Artisanal fishery off Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (PE)

Abstract

Artisanal fishing is one of the main economic activities of Brazilian fishing communities and major source of animal protein for many families. These communities living in direct contact with the natural environment and economically dependent on natural resources can provide important information for the design of conservation and management proposals aimed at sustainability. Thus, the aim of this study was to characterize artisanal fisheries and socio-economic aspects of artisanal fishermen of Fernando de Noronha/PE. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. 62 fishermen were interviewed and the results showed that artisanal fishing is practiced for own consumption or as a source of income. epending on the priority areas for conservation, fishing area is one of the biggest conflicts recorded in the archipelago. In the search for supplementary income, parallel activities, especially related to tourism, has been developed. The â€Âcorrico†is the most used gear and has low environmental impact, and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and the black jack (Caranx lugubris) are the species more caught species. Larger and more powerful vessels allow fishing in more remote locations, and not using ice on fish conservation was evident. Data indicate the importance of developing a plan for shared management of resources, resulting in the appreciation of artisanal fishermen and the sustainability of fisheries.