Project: A.I.D./csd-2270 INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR AQUACULTURE
Task Order No. 4 RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SERIES NO. 2
NOVEMBER 1972
Fortalezc
CEARA
C-
i Sa
OBrasilia
/ /
( (
* ("
Rio de E
oJaneiro0
*
I
Natal.
Progress
- Report
on
Fisheries
r
Development
in
Northeastern
3razil
II.
International Center for Aquaculture
Agricultural Experiment Station
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
R. Dennis Rouse, Director Auburn, Alabama
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The author would like to acknowledge the excellent co-
operation given by every Brazilian with whom he conferred,
and to especially acknowledge that cooperation, good will,
and friendship displayed by Odilo Freire Dourado and Joao
de Oliveira Chacon, counterpart biologists of the fisheries
biology project,
Progress Report on Fisheries Development
in Northeastern Brazil
II. Reservoir Fisheries of Northeastern 
Brazil
W. D. DAVIES
1
INTRODUCTION
THE UNITED STATES Agency for International Development
has been providing assistance to the Government of Brazil
in freshwater fisheries since 1966 under a program entitled,
"Fish Production, Processing 
and Marketing." The DNOCS
2
has the responsibility for inland fisheries; assistance has been
made available to DNOCS through agreements administered
by SUDENE.
3 
The USAID project agreements to date have
consisted of monetary and technical assistance contracted to
the United States Bureau of Commercial Fisheries
4 
(from
1966 to 1971) and the Auburn University Agricultural Ex-
periment Station International Center for Aquaculture (from
1969 to 1974).
The project goal established for this assistance is to create
within DNOCS a freshwater fisheries group capable of plan-
ning and conducting practical research programs in the fields
of fish culture, fisheries biology, and food technology. The
objectives are to increase fish production in northeastern
Brazil through proper management of the freshwater fisheries,
improve fish processing methods, and to introduce intensive
fishculture techniques. Once these objectives are achieved,
then a certain degree of progress can be made in improving
the general well-being of the people by increasing the amount
of protein available for human consumption and by creating
opportunities for capital investment.
This report will summarize and evaluate USAID assis-
tance in fisheries biology, with special emphasis on the Au-
burn University Contract AID/csd-2270, Task Order No. 4
(November 1970-August 1972). A brief description of the
Drought Polygon of northeastern Brazil, the reservoir fish-
eries, and the marketing systems will be followed by sections
on past and present strategy, project status, and recommenda-
tions for future action.
BACKGROUND
The Drought Polygon
Nine states comprise the area of northeastern Brazil, from
Bahia in the south to Piaui in the north. Except for the littoral
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Fisheries and Allied Aqua-
cultures.
2 Departamento Nacional de Obras Contra as Secas (National
Department of Works Against the Drought).
tSuperintendencia do Desenvolvimento do Nordeste (Superin-
tendency for the Development of the Northeast).
'Now the National Marine Fisheries Service.
zone and the area west of 440 West Longitude, all of the
above states are included in an area termed the Drought
Polygon. This area consists of approximately 1 million square
kilometers, or about 70 per cent of northeastern Brazil. The
littoral zone usually extends several miles inland to where
the land rises to form a low plateau. Characteristic geo-
graphical features are intermittent streams and low, rounded
remains of Precambrian igneous extrusions. The permanent
rivers of this region are the Parnaiba and the Sao Fran-
cisco (4).
FIG. 1. Map of northeastern Brazil showing the Drought Polygon.
The plateau region is plagued by frequent droughts and
poor soil fertility. Even in non-drought 
years, there is usually
a 6- to 8-month period with little or no rainfall. As a result,
the region is experiencing slow economic development (9).
Also, the diet of the people is markedly inadequate in pro-
teins, especially in the high quality proteins which are present
in meat and fish products. The present low dietary level has
FIG. 2. Average monthly precipitation (1912-1967, Nov.-July) for the
State of Ceara, Brazil.
1912/67
Dec. 
---1970
deficiency
Nov \J an.
120
uly 40 May
2
. 9 31 24 1:6 0 8 1.6 2.4 3.1. Mar. 3une
FIG. 3. Average monthly precipitation (1912-1967) for northeastern Brazil
(inches)The 
DNOCS
Government of Brazil has been constructing reservoirs in
120
June
of approximately 850 reservotiizers. These are estimated to rep-and
resent about two-thirds of the major available sites for largetion is
The DNOCS
(mm) 
(inches)
(mm) (inches)
reservoirs. Of these, 254 are classified as public reservoirs;
117 contain 2 million cubic feet or more of water (unpub-
lished DNOCS statistics). These reservoirs were used at
first for water storage to serve as oases during periods of
drought, and later for irrigation, hydro-electric power, and
fish production.
