Analysis of the evolution of the Pernambuco fishery sector

Abstract

Information is required for the rational management, which gives support to all stages of fisheries management. In this paper the evolution of the fishing sector in the coast of Pernambuco was analyzed, based on a history of activity between 1999 and 2006. The information analyzed in this paper was gathered from the reports of production of marine and estuarine fish of the State of Pernambuco, published in the CEPENE bulletins. The data were stratified by year, municipality, type of vessel, fishing gear and fish category, for later making descriptive analysis and nonparametric inferences. The catches in 2005 and 2006 years were remarkedly higher than in other years. The catches of Itapissuma and Goiana were higher than in the other cities. Fifteen families support most of the catches. Among fifteen families responsible for catches, nine of them belonged to the fish groups (Engraulidae, Mugilidae, Haemulidae, Mullidae, Carangidae, Lutjanidae, Scaridae, Scombridae and Clupeidae. The catches of Pernambuco have been largely based on estuarine fisheries resources held on the low levels of the food chain, especially in the north coast.