Characteristics of small-scale fishing on the south coast of São Paulo (Brazil)

Abstract

The artisanal fishery contributes significantly to national production of fish in coastal and littoral waters, and has great social and economic importance within the fisheries sector, accounting for a large number of jobs in coastal communities. This review describes the fishery on the southern coast of São Paulo, in Cananeia, Iguape and Ilha Comprida cities, according to the landings in the region and socioeconomic aspects of artisanal fishermen, in the period 2000-2012. Artisanal fisheries on the southern coast of São Paulo State presents above 151 landed species, having broadband anchovy, sea-bob-shrimp, mullet, catfish and oysters as the most caught species landed in the last 13 years. The gillnet is the most used fishing device due to a large number of fishing resources that can be captured, and the highest number of fishermen that use it for catching broadband anchovy. Most fishing communities exhibit characteristics of "caiçara†culture, due to the origin of the communities and the isolation caused by the presence of protected areas that have preserved the environment. Many social changes were observed, being caused by the influence of production cycles (agriculture and mining) that existed in the region and by new complementary activities to assist in family income, as the provision of services, especially for tourism. The fishermen have income below the level of other sectors, such as agriculture and the instability of production does not guarantee a monthly income, so secondary activities and fisheries insurance-closure are important economic sources for the annual family income.