Characteristic physical and chemical features of these wa-
ters are as follows: temperature differences from top to bot-
tom (less than 30F) are usually not sufficient to prevent
mixing of the water column by wind action. However, during
calm periods, water greater than 10 meters in depth can be-
come devoid of oxygen. Alkalinity remains between 55 and
88 p.p.m., pH 7.0 to 8.0, and salinity 60 to 100 p.p.m.
Yearly variation in surface elevation can be as great as three
meters. During the rainy season (March-July), the reservoirs
often will overflow (3).
DNOCS has the responsibility for managing the freshwater
fishery resources. They have established fish hatcheries at
Ico, Ceara (Lima Campos); Maranguape, Ceara (Amanari);
Caico, Rio Grande do Norte (Itans); and Itiuba, Bahia
(Jacurici). They also have a Center for Fisheries Research
at Pentecoste, Ceara, a Division of Fisheries and Fish Cul-
ture in each of four regions to collect fishery statistics, and
a Directory of Fisheries and Fish Culture for administrative
purposes. The Fisheries Services within DNOCS are depicted
in the following abbreviated organizational chart.
Organization of Fishery Services within DNOCS
Ministry of the Interior
Director General, DNOCS
General Directory of Administration
Directory of Finance and Records
General Directory of Irrigation
Directory of Studies and Projects
Directory of Irrigation
Directory of Fisheries and Fish Culture
Center for Fisheries Research
Division of Fisheries and Fish Culture
Directory of Works and Equipment
Directory of Regions (4)
Division of Administration
Directory of Irrigation
Division of Studies and Works
Division of Assistance
Division of Fisheries and Fish Culture
Fish Hatchery Stations
Division of Water and Dams
Since 1945, fishery activities within DNOCS have been
mainly concerned with production of fingerlings to stock new
impoundments and the collection of fishery statistics. For
example, once a dam has been closed, a DNOCS fisheries
team will usually poison the natural population of fish to
eradicate the various species of piranha. They will then
stock the reservoir with several species of fish that have been
acclimated from the Amazon, Parnaiba, and Sao Francisco
rivers. Once populations are established, fishing is permitted.
Fishermen must register their gear and pay a small fee per
unit of gear as indicated in Table 1.
At present, each fisherman must report to a guard station
each day he fishes to record and weigh his catch. Regula-
tions which are currently imposed on the fishery take the
form of gill net mesh restrictions, quantity of gear, and closed
seasons.
tnW,
'I.S-
I' ~
I *'~ *-'
~
*CeC~t.
CS 4
I.,,.. t
FlIG.T R - t, .v Oro . -ah ST r 1O[proximatly 35,000 hlectares 87,500 acres is the largest 
rrnpouecmen t in the State of Ceara.
I \iL I.\lt\ il X('((I PER It'iI I loll \A11111CIi '111, 0ll is, 
afoot tto ftheit \ icfl of fishi fto 0111 io 1),1 110 hi iii 11
GvIIIN. . li t.sIii) IN III Rt Sl Ct (it 
I CIII liii C' tile \oit lit 
i axhoxxoii i Ti'.lbl 2.
(W Nt '\I to xJit It\ lIi /il
('to ti, o. U.S. dollars
gII'.tt't tftill 2' Ill.
lesCC tfall 2 Io.
gi 'a tl f .111 2 itt.
1('CC thall 2 Ill
sitikitirgill iwt
'Floatttt tiJll t'
I latil lie oit' hok
Lili li l tii it )
( (lt' I XXit ftiIItit Ioto
1 .501
2.00)
0(.035
1 00
1.50)
15.00)
NA(1)' ttf ('X timt-' asCo Idli]\, 19172: ('i 1.00f
ft.25
ft. 1 :1
ft. 341
ft.25
L'.S. 150.lT1
Freshwater Fisheries
Production
'I fit flc.fx \ c i f isfeit s ofX tt l -th1 )f t',t lti i iia il Zite puii' t'itf
Tx i:2. l'SIItxt-tti l,.\IIiI,C F-tOMt 'itt CSSxiiPIt
A~tNID NINI\1 ISHiItt' tt
I otl Braziil
X1t i
1 
tullsN
:3,36 -,1
:36 1.65)1
I I 1521)
"o t Iti's
tifolls
1 258,
).68(5
98,s2 10f
dfue tmoltI to fisheie lOX (lo 'liiia Itti ilOXX IX\ timpIideld
Xxat('i . I it p1o)11tedItt t':cia('. hilOX eer, Ina\X .ilXI relet''
11)111 t'lf'tcit effots b\ L )'OCS iii atlieritig ('111.1 dltal.
