Áreas protegidas e recursos pesqueiros: conhecimento ecológico local dos pescadores artesanais na Reserva de Desenvolvimento Sustentável do Uatumã, Itapiranga, Amazonas

Abstract

Fish play a central role in the lives of traditional populations in the Amazon, as they represent food security and economic sustainability. However, over time it has suffered threats to its maintenance, such as overfishing and habitat destruction. In this sense, Protected Areas (PAs) are crucial for conserving endangered species and unique ecosystems, providing safe havens for fish stocks. Some categories of PAs, such as Sustainable Development Reserves (RDS), aim to reconcile nature conservation with the sustainable use of natural resources by traditional communities. Within this context, the local knowledge of artisanal fishermen is a valuable resource for the conservation of fishery resources in protected areas, as artisanal fishermen have in-depth knowledge of fish species, their habits, reproductive cycles and spawning grounds. The aim of this study was therefore to analyze possible changes in the composition and abundance of fish species according to the phases of the hydrological cycle, fishing grounds, fishing tactics and strategies and the rules for using fishing resources after the creation of the protected area, based on the local ecological knowledge of the riverine communities of the Uatumã Sustainable Development Reserve (SDR). Interviews were conducted with fishermen from the Uatumã RDS using standardized, semi-structured forms. The results show that the fishermen have diverse knowledge about the species, techniques, tactics and life strategies of the fish, as well as the habitat and fishing conflicts in the RDS. Changes were observed after the creation of the RDS, especially in composition and abundance, where a significant difference in abundance was observed before and after the creation of the Uatumã RDS. However, the rules governing the use of the Reserves favor the conservation of the fishing resource.