The physical characteristics of the Manacapuru, Itacoatiara and Parintins fishing fleets were analyzed and compared with the Manaus fleet, using data collected from the landing ports along with secondary data obtained from federal institutions and the Amazonas Association of Fishermen. It was found that the size of individual canoes varied according to the center analyzed, with the larger ones found in Manacapuru and Itacoatiara. The size of the Parintins fishing vessels was significantly smaller than those in Manaus, Manacapuru and Itacoatiara. Yanmar engines predominated in all municipal districts. There was a linear relationship between the engine power and size of the vessel. The oldest vessels were found in the Manacapuru fleet, followed by the fleet of Itacoatiara. The Parintins and Manaus fleets were the newest, although the latter had the greatest age range. Fishing boats tend usually to have 5 to 6 fishermen and individual canoes 2 to 3. While fishing vessels working down river make longer trips, no difference in trip length was found for individual canoes in the different municipalities analyzed. Parintins fishing boats produced less fish than those of Manacapuru and Itacoatiara. Yield per fisherman during the height of the fishing season was greater for fishing boats than for individual canoes. Results indicate that the Parintins fleet differs from the others and that the individual canoe fishery must be considered separately from that of the fishing boats with regards to fishery management policy and actions.
artesanal fishery; fishing fleet; central Amazônia