The fishery practiced by riverine children from Manacapuru, Central Amazonia, Brazil

Abstract

Fishery is one of the main activities and food resources in the area of Manacapuru, Central Amazonia, Brazil, besides it has a wide participation of children. The objective of the present study was to characterize the fishing activity practiced in this area by 52 children between five and twelve years of age. All the interviewed children practiced the fishery with the purpose of to obtain food for their family and, in 9.6% of the cases, the objective was also to commercialize the catch. The average age of the children for the beginning of the fishing activity was 7.1 years (±1.9 year of standard deviation), which was practiced mainly in places close to the house, as river (60.7%) and lakes (20.2%). The time of dedication to fishery varied from two to three days a week, and the main used apparels were skinny, seine net and casting net, considered of easy handling. It was registered 22 types of captured fish, standing out pacus, piranhas and bodós. It was significant the relationship between captured fish by the children and those favorite for consumption (r = 0.451; p = 0.024). The correlation among the activity exercised by the parents and those future occupations aspirated by the children was not significant (r = 0.056; p = 0.89). The present characterization of the fishery practiced by riverine children of Manacapuru shows the important participation of individuals of the smaller age classes in the activity, and it may serve as base for the application of future management plans in the area.