GILLNET FISHERIES CHARACTERIZATION OF THE COAST OF SAO PAULO, BRAZIL

The characteristics of the gillnet fleet of Sao Paulo were investigated from 2004 to 2006 through interviews applied at several fisheries wharves among the coast. The fleet was composed by boats from 4 to 18.5 m long, with loading capacity from 0.3 to 22 t and engine power from 5 to 250 HP. They fished from coast to 150 m deep and up to 40 nautical miles offshore. These boats used gillnets with mesh size from 7 cm to 27 cm. Small vessels were very heterogeneous, concerning shape, load capacity and method of operation. Their action is concentrated at the environment which is vital for the life cycle of most of the resources, as bays and estuaries. Vessels of large capacity presented both physical characteristics and gear operation more homogeneous. However, the mesh size varied among the different areas analyzed, reflecting the diversity of methods of operation and target species. An effective fishery management should reach the whole gillnet fleet, in order to enclose all these differences.