Financial comparisons of the artisanal fisheries in Urubupungá Complex in the middle Paraná River (Brazil).

The main objective of this study was a bio-economic survey of artisanal fishing so as to compare average profit of the fishermen, in two different environments (reservoirs and river) and seasons (dry and rainy). To carry out financial comparisons of artisanal fisheries in Urubupungá Complex in the middle Paraná River (Brazil), three habitats were considered: I) Ilha Solteira and Jupiá reservoirs; II) the Paraná River between the Jupiá and Primavera dams; III) the Paraná River downstream from the Primavera dam. Data collection was done through questionnaires addressed to a total of 187 fishersmen; just 164 of the resulting interviews were considered valid. They were held in July 1998 (dry season) and February 1999 (rainy season). The daily average profit of the resevoir fisherman was R$ 13.19 during the dry and R$ 19.54 during the rainy season; R$ 4.10 and R$ 12.92 for fishermen located on the Paraná River between Jupiá and Primavera dam; and R$ 1.48 and R$ 23.01 for those located on the Paraná River below Primavera dam (R$ 1.00 = US$ 0.86 during the dry season; R$ 1.00 = US$ 0.52 during the rainy season). A linear model had been tried to explain the profit variable, in relation to those variables directly linked to fishing (e.g., as habitats; seasons, dry or rainy; gear used; days spent fishing) as well as several sociological variables (age, marital states, number of dependents, and education). However, due to large variability in profits, the proposed model only explained 48.4% of variability, and the only significant factors were education, type of gear, and covariant fishing days.