1 ~lbli :1 XsiiIXX the Xil 101(1 il 11 OCX ot'(il XXhichi I)N CS
hias e'tjtilft'(l tital c'ti.'li f2_.
1 ftc iixtrifmoitoi f)X state' flI the 7 reservirs mitier
1)\( )(: .S jic-ttitli itt I1968 is p iesiitt'd ill TahIbl 4. '11lie
ct.'iti iltito lIX stitte to tIhei to~tal caitch for that Xm t is XAso
('d folaid likc fisheriesx. Biat'ih ttil lNO( S c'atchf Xtdfjsfj(
Z
iv, 14W,
c I OL cill11ac I, IIIIX X I III 1151 191( I I \ Table 
'. ILI
REiSEROIRS0 U NDH DI1N OCS (C)\ I IICL
NllibctI of
XciltCel Il totill
12
12
12
12
12
12
165
22
23
2(5
2-
33
6(6
6 65
'FI XII 4. Dis III~l 110tto' AND 19658 CA It H 100i DNOCS ISLXsI ivo011
State
P'iau~i
(Cilr
R.iI G-
1 
doort
\itrie(ibi' --
Pel1ia11l8'
13 ri I
'N lIlher ofI
:36
11
.5
1-
6
('Itch1
118
8,047T
:370
1.970)
:32
8:14
23
I X III I tH 5. IEL.I PER HECRE ~ i XI 01'ouii DNOCS HIs'iwnis 1
icXc'IX il- I e orc II-IIt-
alrea 
1965
ff111 Ic's Kg. Ilia'
Arit 9, 6I2 952 265(11228)
ClllpilX 1.514 54( 47)
Vl'uil~flhia 987 84( 71)
Yi eld
1
1966 19657 19658
2:36(208) 144( 127) 112i9)8)
7:3) 64) 54 47) 92(81)
391 52)
59( 352
86( 76) 87(77)
52( 16) 7 1(62
Gear
Th lw prillt'ipill t\ 'pe of ihliog (4cII usedi ill tIC 
reservXoir1
fisiesrj' is tile niohl~l~flneilt (rill lIct. alltoghl 
lthei tX- pes Ill
13eilI MrT tl0I11t11011. Thtese nlets wXere' hiis inrduc 11 
IIC il 1I9.57,
and it in1 i few CX XCeIIs tilev t'otlplett'l IrCplaIced 
clttll IcIt.
9 'celtinietet X (stretch (ineasutI (et) tflr 
siiikilg o( et'. and
.5 ceoltimetels Xfor floalting nts (,15.4 .111( 1.97 
ioctieX Ie-
XIpettivlX . Ths ne'I'I(ts ar1e usuallyX 3( 50 
I lof0) illefers ( 1(54
toI .'28 feet' ) ill lelogli. I to1 2 lotter.( 1:3 
to (5.6 icet ) 1
6
FIG. 5. Monofilamenl gill nets, the main type of fishing gear 
used in the
reservoirs of northeostern Brazil, are usually set in the evening 
and fished
the following morning.
cc('111 11.1.), pest'.aia do p-iiitoi (Plaaio~sioII 
w(/I(IIlooO I.X110
tIar U M) 0 dplo I dbaicisll 0 i al /1111 lil 11115 
) ['1 liC
dcrc1 ) C to IIXC i C \X el ddel 1(1 1,11II X lile 
ugIIIC sp.). 1 Floa It l
is ft(' prleferredi gC.ill for tulll1.rC (wila 
and0 II .1(
Fishermen
\X\here thleX also( tt'lot Xtsii ll Iols. IlctCnt X111X 
vsX 11,1e XhiiXI
Itti X l to ll ijt~ fi eit iif Ijl\ 1111 ( Tit ] X ) 
its 1131)1ill ' .I JI Illoo h
lar~ge lilt i(loiX I 'I
Thle i)Iltio1i of is ctlcih ilA) Ill' Xs'llX 
(h1ill
13 
tilt 5 (.11 Is
XXIItil apprliIIIilf'I 1,92ff.00f cl uzir/'11 
( 1.S. 8.32(5.fif
XI egi(1 I IX CHX $2AS8180 pet I(' r 11111111111 X .13 
1722) Hl \l IIII i
(526
1,0)41
6:39
489
492
921
1A1is
1,547
1,839
2.305
6,.446
7 98
10,125
8(5(60
10,387
11,082
10,016
11,9:36
Total poduction
4A
FIG. 6. Long lines baited with sm-all freshwat~er snhrimp ore used mainly
tor taking pescada do piaui (Plagioscian squamaosissimus'
tot CH 8:3.00( pei kiiogrti m (Ut.S. St.15 tii 0.23 peri poiiiid)
ii t uthat i i-ketx.
