ABSTRACT
Fishery resources in the Amazon region are exploited by both industrial and artisanal fishing fleets, that differ in their use of fishing gear and fishing grounds. Data on the physical characteristics of the vessels belonging to the fishing fleets using the Solimões/Amazonas river and estuaries are limited. This article presents an analysis of some physical characteristics of the commercial fishery fleet using the middle stretch of the Madeira river. Data were quantitative collected using interviews of the owners and/or skippers of fishery vessels between January 2003 and May 2004. The boats used for fishing in the region varied in size from 8 to 14 meters and had an average storage capacity ranging from 4.5 to 6.1 tons. Canoes were also used for fishing and ranged in length from 5 to 9 meters, with an average storage capacity of 0.2 tons. The results of this study demonstrate that boats in the Madeira river fleet had similar characteristics to the fishery fleet of the Solimões/Amazonas river with respect to length, use of gear, and fish storage.
ABSTRACT
Fishery in the Amazon represents an important social, economic and cultural activity with yearly fish landings around 25 thousand tons in the fishing harbour of Manaus alone, with little socioeconomic evaluations that are fundamental for its management. The present paper sought to evaluate functional aspects of fishing operations from the economic point of view. Information was collected from 92 boats, between October of 1999 and June of 2000, through questionnaires given to boat owners or general managers of fishing expeditions. Small fishing boats presented mean operational cost of 45.2% of the gross income of fish sales. Medium and larger boats presented values of 42.0% and 47.8% costs, respectively, where fuel was the main expenditure.
A pesca na Amazônia representa uma importante atividade social, econômica e cultural, com desembarque de pescado estimado em 25 mil toneladas por ano, somente no terminal de desembarque de Manaus, porém com poucas avaliações socioeconômicas que são fundamentais para o manejo da atividade. O presente trabalho visou avaliar aspectos funcionais das operações de pesca sob o ponto de vista econômico. As informações foram coletadas por intermédio de questionário estruturado junto aos proprietários das embarcações e, ou encarregados das expedições de pesca, entre outubro de 1999 e junho de 2000. Foram amostradas 92 embarcações, para destacar os aspectos referentes aos custos efetuados quando das expedições de pesca. Embarcações pequenas apresentaram custo operacional médio por expedição de 45,2% da renda bruta da venda do pescado, embarcações médias e grandes apresentaram valores de 42,0% e 47,8% dos custos respectivamente. Os combustíveis se destacaram como o componente principal destes custos.