ABSTRACT:The present work aims to update a series of information about the regional fishing production, by presenting and characterizing the contribution of the different sub-systems of the Amazon basin to the catch landed at the main fishing market of Manaus, Brazil, from 1994 to 1996. Collectors specifically hired for this function registered key information on the fisheries. Thirty nine types or groups of fish were found in the fishing production landed. Jaraqui (Semaprochilodus spp.), curimatã (Prochilodus nigricans), pacu (Myleinae), matrinchã (Brycon cephalus), sardine (Triportheus spp.), aracu (Anostomidae) and tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) were the most important items during three consecutive years. In 1994 these items summed up 91.6% of the total production; in 1995 and 1996 these values were, respectively, 85.3% and 86.4% of the total production. Tambaqui landed decreased remarkably during the period 1976-1996. There was a strong seasonal component in the production of the main species; jaraqui and matrinchã were mostly landed between April and June, while curimatã, pacu, and sardine were mostly landed during the dry season. Other important items showed a strong inter-annual variation in their production. The fishing production landed came mostly from the sub-system of the Purus River (around 30% of the total production). The sub¬ system of the Medium-Solimões contributed with an average of 15% and the sub-systems of the Madeira, Lower-Solimões, Upper-Amazon and Juruá, together contributed with 11.5% of the total production landed. Finally, the remaining sub-systems contributed with only 7.6% of the production. A produção pesqueira desembarcada foi originada principalmente do sub-sistema do Rio Purus (ao redor 30% da produção total). O sub-sistema do Médio-Solimões contribuiu com uma média de 15% e os sub-sistemas do Madeira, Baixo-Solimões, Alto-Amazonas e Juruá, juntos contribuíram com 11,5% da produção total desembarcada. Os demais sub-sistemas contribuíram apenas com 7,6% da produção total. KEYWORDS

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In order to assess the organization patterns of the fish communities in the Jogui and Iguatemi rivers, we collected fish with gill nets tri-monthly from November 1999 to August 2000. Hypostomus ancistroides and Parauchenipterus galeatus were the most abundant species in the Jogui and Iguatemi rivers, respectively. Longitudinal variation was more important than seasonal in determining the species composition in both rivers, and the difference between seasons was not statistically significant. Altitude was the most important factor determining species distribution.Com o objetivo de identificar os padrões de organização das comunidades de peixes dos rios Jogui e Iguatemi nós amostramos peixes através de redes de espera trimestralmente entre Novembro/1999 e Agosto/2000. Hypostomus ancistroides e Parauchenipterus galeatus foram as espécies de peixes mais abundantes nos rios Jogui e Iguatemi, respectivamente. A variação longitudinal foi mais importante que a sazonal na determinação da composição de espécies em ambos os rios e a diferença entre estações não foi significativa. A altitude foi o fator mais importante na determinação da distribuição das espécies.

Among the several fish species comercially exploited at the Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul, the "pacu" (Piaractus mesopotamicus) stands as one of the most important. Information regarding its exploitation level is necessary for the proper management of its stocks. Between 1996 and 1997 data on total length of the pacu were collected on a monthly basis from specimens caught by professional and sport fishers in the municipality of Corumbá. These data were used to estimate growth parameters and to assess the exploitation level for this species, applying the Beverton and Holt yield per recruit model. Length frequency analysis, carried out with the software FISAT (ELEFAN), was used to estimate growth parameters: 1996: L ∞ = 87.20 cm; K = 0.34 year ; F máx = 0,67 ano -1 ; F 0,1 = 0,51 ano -1 (quando L c = 26,7 cm). Este resultado indica que o pacu está sobreexplotado, e assim há necessidade de se estabelecer medidas restritivas para sua pescaria.Palavras-chave: pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus, rendimento por recruta, Pantanal, Brasil.

Understanding the role of local and spatial factors in the structuring of aquatic communities is a goal in ecology. The hierarchical structure of stream systems provides opportunities to test the hypothesis that fish assemblages that are more isolated in headwaters are structured by local and/or regional variables. Fishes and abiotic data were collected in 18 stream reaches from two hydrographic basins in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest. The variance of species composition was partitioned into fractions explained by environmental and spatial factors. The pure environmental fraction explained ≈17% of variance and was represented by regional, habitat availability/heterogeneity and perturbation gradient. The pure spatial fraction explained ≈15% of the individual fraction. Environmental data revealed a species sorting process, and the spatial effect might be a result of different dispersal routes that fish performed during the formation of the hydrographic basins, actual land use and water resources management. The importance of maintaining connectivity in these systems was emphasised because it cannot be guaranteed that the dispersion ability of species is still occurring under current land use change.

