Commercial fishing in the Brazilian Amazon: regional differentiation in fleet characteristics and efficiency

Abstract

Regional differentiation in fleet characteristics and economic efficiency, as well as the total elasticity of scale in the commercial fishing fleets of the Brazilian Amazon were analysed. Data were collected in 893 interviews with boat operators in four major ports on the River Amazon. Boats operating from the largest cities (Belém and Manaus) are mostly operated by hired skippers and non‐permanent crews, while boats from smaller cities (Santarém and Tefé) are mostly owner‐operated and use permanent crews. In the lower Amazon, a large proportion of fishermen (89% in Santarém and 53% in Belém) are based in rural areas, while in the upper Amazon commercial fishermen are predominantly urban‐based. A production function analysis identified boat length, gear type used (gill net/purse seine), number of fishermen employed, quantities of fuel and ice used, and education level of the skipper as significant factors determining the catch. The analysis provided no evidence of regional differences in stock levels. The use of purse seines was associated with significantly higher catches (by 32%), all other factors being equal. Purse seines are banned in the lower Amazon (Santarem and Belem), and this results in overall lower levels of technical efficiency in this region. No significant total scale effect on efficiency was detected. These results are discussed with respect to the institutional sustainability of current fisheries co‐management initiatives.

A time series analysis of Prochilodus nigricans landings caught by small-scale fisheries in the lower stretch of the Amazon River

“…The city of Santarém is 22,887.08 km 2 and has a population of 262,538 inhabitants, approximately 8,000 of whom are fishermen (Almeida et al, 2003). The production of fish landed annually oscillates between 3,000 and 5,000 tons, mainly as a result of fisheries in the region of Lago Grande de Monte Alegre, which is one of the most productive regions in the Amazon (Almeida et al, 2003).…”

“…The production of fish landed annually oscillates between 3,000 and 5,000 tons, mainly as a result of fisheries in the region of Lago Grande de Monte Alegre, which is one of the most productive regions in the Amazon (Almeida et al, 2003). Santarém is the third largest port of landing in the Brazilian Amazon, second only to Manaus and Belém (Ruffino, 2006), and has a fleet of approximately 150 boats (Almeida et al, 2003).…”

A composição dos custos de armação e a renda das expedições de pesca da frota pesqueira artesanal da região do Médio rio Madeira, Amazonas, Brasil

“…Apesar da dimensão continental da região amazônica, algumas características físicas e operacionais da frota pesqueira existente são similares, principalmente pela aparente não diferenciação entre os estoques pesqueiros explotados (Almeida et al, 2003). Isso faz com que essas características sejam mais facilmente comparáveis e passíveis de regulamentação de caráter mais amplo.…”

“…Um importante exemplo desta mobilidade são alguns barcos de pesca, principalmente os de pequeno porte, que na entressafra, ou dependendo da situação ou conveniência, podem ser utilizados para o transporte de pessoas e cargas. Esta mobilidade não ocorre, no entanto, para os tripulantes, que apesar de todas as restrições impostas, continuam na atividade, trabalhando em outras embarcações de pesca (Almeida et al, 2003).…”

The commercial fishing fleet using the middle stretch of the Madeira river, Brazil

“…The actual catches are performed by the fishermen working from within in the canoes; the boats themselves are used for the launch or for affixing fishing gear as well as for the transportation of products to the boats (FARIA JÚNIOR;BATISTA, 2006). Despite the development of fishery science in recent years within the Amazon region (SANTOS; SANTOS, 2005), studies on the physical characteristics of fishing fleets have concentrated on vessels engaged in the activity within the main channel of the Amazonas River and its estuary (ALMEIDA et al, 2003;BATISTA, 2003;CARDOSO et al, 2004;GONÇALVES;BATISTA, 2008;ISAAC et al, 2008). Thus, the physical and operational aspects of the vessels operating in small municipalities located outside of the main channel of the Solimões/Amazonas river are virtually unknown.…”