O comportamento de consumo de pescado e o etnoconhecimento dos pescadores e pescadoras artesanais sobre a ictiofauna na região do Bico do Papagaio, Tocantins, Brasil

Abstract

Fishing developed alongside human societies associated with aquatic environments and continues to play an important role in food availability for many communities. In Amazonian communities, this activity provides high-quality animal protein through a variety of fish species in local and regional markets. It also represents a cultural and traditional activity, with family ties that involve the passing down of customs, work methods, and consumption patterns. In this context, this study aimed to understand the dynamics of fish production and consumption, as well as the perceptions of small-scale professional fishermen regarding the behavioral characteristics of target fish species in fishing colonies located on the cities of Araguatins, Esperantina and Xambioá, in the state of Tocantins. This objective was achieved through the implementation and systematization of focus groups and semi-structured interviews with fishermen and fisherwomen associated with the region's Fishing Colonies during the 2024 piracema season. The applied methodologies indicated a considerable variety of species in the three communities studied, Araguatins, Xambioá, and Esperantina, as well as knowledge about their habits and environments, which presented similarities and differences between the communities, indicating the importance of studies that consider the particularities of each location to support management decisions and public policies with the aim of reducing inaccurate standardizations of the experiences of these communities.