'Ill', ixeri age fixhel malii flax six (Ileeftt xxIho 
xx\iil eoii
xtille albolt 20) peirIi cc t flhx (itch fie lixilx ixx hiixis
eciliie, hiioikx, nletsx. nd lilies, liut ilii a ma i ee tiiexe iteiiix
xx i'l fiitiied thrioighi tiii itiliocdiiii-. x\xxto flux xi's eattell.
It ii's xa xfiieitt ioi te tol put eiiaxe it biexle inidiilIdioi.
Marketing
liixi f-tlfiIctx ill 111 ioleixtei i Bi ,uzil exeeds tue xtf-pfx 
flux's-
cx Ii I ifixx tel fishi fproidiucts iii lihis legiiliax hie ti iditiiiiilix
bee te it. loxx priced fiiood i teu x \\ieell comi) -ilid to porik, 
f-iiio
tix\ itlid elf its xiiiixx ill iiiI Mle 6.
TABLiE 6. IHx'xiJ ix P, i P IE PEit fxIiMA Piioxlii lxi 
xIii AND x
PIiuiiiu i. ixNI xx 1072, 'on i ',LiZA. CE (A
Proiut
\\ ol fiii ifis'siwtl fiih
WhI ii xitx iteI ftxsi
siltiif fix
1 
i ii tis
(.1 iliiid fet17e
Poit lc ii
\N fiii i lakiii
13.iii't ill p1i1(' 1)l11) .
('F U.S.
1t59- 3.51) 10.190.62
2.00 5.0 til 1 t5t-0A
5.00) 7.010 0.39-1.54
8.501)12.00t 0.65- W .0
Tiie lixx prtill' of t exii~tei flih prodcts( ix fpio-tix 11111 to
fe tixil f-ii iiiti\p , qifilitx iof tile pi dllt. '[iie iiatcfiig, (lix
tiilitiiiiii. aid n-iliketitig xx xteio iii' iuitt d l'ilull tiitialill 
x
Fior exapl, i sh (li laded iii the ill huig i' ile ev xixceratdt(.
F ixh ellptlind bx (ri tictx Illi iiix e becoeii 1111 iii tue 
xx iltei
huml 6 to I-) ihiiuis. Fihl \xt un)xx tli 5 2-86 F") c'ieoui 
gs
tioti. It fii', fixhi all tiot soldlfi'oir' tihex beginto 
bi lozit, l Iex
ii e xsiteuf mtill x iiif id.
The (lixti ibititi xx xteo- ixoe i ix 'niddie Inei xxIiio 
ti liixiol'
ooilei'~ loot. xe rlal (lix- x ccr oui il ixifixh tlltixii ot'( 
hlxd i'l
aoxx iiilii t\o iiii tiiiaiit il, iii te il' fjxi iid to xiif 
ltlt
x etafutr x\xIiito (ix thiiir fiodult from fiieto huiuuxi. 
fhex
kets frot lcal rc('xi xoii .
Nerx, Icxx retailers iixe tLiciljtics for iloilintg flihole tihilli
it (iti ,. .\s t reslt titex chinllteli',tiidix 
bti'y les's fish thati
PAST STRATEGY
Agreement Organization
At1. the bi1'ieiiriexi~ 'of t is ,iog111 elii t el lm iiu 
ofil l-
potAeiin p1odlicttiofl ti 711(11gil trIm ater fishleries r esour ce il 
iii-
ageinet t. A pr11iiir\ cl i , illl \itsx the ex shi 
j 'shil It oft
at flintititilll lllxtjttltOll wxitint iNOCS calllie 
oif (le'lipilog
illl aplivilg ihlilagetleiit pr inciiples. This, 111117 \\,its to 
ibe
h l~iodc l)\ fiinliili conltr ibultionsx front CONTAP 
17
p 1711101gli
SILDENE LT USAID, amid iNOCS. After xix end delax 
x, tile
1)bixti s ttre till h eaili(hIti-tels xto IIIl ibola torx spiaee \'s
ented iii j Ilx t19(67. -\i ai(lditiollili 9 1)111tix wxere heeded to
(ONV M \ "\ iO HP\ N the suggexted orgail/aitioo 
i ad stzitfiiig
i e( xilo\ix illii the ehll o il tiie toiioxx l)ug p-iwg
'I'l pli o -ciiiiiled ti ilex eloiii g at eioxe xxiiikiig 
leilittilliilip
wxithi cett eel hel it iIliiin gox erimelit iweniesx tiiexe 
bi'ii
SUI.DENE itdi S UD)PE7 xxihei hax e the responsbixlity 
fllt
it igi ti xuivi xioii aniid fiiidiiig respeetixe Ci A lxo, it xx ax
(i'xxetiii tihat the ttiietjiitix oif the tiexx I exel(iic groulp 
lie
xx ill (lefileli xxjtiiti the i)"OtIS xlstilite xii ixs toi 
ix ij
fllatld. Ax it ciilt, tile (X)N\EN 1 DP \N xxit lixidiiiiitrii
