Socio-economic profile of fisherman from "Ponte dos Franceses" Brigde, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil

Abstract

This paper describes, based on semi-structured interviews (I = October 2003 to January 2004; II = October 2007 to July 2008), the socio-economic profile of the fishermen (casting nets and fishing rod) that fish in the "Ponte dos Franceses†Bridge and Patos Lagoon, RS, Brazil. The profile of the fishermen is quite similar to each other and composed by men, retirees, and residents of the neighborhoods near the bridge, with ages between 36 and 57 years. In relation to the target species, the caught organisms are chiefly mullets, shrimps and silversides for the casting net fishermen, and kingfish and white-mouth croaker for the rod fishing. Fishermen using rod fishing can be classified as recreational (hobby), and those using casting net as subsistence fishermen. However, because of the large amount of fish caught, there is the possibility of the latter to market part of its fishing product.