Diagnóstico socioeconômico dos pescadores artesanais de lagosta em Fortaleza, Ce.

Abstract

The Northeast region, together with the North region, concentrates most of the Brazilian professionals formally registered in the fishing activity. Lobster is one of the most valued fishery resources yet gives higher income to fishermen when compared to other fishery resources. Lobster is the main fishery product exported by Brazil. The main species catches are red lobster (Panulirus argus) and green lobster (Panulirus laevicauda). The research had as objective to make a socioeconomic diagnosis of the artisanal lobster fishermen of the city of Fortaleza, capital of the state of Ceará, Brazil. 150 fishermen and 2 entrepreneurs from the community sector were interviewed. These respondents were approached with socioeconomic questions and questions related to fishing activity. The results of the interviews showed that all fishermen were males with low levels of schooling, with 46% illiterate. A percentage of 81.3% of the fishermen supported the family with the salary obtained in fishing, which on average was the value of a minimum wage and the main source of income. They wanted their children to study, specialize and pursue another profession with better working conditions. When they went fishing, they worked 6 hours a day for five days a week. They informed to make the use of fishing equipment allowed by the current legislation. They received secure closure related to lobster but assumed that they were catching fish during the standstill period on the grounds that the insurance was delayed, uncertain and insufficient. The fishermen did not agree with the months established for the closed, but they saw the necessity to exist a time of interruption of the fishing. The landing of live lobster is profitable and constitutes an advance in traditional fishing, but is not yet mandatory.