Knowledge on the use of catch material for craftwork/handicrafts by an urban fishing community

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate knowledge on the use of catch material for craftwork by the members of the fishing community of Brasília Teimosa. Among the 98 artisanal fishermen interviewed, 64.6% demonstrated knowledge on the use of catch material for craftwork, but reported not participating in the creation of such craftwork. The fishermen cited 36 common names, mainly Actinopterigii (53.8%) and Crustacea (29.2%). The most caught species were the queen triggerfish Balistes vetula (13.1%) and the Atlantic tarpon Megalops atlanticus (12.3%). The most cited material was the entire body or taxidermied parts of the body (48.8%), followed by the skin (20.1%) for the fabrication of jewelry and souvenirs. Some catches had more than one raw material cited, such as sharks and the queen triggerfish. The main market pressure on fishing activity in the community of Brasília Teimosa is for food consumption. Catches destined for the production of craftwork are appreciated as a food source or captured incidentally. However, many of the species cited are on national and international conservation priority lists. Thus, regardless of the end use, the exploitation of these fishing resources should be performed with caution to avoid further harm to these populations and not compromise the sustainability of the activity, considering the cultural particularities of the populations that use these resources for subsistence and/or the generation of income.