Fishing in the area of Cachoeira de Emas dates from the aboriginal Painguás who inhabited its margins. The socioeconomic conditions of the fishers and fishing are described, derived from personal interviews with 33 fishers. Their mean age is 48.6 years and they have been fishing on average for 24.2 years. The monthly total raw income is US$ 575.52 and the raw income just from fishing is of US$ 239.64 per fisher. Most of them (66.6%) have only incomplete primary and junior education. The main capture species are curimba Prochilodus lineatus, piapara Leporinus obtusidens, dourado Salminus brasiliensis, mandi Pimelodus maculatus, Pimelodus heraldoi and lambari (genus Astyanax and Roeboides). Fishers capture an average of 19.9 kg of fish per day. The total average raw income just calculated from the interviews is very high when compared with other places in Brazil and in the world, and above the poverty line as defined by the Getúlio Vargas Foundation. So we may conclude there these fishers are not the poorest in society.Keywords: inland sub-tropical small-scale fishery, fishers' raw income, Mogí-Guaçu River, Brazil.Características socioeconômicas da pesca profissional de pequena escala na cachoeira de Emas, Rio Mogi-Guaçu, Estado de São Paulo (Brasil) ResumoA pesca na região da Cachoeira de Emas ocorre desde quando os indígenas habitavam suas margens. As condições socioeconômicas dos pescadores que atuam neste local e a caracterização da pesca foram determinadas através de entrevistas com 33 pescadores. A idade média deles é de 48,6 anos e eles vêm pescando em média por 24,2 anos. A renda mensal total familiar é de US$ 575,52 e a renda apenas da pesca é de US$ 239,64 por pescador. A maioria deles tem o primeiro grau incompleto (66,6%). As principais espécies capturadas são o curimba Prochilodus lineatus, a piapara Leporinus obtusidens, o dourado Salminus brasiliensis, o mandi Pimelodus maculatus, Pimelodus heraldoi e o lambari (gênero Astyanax e Roeboides). Os pescadores capturam em média 19,9 kg por dia. Comparando-se a captura média diária por pescador na Cachoeira de Emas com outros lugares percebemos que ela ainda está acima da média. A renda média total está entre as mais altas comparando-se com outros locais do Brasil e do mundo e acima da linha de miséria definida pela Fundação Getúlio Vargas. Podemos então concluir que estes pescadores não são a classe de profissionais mais pobres da sociedade.Palavras-chave: pesca profissional subtropical de pequena escala, renda dos pescadores, Rio Mogi-Guaçu, Brasil.

Considering the need for the Brazilian government to develop tools for environmental monitoring for biodiversity conservancy purposes in the national protected areas system, this paper focuses on determining reference site metrics (or baselines) for adapting the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) based on the fish assemblages in the Pantanal National Park (PNP). The habitats in the PNP were grouped into four categories: main rivers, corixos (channels connecting the floodplain), permanent bays, and temporary bays. Fish samplings were performed at 12 points during the dry season (Oct-Nov 2010 and2011). 146 fish species were identified from the total 18,954 individuals collected with standardized fishing gear. There was no association between the structure of the fish assemblage and categories, suggesting a theory on homogeneity of habitats. The final IBI PNP consists of nine metrics, most of them were framed in excellent class, some in fair, and none in poor. There was no significant difference in IBI PNP scores between the two sampled years. This approach provides a direct application for wetland management purposes.Keywords: Conservation unit, Fish assemblages, Floodplain, Index of biotic integrity, Multimetric indices.É iminente que o Brasil desenvolva ferramentas para monitorar o sistema de áreas protegidas do país, formado especialmente pelas Unidades de Conservação e tendo como foco a proteção efetiva da biodiversidade. Nesse contexto, esse trabalho discute métricas de referência (ou linhas de base) para compor um Índice de Integridade Biótica (IIB) baseado nas comunidades de peixes, tendo como área de estudo o Parque Nacional do Pantanal Matogrossense. Os hábitats encontrados no Parque foram agrupados em quatro estratos ambientais: rios, corixos (cursos d´água que se conectam à planície de inundação) e baías permanentes e temporárias. As coletas de peixes foram realizadas em 12 pontos amostrais durante o período seco (out/nov de 2010 e 2011). Foram identificadas 146 espécies de peixes, totalizando 18.954 exemplares coletados em amostragens padronizadas. Não houve associação entre a estrutura da comunidade e os estratos ambientais, sugerindo homogeneidade de hábitats. O IIB final foi composto por nove métricas, a maior parte alocada na classe excelente de integridade biótica, poucas na classe regular e nenhuma na classe pobre. Não houve diferença significativa no IIB entre os dois anos consecutivos. Esses resultados oferecem subsídios técnicos para a tomada de decisão sobre a gestão das áreas alagáveis no Pantanal brasileiro.Palavras-chave: Assembleia de peixes, Índice de integridade biótica, Índices multimétricos, Planície de inundação, Unidade de conservação.

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