tixe pi lallced kinder the iitt'tiii if Dri 0simat Fisiits'iis-'i
ireetiii of' isheriex ill Fixsi Ciiitioe 
781)
It \x l pi tix (fie toi tiiexe ciilx iii giloii/tilll 
it iroblemsi
tha txs ofii tie thiiee 13111edO of (:111) tleiilii iiei iex 
ci l-
ticlt pciooe xii we xtre' xtstiiiliel ill Recife, PCI Iianxlioo xxithi
the Agyiuetiii aod~ iBiiai Dexeiiicitt Dix ixioll. US 
\Ii
lathier titi iill'iiltiie.it, Ceara, xx iere the ON\ 
EN 0
i)P.N is lleitel. :\it ofbxioxusl dxiwilck to tis i titgelleilt
xxitx tue dljfietltxv it impoxedi il teeliii asixxtiiitx 
ill fixh-
cies' Ihioiiix \\h ieil tiex tijedl ituleiiliiiilg t~iii'i 
Ii ailiail
eil iti aitxoil of~i ix it(, fieild t Ip
Agreement Inputs
i)NO( S pcixotief (iiaiix i0t)oi 131) Zixigliid 
tio the
pro ijet iottetiii azd el ii side ihl e field experienle xits iieriex
lioiltitx; iiox'scxci tiiex uxoailx leld tiitix ersitx lfegle(x 
ill
tue fieldx of igliiill ii yieuitid l eigilleerilig, 
x eteiilix-
I eiie fplial 
iae or eistry 
. Illi aldditiili. thexv 
iiilx
haid little expeii elee xxiiiking ix, ati ititelIixcilpulill x\ grlo.
lieeiixe iol tis, eipiixxxa piaced il paitif-iipit titii
ii g ('.1 ii iii the progi O) l (ae.6ptilepi 
x a ei
leix el xi)eiil 9 iiiitli couile xex t xitiriox uiveix ities ill tile
1,'oiltedI Stitex. hree liix eleceixeli tiiiiiioig ill 
food pirii
cexxinlg, one ill tisheie' cs ibiogxp- ooiie ill liinniiogx ' , aiil iii illii
fixhI iuture. Fiv e iif the xix pinlieipaitx htx e ililld 
di-
N lix' t li Stil it iiia di ( iitinit i Eiinoici ca 
lciii
I
Research
I .f
Reservoir Fish Technology
Biology and Chemistry
I + I.
Limnology Economics
I 
I
River Fishing
Biology Technology
I
Intensive
Fish Culture
I
Marketing
DPAN
I
SERVICES
.1
Intensive
Fish Culture
I
Administration
I ,# I +
Procurement 
Paying
Au I n 
I i+
Audit and Personnel
Accounts
I
Library
I
Operations
Facilities Equipment
Construction
Maintenance
Transportation
I
FIG. 7. Freshwater Fisheries Resource Management personnel chart (asterisks indicate sections now functioning).
rectly associated with the program. They returned not only
with improved technical abilities, but with a much better
attitude toward applied research work. Also, four partici-
pants from the CONVENIO DPAN and other sectors within
DNOCS have recently returned from a 2-month tour of fish
hatchery and laboratory facilities in the United States (5).
Additional assistance and training was provided by con-
tracting consultants from Auburn University for periods up
to 10 weeks in 1966, 1967, and 1968. Teams consisting of
three men each worked with Brazilian counterparts at sev-
eral reservoirs and local fish hatcheries to determine the po-
tential for increased fish production. Various methods of
stock assessment that provided a logical framework for plan-
ning continued studies were introduced. Several of the 1966
team's recommendations, namely that the natural fish pro-
duction from reservoirs could not be substantially increased
and that a program of intensive fish culture in small ponds
be initiated, were significant in that they altered the em-
phasis of the CONVENIO DPAN from fishery biology and
food technology to intensive fish culture (1).
