Conhecimento ecológico local, tomada de decisão e dinâmica espacial da frota pesqueira artesanal da Amazônia Central

Abstract

Artisanal inland or continental water fishing is a vital component of people's lives around the world because it provides nutritional security and income. However, fishing resources are threatened by differences such as irresponsible fishing practices, habitat degradation, dam construction, pollution and climate change promoting substantial declines and other changes in fishing resources. Continued efforts to establish effective management approaches have demonstrated that the co-management model has the potential to halt the impacts of fishing by incorporating the participation of fishermen. However, little attention is given to the exploitation behavior of the fisherman. In this context, this thesis investigated the local ecological knowledge (CEL) of artisanal fishers as a potential source of bio-ecological data for fish species in regions of difficult access, such as the Amazon, the attitude under risk in the choice of fishing grounds, from the prospect theory. And finally, to understand the spatial dynamics of the commercial fishing fleet in Central Amazonia as a response to negative hydrological anomalies. For research on the local ecological knowledge of fishers, rural and urban fishermen in the municipality of Itacoatiara were interviewed on the bio-ecological aspects of pirarucu (Arapaima spp.), tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) and jaraqui (Semaprochilodus spp.). In order to understand the attitude under risk of commercial fishers in the choice of fishing grounds, fishers were interviewed and those in charge of the boat in the Manaus fishing terminal. And to evaluate the spatial dynamics of the Central Amazon fishing fleet as a response to negative hydrological anomalies, information from the Fish Statistics Monitoring Database was analyzed from 1994 to 2004. About the CEL, our results demonstrate that the LEK of fishers represents a potential and reliable source of information that can be used to provide data on weight, length, sexual dimorphism, diet, predation and habitat of pirarucu, tambaqui and jaraqui to support conservation and management strategies. On the fisher's decision making about the choice of fishing grounds, our results have shown that fishermen are averse to risk, feeling more the pain of loss than the satisfaction of gain, according to the prospect theory. This risk-averse behavior and the knowledge of the artisanal fishers of the Amazon must be supported by long-term policies to be an active participant, including compliance and responsibility for their actions, concerns and needs. Fishermen can be part of an ongoing dialogue with researchers and managers as a path to social justice, but also to efficiency in the use and conservation of biodiversity. On the spatial dynamics of the fleet, our results indicate that the negative anomaly has not altered the maximum state of spatial transformation of the commercial fishing fleet in the Amazon. However, there has been an intensification of exploitation of the fluvial environment near Manaus, focusing on the river-lacustrine species that has promoted an increase in the frequency of trips and possible depletion of the resource on a local scale. Due to the characteristic spatial and ecological heterogeneity of the Amazonian environment, it is necessary to incorporate analyses that consider the spatial scale in fisheries management proposals, in addition to demonstrating the need and usefulness of long-term fisheries monitoring. Thus, we demonstrate the importance of incorporating the CEL, the attitude under risk and the spatial dynamics of fishers in the co-management model to strengthen the strategies for conservation of fisheries resources in the scenario of constant social, economic and environmental change.