The interaction between fishery and cetacean populations contemplates positive and
negative aspects. Therefore, the bycatch represents a high risk to cetacean
conservation in the whole world. Small coastal cetaceans are more vulnerable to
interactions with gillnets. Hitherto, the lack of knowledge related to the interactions
between fisheries and small cetaceans at the Brazilian North Coast, added to the
high fishing potential of the region, motivate studies and monitoring of this activity. In
order to begin the effort to the knowledge of fishery and the interactions with small
cetaceans at the Pará State, there were made semi-structured interviews at the east
coast of Ilha de Marajó and APA Algodoal/Maiandeua from November 2009 to
November 2010. The questionnaires were applied with 58 and 30 artisanal fishermen
in the two respectively areas. Among the interviewed, the majority used vessels of
the type ”canoa” and small-sized boats. In both areas, the gillnet is the most used.
The net length ranged between 150-5000mm, height of 2,7m, mesh size 20-75mm
and the immersion is, in average of 3,5h in both areas. Four species of small
cetacean were recognized in the contemplated areas. All the interviewed affirmed
that the boto (Inia geoffrensis) “disturbs” the fishery, taking the fish off the gillnet
damaging the artifact. And they claim that the Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis)
helps the activity, pointing and/or surrounding the school. The interviewed reported
the ocurrence of by catches in gillnets for S. guianensis and Inia geoffrensis, the
fishermen refers to the strandings as consequences of the driftnets. The caught
specimens accidentally are entirely discarded or taken, removing: eyeballs, teeth,
and genital, that costumes are related to the Amazonic culture and its mysticisms.
The use of dolphin fat were quoted with medical purposes and in reduced number
some fishermen affirmed to have eaten meat, which is not a usual habit at the region.
The use of carcasses as long-line bait were recorded and report to a more antique
habit, when such practice wasmore intense, the informers report that the Guiana
dolphin and the “tunina” (Tursiops truncatus, Stenno bredanensis), are harpooned
and used as baits in the nearby towns. The continuity of the fishery arts survey and
their impact on the dolphins at Amazon region must regard the particularity of each
area, taking it as base to future actions aiming the conservations of small cetaceans.
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