This review deals with freshwater fish culture in Rio Grande do Sul State, southern Brazil, and analyzes production and problems of this activity in the last years. This State contributes with a good percentage of Brazilian freshwater fish culture, but its production has been stagnated in the last years. Production is based essentially on exotics fish species (mainly carps). Fish sales are concentrated in the Easter period, and sanitary inspection is still reduced. Fish farmers are making cooperatives in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul. The publishing of books of native species and the freshwater fisheries stagnation in the last years may stimulate the raise of native species, and some are suggested in this review. The culture of native species to be sold as ornamental fishes is still a future option for fish farmers of this State.
Brazilian fishes; fisheries; fish culture statistics
