Etnoconhecimento ictiológico de pescadores de peixes comerciais comestíveis do Médio Rio Negro, Amazonas

Abstract

The fishing activity plays an important role in the socioeconomic sphere of the Rio Negro basin, being considered one of the main extractive activities for this region, however, studies referring to the commercial edible fishing are more directed to the Solimões-Amazonas trough, however, they are scarce and/or fragmented in black water rivers. Ethnoictiology is the study aimed at understanding the uses and meanings of fish for human populations, research of this character records a variety of knowledge concerning ichthyofauna. The present work, proposes to analyze the ichthyological ethnological knowledge of commercial edible fish fishermen from the rural and urban region of Barcelos, Amazonas, about the species they explote. To this end, 97 fishermen were interviewed using standardized and semi-structured forms, all with prior authorization described in legislation. During the analysis of the results it was found that the fishermen of the rural and urban areas exploited the same species, with a predominance of the Characiformes. The main fishing areas for rural fishermen are lakes and islands in the region, while fishermen in the urban area exploit the Demeni River. It was also found that the knowledge of the fishermen of the Barcelos region was consistent with the scientific literature, in which they were able to portray the eating habits of most of the species they explored, as well as the period of reproductive activity. In addition, they provided concise information on the morphological characteristics of the species to which they refer. It should also be noted that the information present in the work for which no theoretical references were found, may generate hypotheses for future scientific studies in the region. So, it is possible to conclude that fishing activity from the perspective of the fisherman is a fundamental practice in the Middle Rio Negro region, as well as ethno-biological knowledge, consistent with the scientific literature, although for some species there is still an absence of biological information from effective biological methods. With this, a better use of this knowledge stands out, which can be used as participatory research tools and in the elaboration of rules of management of the fishing resources in this área. Therefore, it is advisable that the managers take into consideration the ethno-knowledge of these fishermen and incorporate it into future studies that may contribute to the elaboration of the management plan for the region.