A short-term marketing study conducted under USAID
sponsorship in 1967 upheld the feasibility of using intensive
fish culture for increasing the food supply and decreasing
protein deficiency in northeastern Brazil (6). A typical mar-
keting study, to be conducted simultaneously with the de-
velopment of intensive fish culture systems, was recom-
mended to ascertain the extent of the market potential.
To date, 54 ponds, with a total surface area of 4 hectares,
and a field laboratory have been constructed on a site near
Pentecoste, Ceara. A fish culture specialist contracted from
Auburn University arrived in October 1969, to assist in fish
culture research activities. A program of technological as-
sistance in fish culture and extension is presently scheduled
through June 1974.
8
CURRENT STRATEGY
Objectives
Technical assistance in fisheries biology of reservoirs will
terminate with Task Order 4, Auburn University-Brazil Con-
tract, AID/csd-2270 in August 1972, culminating almost 6
years of advice and direction to the project. The broad ob-
jectives of Task Order 4 were to assist the Brazilian counter-
part biologists in developing management policy from existing
research findings and to advise on present and future ac-
tivities.
Upon my arrival in Fortaleza in October 1970, I found
that although a tremendous amount of data had been col-
lected very little had been accomplished in their analysis to
form a basis for management recommendations and scientific
publications. Although the two Brazilian counterparts as-
signed to the project were diligent workers, they were not
aware in many cases of methods of analysis basic to fishery
investigations.
After becoming familiar with the desires and needs of my
counterparts and the reservoir fisheries in general, I pro-
posed the following work schedule:
1. To accompany the Brazilian biologists on all of their
field trips (usually 5 to 10 working days per month) in order
to introduce new field methods and recommend revisions in
existing ones.
2. To actively assist in the summary, analysis, and publi-
cation of existing data.
8. To demonstrate acceptable procedures for sampling
programs and in the design and analysis of experiments.
4. To increase the harvestable production in terms of
pounds of fish through the introductions of new species.
5. To assist in the preparation of proposed recommenda-
tions for the rational exploitation of the fishery resources.
I .
Extension
Fish
Technology
Fishing
Technology
t r--- -I- _~ " I ~ _ _ _~_ I
III JIliON , \ . it xx 0111(1 liil\x i ' ti iiifi~oxo,,il~c 
to itt 1)111
filent'Iilor 101 CCfielit Ii ('tIo~ ofI oltrltf(i ll I NNithlit 
l)(coillill(4
totoll .Ix all iojil \\ it]I tI flet I (,.stix oji- fis Iic'ics tN tI i( iiiiiilset 
011(1d
(list] illltioll N\ stems, ai'I flit' life xt\ IC aut
1 
liit''I of ft'e fish-
trileci. It wasO coiid cq(1 l ('ifl y Iilfporl ot 
toilt bc \ imie
of the cos t of (Itta co't im , Ii Itcinx 
of' totaol casN Ii C ei itli
tills and 01(1inoi\ e\ Ci Ii(fll il it SNoi thalt adted~l 
Ii ocCd
firesC could Ilie ciiiiiiiCel NN itlioti f'SA\II oi ( '( Al) 
?iioiil
coil 'olitliiiitii iii .
Initial Recommendations
A first ,tell'f i ts O to liiiit field ioctxitiCN to t\NN ii I'csi\oiiri
CNseiitizil for lex Clopilig iniiii(reiiaii 
1
)oit\. INN I lesNxi N )
that wer cIC(hara'cteititc ill Nsi ~il ig ii( f iiuii 
iif tilt 1)I111
1-'NC1N ti Ns ill1(1 o ltliC0Nteii B azil xx l- ('t tfoseti. 
IlilNI \\i ci
F iiitqtillit and( Hiialiiiii, 987 Out
1
I 9,000~ liltLiii iiiNi
zl't'0 Mid( 22 alitl - \('ii ill a(4( ifl te
Experimental Gill Net Studies
Ii iitiail i 'ttiitii~l ld tiiiN delt'lf NI} I i i' I\l liiilt 
MIii
('isioii. V'oi examlple. l)"O( S l)iolotliiINx li( 
t'oilitl(T
rotine (rill inet seICctioii stildiesN \\er n'( ot ti!'dii nig 
thet
illakiiig 0f tlfiiiitive C lteiiiialtioii oif gill litt NCIcctioiI difficult.
