Caracterização, saberes e tradições da pesca artesanal em Alcobaça, Bahia

Abstract

The artisanal fishing in the state of Bahia has a great socioeconomic importance, mainly for the coastal and riverside communities. It is a traditional family activity, passed from generation to generation. The main goal of this research was to characterize artisanal fishing in Alcobaça - BA, through the socioeconomic profile of the fishermen and the traditional ecological knowledge acquired by them. The fishermen were interviewed through structured questionnaires, adapted from the Marine and Continental Fisheries Science Studies Group (CPMAC), with the aim of collecting general data and information about fishing in the region: Characteristics of the fishing activity; Legal Aspects; Environmental Aspects; and Ethnoconference of the local fisherman. Most fishermen (87.88%) are affiliated with the fishermen's association (called Colônia). Local fishing was characterized by the predominance of boats from 06m to 14m (75%) in length, acting mostly with fishing nets (23.81%), trawling (19.05%), fishing line (21.43%) and long line using multiple hooks called espinhel (16.67%). The demarcation of the fishing site is done by both natural landmarks (43.75%) and GPS (56.25%), with more than half of them working near the coast up from 02 to 35 miles (52%) and they spend from 00:30 to 06:00 (72.41%) to reach the fishing site, using a kind of fish hold called urna (45.45%) and the styrofoam with ice (36.36%) for fish storage, with those (12.12%) working with fresh fish. The commercialization of the fish is carried out in fishmongers also called frigoríficos (65.71%), they are also sold to the population (17.14%) or passed on to brokers (11.43%). Most fishermen prefer fishing at night (68.75%), on the influence of Full Moon (34.37%) and Waning Crescent Moon (25%) and spring tides(34.37%) and neat tides (25%), they catch lots of fish in winter (48.57%) and summer (42,86%). Regarding the legal aspects, 87.5% of the fishermen are aware of some of the fishing laws, in which the insurance for the period of fishing ban is or has already been received, by 81.25% of the fishermen, and of those deprived of this benefit (18.75%), only 35.36% are affiliated to the fisherman’s association (colônia). Most fishermen (75%) have noticed a change in the way the fish is captured and pointed the pollution of the estuary (93.75%). They also pointed out other problems related to fishing, as well as suggestions for solving them, the lack of recognition and the union of the sector were issues highlighted by them, as well as the need for community awareness through the realization of professional projects and recovery of the environment. These results demonstrate the need for educational measures towards fishermen and the development of strategies to ensure local fishery sustainability and promote the valuation of artisanal fishers.