environment they use. The seasons and the tides are among the environmental factors which influence the fisheries; they influence directly the choice of fishing places and vary among streams, riverbanks and beaches. Mocajuba stands out with higher commercial production for the Amazon river prawn. Overall, fishing is carried out throughout the year, with peaks in May and August, coinciding, respectively, with the reproduction and recruitment of the species. For fishermen from Baião, Mocajuba and Cametá, higher catches occur in the rainy season and the lower catches in the less rainy season. In Limoeiro do Ajuru, the opposite occurs. The fishermen, somehow, contribute to the preservation of the species when they stop fishing during the recruitment period of the Amazon river prawn, however, the increase of fishermen during the higher catches period contributes to overfishing. The fresh whole shrimp is the main product sold by the fishermen and the greatest income is derived from crustacean byproducts, especially salted shrimp (whole and peeled). Even with market demand, the Amazon river prawn is still underrated, although the profits from the sale of the products have been essential to fishermen livelihood. The results of this work are organized in scientific articles and divided into four chapters. The first covers a general introduction and description of the study area; the second refers to the social, economic and environmental perception of the fishermen; the third describes fishing gear and catching methods for Amazon river prawn; and the fourth consists of an analysis of the commercial landings of the Amazon river prawn as well as the characterization of its byproducts.