Piex jooix c'ollected i tit x\\tif( adluxtu ti i t'e fiiial aiiakl,
tisiliur factorN Olbtaiil b\~ exciliitillk fishinig if Nt'icN
old aiid ixx ( uiiifoi i) litN. TheseI dtil. aloiig 
\xitl ill
formiiitioii ol (r1 oNX fli aiit
1 
iiiiii tali \\ill prov)Nide the bitai
Contiiiued rouitinet fixliiiig of expi' iiiciil gill iltIN iN 1-(ti
ltiigtii aod x Cfigot ilCi peieiit'it detl ChIN .tIil tldikti l toi
tliN ligtI it glti iiiolitiiiliti tot'liii-i'~k felig t'ffoi 
g irt h
N'if N la tit'e itlti shoulii t of cal.de ;ii te 1-lto (4hp bc-i~
lt' eci toalliitogt iiigt' maidixiiii~i ii it (iftert .
FoiicC
sINer fectix e friN1li 4 s ~ i NldIls sie tci is d 
'i helpful t fiiier
stiiii I ( fish cl'iaettalit
1
e II tle iwNt'ii fcit l be i illiliNd
li tioll Nro tide ti l ii oltlli No N"tli t th iNit ieti l
bingapplied to th tis ilii FixaNmiplien N lliit 
iO
tloos aiid Nthrs itiii iit NImlli tallbil NtII.SiN toii ti 
r Wiri
be dtemici'nd toi w ittiil ill ('tiilillfxiiiig efoii. nol
I'idi is easil~ 1 ccltait'(''N ut tI hid i i i i ii I s itia p ittI' l Ilt fill 
iir
FIG. 8. Fishery guard wilth a curiniata pc Prociiuodus sp.
mnit ii ofg rttni Ii il
1
a i it ' N iiiNooN of (4 ititiide werte
t'ffectMx iii ac li 1( thiN cooertiii) fIii. Alxii, spectial 
stuiesC
eari ied oult Ili pondsiiiN iaxtii fiidicatioil o f tig li)NN anld 
tag4ginig
ioriiv iTxi'liiti iihit titdv f\IdcI lit ks ii ( it ti 
itiirolt'. ib
ill eC\C(llei t coiiditioi tii liggi ( could lht ciilt 
xxitl thiit
biasketx. lliuxx iNI iiiii ioatiiii oif tisx tx pt' IN, 11't'tled 
Ito-
iothiei coin incia kil illipili taut xpt'(it'x. Out' 
mtlithloItr cud-
lectioltig aiy lomcIiiol' (I flit fto]. tiggrilw14I xx \Xtli it 
boit-
niotiitetl clecti is'Nocitkt'. Iliixx txr t' asxuitible 
por)1table gren-
citatiii 2):3ff x ltN AC NN\1it lftd ouitpuit of :3,0 ffff\x 
ttN ) hilN
not lbeeii locaited Iii Hi a/il. Bectux of tlit imptoititice 
of
xsioultd fe Iiide lix l)"'O(S tto imot i 
suoxitalelletiic ttor
Fisherman Survey
A lixlit'i iiii iiix~e t'x xx iiiiaft' to otaiiui xpt'cifit 
iluifina-
titoi oii li ti hiuioniic xtotlix iif, i fjxhii, (4 iuiilx, 
filtiodx of
pi tcexxiiig aintl listrilititii of ft'e citch, 
itout
1 
tlit' xtattix of
ft'e ulioiket thurili i xaiii xt i ii' t il ( l)'I t 'ii I Nell r i'i jifi'u~ ia
huhl ix t'xxlt'iil loii lx iliitinii piii]Iiikil liii fishfliig 
coopilera-
tixvtx and proose pu il x'l ic e oIi~tNuf ui ititr I oi iiotis lar 
gei x eN
sets, aullit'i]), u'iuiiniit'it. lVixicuinicii ii c iiitei xiexxct 
xx itii
9
III, ci It i i liiilli~tiol I iii requeted Il it is Cifficlt il t' thi ie fish-
ofi tis t\ fl shuldiit ciiiitflliclt d he conduiiiitctedi Ill ciiililii Itioti
%\11 1)1 lcithiC s lll)]liw ofii th ilt isid station s.
Species Introduction
(Iriiis ti i)ott'itill. 1 eprodtitl c iteqifi neiiis, dli id ilitit o(
C ield I oi sc\( ei il fish spie s. T his kooss iCd~i14i essetill
loi- Cioosig spiesC fi- iiitiodliiiooi iiito rscrCi liri to ill
citdsi priitiiiI h . It is \ ti likils thlit tile SuIccessfl ilitlil
(oil tIoll f.i A15 erSIC ill ltreii p roilifit ii (\illtilliC
11Io1\\ niiiiket x ilie.
