A CADEIA PRODUTIVA DA PESCA ARTESANAL NA ÁREA DE INFLUÊNCIA DA USINA HIDRELÉTRICA DE TUCURUÍ, ESTADO DO PARÁ, BRASIL

Abstract

The fishery in the area of influence of the Tucuruí Hydroelectric reservoir is a relevant source of labor employment, food production and income generation for the local population. In spite of this importance, many problems have emerged, creating difficulties in the development of the activity and its productive chain on a sustainable basis. The area in which the survey was developed includes all counties under influence of the UHE Tucuruí, located on Tocantins River lower course, from Marabá to Limoeiro do Ajuru, stretching over more than 400 km. During the survey, 733 questionnaires were applied, out of which 142 on the dam’s upstream counties, 357 on the counties around the reservoir, and 234 on the dam’s downstream counties. All individuals and organizations involved with the fish production flow in the UHE Tucuruí were shown to be basically the same in the three mentioned fishing areas. The product flow begins with the capture activity. Afterwards, the fisherman sells its production to the intermediary merchants, or negotiates it in the local markets, or sells the product directly to consumers. The financing of input acquisitions and investments in the productive chain are obstacles to the development and sustainability of the fishery activity in the area.