Sport fishing in Cachoeira de Emas in Mogi-Guaçu River, State of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Sport fishing is an important leisure activity in many countries. It directly and indirectly generates income and jobs for millions of people. In some places, its landing outstrips production from professional fishing but this fact is not always taken into account in the establishment of management actions. In the area of Cachoeira (Waterfall) de Emas there are reports of intense fishing since the 20's. The objective of this paper is to identify the profile of the sporting fishers who frequent this place and to characterise this fishing. From February to October of 2006, we interviewed 107 sporting fishers that visited Cachoeira. We describe the fishing and the socio-economic status of the sport fishers. Most of the fishers are men, coming from the state of São Paulo, with a mean family income of US$ 1,212.3 (R$ 2,558.10, US$ 1 = R$ 2.11, July/2007), being aged 50.2 years old on average. A large amount of them (49.5%) only have incomplete first grade education. The main captured species are curimba Prochilodus lineatus, mandi Pimelodus maculatus, P. heraldoi, Pimelodella spp., lambari Astyanax fasciatus, A. schubarti, A. altiparanae, Roeboides paranensis and piava Leporinus lacustris, L. friderici, L. octofasciatus. Fishers have had a strong connection with this place for many years and even with low captures (2.8 kg/day), they are quite satisfied.