The popular knowledge about fish at a "caiçara†community of Juréia Itatins Ecological Station - SP

Abstract

Ethnoicthyology is the popular knowledge concerning the fishes. This study had as objective to carry out an ethnoicthyological survey in order to verify the fishery knowledge of a traditional community in the Ecological Station of Juréia-Itatins (EEJI). The data collection was performed through interviews and questionnaires with artisanal fishermen of the Village Barra do Una, a "caiçara†community located in Peruí­­be city (São Paulo State, Brazil). Thirteen fishermen, with ages between 37 and 77 years where interviewed. Forty six percent of the interviewed where born in communities close to the Ecological Station of Juréia-Itatins. Fishes such as robalo (Centropomus undecimalis) and tainha (Mugil spp) were pointed as common species. The fishermen demonstrated an extensive knowledge concerning the local icthyofauna and its morphological and behavioral characteristics. Besides that, their knowledge about the fish feeding behavior is in accordance with scientific knowledge.