Overview of Fish Farming in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

To contribute to the knowledge about fish farming in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil, an online questionnaire was administered throughout 2021, answered by approximately 1,770 fish farmers. The water surface area is nearly 2,000 ha, with almost 90 % used for raising carp, the main species produced for 70 % of the respondents, and 20 % for tilapia farming, the main species for 20 % of the respondents. The polyculture system was mentioned by approximately 70 % of the interviewees, and carried out extensively, producing up to one tons/ha/year by approximately 50 % of the fish farmers. About 60 % of producers responded that they produce fish for personal consumption and sell the surplus, while around 38 % engage in commercial fish production, and 10 % sell their fish to the industry.  Nearly 98 % of the fish farms are small (up to 5 hectares of water surface) and, in general, the productivity reported was 4 tons per cycle per farmer. The results obtained in the study represent an initial step towards understanding the situation of fish farms in the State and may contribute to the development of public policies aimed at addressing the main challenges of the activity.