This study examined the traditional knowledge of fishermen at Mamirauá Reserve about sex determination of pirarucus, Arapaima gigas Schinz 1822. We evaluated the criteria used for by fishermen in the sector Jarauá at Mamirauá Reserve for this determination, during the fisheries season, from October to November 2004. We analyzed responses of a group of about 15 fishermen collected in structured interviews regarding 109 individual pirarucus, 65 males and 44 females. From this sample, only 64 fish have their sex correctly predicted by the fishermen. Although the traditional knowledge of local fishermen is a key component of the sustainable fisheries of this species, this knowledge is not functional in all ranges and aspects, as in sex distinction. We found that the local fishermen evaluated are not able to recognize the sex of pirarucus, although some criteria applied for this purpose are consistent with their biology. The rates of correct forecasts for recognition of males and females were similar to those obtained by chance, even when the criteria applied were consistent, as the criterion “coloration”, which was significantly consistent for identification of males. Yet the group of fishermen interviewed in this study apparently did not apply this criterion correctly.
Protecting Indigenous Traditional Knowledge Through a Holistic Principle-Based Approach
