Seasonal dynamic of Amazonian small-scale fisheries is dictated by the hydrologic pulse

Abstract

This study analyzed the dynamics of an Amazonian small-scale fishery, and as it is associated to the hydrological cycle. Landing data were daily collected from February/2007 to January/2008 at the Panairzinha harbor in Manacapuru city, Amazonas í  Brazil (3°18’33â€ÂS and 60°33’21â€ÂW). The results showed that the active fleet in the Lago Grande consists of motorized canoes and fishing boats, the first group being greater than the second in number. The average of fish landed was 274.15 ton.year^-1, occurring low production in the hydrological periods of rising/flood and high production in the receding/drought. The main fish species landed were: Colossoma macropomum (tambaqui = 17.8%), Cichla monoculus (tucunaré = 15.5%), Prochilodus nigricans (curimatã = 12.2%), Astronotus ocellatus (acará-açu = 8.7%) and Osteoglossum bicirrhosum (arowana = 8.4%), where gillnets were predominantly (97%) in these catches. It was observed that the seasonality of the Solimões River directly influences the fisheries and the availability of fish in the environment. In this sense, decisions involving fishing management of this region should be planned aiming to ensure the sustainability of local fisheries, considering as essential the relation between fish, the environment and the socio-economic aspects inherent with these small-scale fisheries.