Description of the coastal medium scale fishery on the Northern Rio Grande Do Sul State: fishing communities from Imbé/Tramandaí­­ and Passo de Torres/Torres

Abstract

The present study presents a detailed description of the coastal medium scale fishery on the northern Rio Grande do Sul State. Technical, economic and social aspects about two fishing communities (Imbé/Tramandaí­­ and Passo de Torres/Torres) are detailed. A total of 22 fishing vessels were monitored from January 2002 to December 2004. The results demonstrated high level of plasticity related to fishing areas, nets and fishing vessels, which can be divided into four categories. Changes in fishing gear over the time were observed, as the increase of mean net size in more than 400% in less than ten years, point out the increase of the fishing effort and the importance of an effective management of the fishery resources in the region.