Atividade pesqueira dos índios Mura no Lago Ayapuá, Baixo Rio Purus, Amazonas, Brasil

The artisanal fisheries has great importance forthe Amazonian indigenous communities, as a form of subsistence, and for the cultural and tradition of these communities. In this study, we analyzed the fishery developed in four indigenous communities of the Mura people indigenous of the Lake Ayapuá Land,in the lower Purus River. The fishes were classified according to the composition and importance of the species in weight and number of individuals, structure and size of the individuals captured, and total weight of the catches, between October and December of 2008. The most commercialized species were the Aruanã (Osteoglossumbicirrhosum), the pescada (Plagioscionsquamosissimus), the "feras" or big catfish (dourada, Brachyplatystomarousseauxiiand the filhote Brachyplatystomafilamentosum) and the tucunaré (Cichlamonoculus). The most commonly consumed species were aruanã, tucunaré, piranha-caju (Pygocentrusnattereri) and acará-açu (Astronotuscrassipinni). Species such as tucunaré and pescada have catch sizes within the standards permitted by legislation. However, acará-açu, aruanã, tambaqui (Colossomamacropomum), surubim (Pseudoplatystomapunctifer), caparari (Pseudoplatystomatigrinum), filhote and dourada do not have the same legal standard. Most of the production (87%) was destined for commercialization with Fish buyer. Preventive and mitigating measures are proposed to ensure the permanence of fish stocks and consequently the sustainability of fishing and the maintenance of the local population