Characterization of the commercial fish production landed at Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil

The present work aims to update a series of information about the regional fishing production, by presenting and characterizing the contribution of the different sub-systems of the Amazon basin to the catch landed at the main fishing market of Manaus, Brazil, from 1994 to 1996. Collectors specifically hired for this function registered key information on the fisheries. Thirty nine types or groups of fish were found in the fishing production landed. Jaraqui (Semaprochilodus spp.), curimatã (Prochilodus nigricans), pacu (Myleinae), matrinchã (Brycon cephalus), sardine (Triportheus spp.), aracu (Anostomidae) and tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) were the most important items during three consecutive years. In 1994 these items summed up 91.6% of the total production; in 1995 and 1996 these values were, respectively, 85.3% and 86.4% of the total production. Tambaqui landed decreased remarkably during the period 1976-1996. There was a strong seasonal component in the production of the main species; jaraqui and matrinchã were mostly landed between April and June, while curimatã, pacu, and sardine were mostly landed during the dry season. Other important items showed a strong inter-annual variation in their production. The fishing production landed came mostly from the sub-system of the Purus River (around 30% of the total production). The subsystem of the Medium-Solimões contributed with an average of 15% and the sub-systems of the Madeira, Lower-Solimões, Upper-Amazon and Juruá, together contributed with 11.5% of the total production landed. Finally, the remaining sub-systems contributed with only 7.6% of the production. O presente trabalho visa atualizar uma série de informação sobre a produção pesqueira regional, apresentando e caracterizando a contribuição dos diferentes sub-sistemas da Amazônia Central para a captura desembarcada no principal mercado pesqueiro de Manaus entre 1994 e 1996. Coletores foram contratados para registrar informações chave sobre as pescarias efetuadas. Foram registrados 39 tipos ou grupos de peixe na produção pesqueira desembarcada. Jaraqui (Semaprochilodus spp.), curimatã (Prochilodus nigricans), pacu (Myleinae), matrinchã (Brycon cephalus), sardinha (Triportheus spp.), aracu (Anostomidae) e tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) foram os itens mais importantes durante os três anos sucessivos. Em 1994 estes itens totalizaram 91,6% da produção total; em 1995 e 1996 estes valores representaram, respectivamente, 85,3% e 86,4% da produção total