A pesca de atuns no Brasil: política de arrendamento de embarcações estrangeiras, balança comercial, frotas e arranjos produtivos locais

Abstract

It is assumed that small-scale tuna fishing achieves better catch efficiency, brings fishers greater economic and social returns, and ensures the sustainability of fishing activity and stocks. This study aimed to evaluate aspects of production, the impact of this fishery on the fishing populations and to analyze socioeconomic indicators that represent the gains of those involved with this activity in the ES, RN, CE and SC States. Statistical methods were used to evaluate the market dynamics and primary data collection through questionnaires aiming to size and qualify the productive arrangements of this fishing sector. Among the observed results is that the main productive chains inserted in the tuna and related fishery showed local peculiarities, as to the target market, fishing strategy and the importance dedicated to the care of fish on board. Being the productive chain of the RN turned to the external market and presenting the greatest dedication to the care of processing and conservation of the fish on board. In ES the production chain targets the domestic market and presents deficiencies in the conservation of fish on board that do not allow the landing of high quality tunas in sufficient quantity to direct the sales logistics to the foreign market. The production chain of the CE has as main market the place, being the most lacking of good practices of conservation of fish. The productive chain of SC concentrates the largest industries of tuna processing in the country, directed to the domestic market and directed to small tuna fishing, it drives the highest values of income, but it is also characterized by the deficiency of the care with fish. In general, the main problem observed in tuna fishing in Brazil was the low qualification of the workforce, determining the quality of the fish landed and the market to which it will have access. The sustainability of small-scale fishing has proved to be possible, but not yet a reality, since the present moment of small-scale tuna fishing is highly informal, with a large increase in the number of boats operating without a license, without fishery data and without the ordering of the fishing effort by the Federal Government, this situation of Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported Fisheries (IUU). It is imperative that this fishery be better monitored and that data be properly reported to ensure the sustainability of the activity.