Etnoictiologia nas bacias dos rios Uruguai e Jacuí, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

Abstract

The ethnoichthyology seeks to understand the phenomenon of the interaction between the human species and the fish, covering both cognitive and behavioural aspects. Thus, the present study has the general objective to analyze and compare the artisanal fisheries in fishing communities of the Uruguay and Jacuí river basins and record the perception of professional fishermen on the Dorado fishing ban (Salminus brasiliensis) in Rio Grande do Sul state and to compare their perceptions between both river basins. Data collection was performed through interviews, by semi-structured and standardized questionnaires where information was obtained, for example socioeconomic data, general aspects of fishing, the current situation of fish stocks and species present in these river basins and issues related to S. brasiliensis. Participated in this study 77 fishermen distributed in four municipalities in each river basin, totalizing 154 participants. In these communities artisanal fishing is the main economic activity, which ensures the livelihoods and food security of these families. According to reports of the fishermen, 15 taxons of commercial interest were recorded in the Uruguay river basin and 13 taxons in the Jacuí river basin, among them are the species Leporinus obtusidens, Prochilodus lineatus, Pimelodus pintado and Pimelodus maculatus. The participants of the research showed great knowledge of fisheries resources and concern about the situation in which they find these resources, mainly in the Jacuí river basin. The fishing activity in these basins has suffered sharp decline of fish in general, caused by actions of anthropogenic origin, among which highlights the environmental degradation caused mainly, according a ranking carried out by fishermen, by illegal fishing, agricultural and domestic pollution, construction of hydroelectric dams in the Uruguay river basin and mining in the Jacuí river basin. Given the dourado fishing ban (Salminus brasiliensis) the perception of the fishermen was different between the two watersheds. The protective measure resulted in the increase in population of the species, according to 82% of the fishermen of the Uruguay river basin. In the Jacuí river basin 58% of the fishermen believe that the measure was not effective, because according to them, there was no increase in population of the species in this watershed. The reasons for this population is still in danger, according to the fishermen, it is possibly related to illegal fishing of the species and inefficient supervision. However the causes that are affecting the population of this species should be studied. Given the foregoing, some measures were suggested by the fishermen, such as reforestation and efficient supervision, in order to mitigate the decline of fish stocks and ensure the conservation of the species that make up these resources.