S 
iA
FIG. 9. The tncunare or peacock bass is normally taken with a pole and
line bailed with freshwater sn, .rp or piabas. This species is Cichto
tenensis.
dcili it iiipllilthl iof tiuliliali il o tihei fisih nii nl itil s ill
Amii tha ill l ii its the iitlull411iTi if ('5115 li It is i hocIt iiiii
fisih, hii II 14 is 5111 s d ti toill fiesh, aid iCiii trili tcs si14
I ijCli it ois t\ii it il t til Th resultsi'f theseliii Iii c tto i
10
FIG. 10. Inc paickne or pit urucu Atapainoi qigos ho, been introduced
int several reservoirs in ihe Noriheosi. Almost all of ihe larger individuals
entering ihe coich are horpooned.
tti Iillict t that tile tilCillic Ik a \e15 elfiC 011it lllli
tat didC iicits eiii I ('o t thiiliootol I,8( toillwla ((0 iuo
These1 arcal i s I fill Cltilit SO to 1 1oov 'ihi I is elilitltm-
ti u
1
ltoIil I) pif t s perClS i tiie ol Iti ,illC~r 55 lii C ith iliCot ilt
\%i"ICt iof otheIrii sies ht li l t liii il iiik iti iitit tte ilmiti) til
hICCd hill 1 i sCili iillid l i liili tot ithe 1)11 1 i s ill
I, ,I m II d p I I )isr 'I d I I f I Ii ilit loti I II H It' l)ittlti4 ot i tldi-
kLt X(iw liiiiti AX it-'.iic2 huh liIX/1( iowgiC'tsto
I)11 )I iI I })i Ii tolIit I Illslit \ in I iii. ixptuit l it al so ) (I s
2. \ ( 'li i l i ii larg pill t to il I111) lli 4jt\ tc is ofi Cot I (I i
Ie h d l it' 4 XX l ilk ii i c litel i i tIk, i ,\li ll SI tX iltof ill tliitl
gIiilt t\ ir tsct ti its ex ilt ti\X~c itit IiiX ight zed uing't iicXtXc
i Itliids I lit'i citse the i i l i prcJti I9tt i of riesu ls stress id
lt ltittiitld thu 1114tln i)X tof Oliiiil.l Itlilil tii tPIt o(itt'dl
di 111 il ci it IX iri Pe'( I t dc XX li titiIld it-t til t1111)ltt
FIC, 1 A g ad - c uII ccT Q l 1 P , 'i, c! c" ... PA"I
at these tish appear to be in their second year. In Resernair Pereira
dle Miranda this species vv;II reach an anerage length of 25.3 cm. (9.9 in.)
in 1 year, 33.7 cm. (13.2 in.) in 2 years, and 44.8 cm. (16.5 in.) in 3 years.
I'I's l i I Ittl I llc l) it I tI Xpc 'i' d i ir IX 1,1 po X il lis p. sill1 I iilit
I iti lli (itll al i) m cooIl 1co osf c c
\\ it' ii l'd l lilXl it oo ( th ilii s iki itI tis(i iiilre it i tiii 1
iotCis tl i vi ) , tcti i i (dl icti lt 41111 i iti Xi Ct 111(1 hut'
plscliiii do pii itilii ACl ti wi it s (IItli IX i " i [I N i' ) IT t~l ilil
Hdkuiagtit lolilIC ti Xli)tX 511s XillItits(,ncet C'XhIiotlX re-
tihtig 11)011' Xtil ilptilu-e Cdl IItitt te used.~t LntiihX ut iilc
tilbiltti l III ih ]loXI t l Xi il i ll XX itri iiitil it e IX I p
I l C X t il t s l o l. X X 
I i t ' i ll l " f1 1 i h 
p ii 'i X t t i ls i s 
I ' i ttcm i l i i i 
9 1 i ll l i td
eItenlite ill iiiiiP'lli'Ir ~ P r iiit'iitclit tit' ti dilii I 17111tte\diliolt
C llopC' lt i i li~tXe i C' sii(l. Iiop )11 iC tiltI ituii)i'ii of1
pI (1I lit 1-11 it 4 11 ('c t t i c t1 iti s I (il 11cil1 1\1 lit ,is it tX i illl t it ' 
Using the information gained from the tagging demonstra-
tion of traira in Reservoir Forquillia, the total catch as re-
ported by DNOCS, and the adjusted units of effort for gill
nets, hooks, and thrust baskets, the surplus reproduction for
this species was calculated. Actually, three levels of surplus
production were calculated using adjusted and unadjusted
rates of fishing mortality. When tag returns were adjusted
for tag, loss and tagging mortality, the surplus production was
calculated to be 30 per cent greater than the present average
commercial catch, thus indicating that the population is be-
ing harvested somewhat below the optimum rate.
Obviously such studies are of considerable importance in
determining the status of a fishery and in estimating potential
yield. It is recommended that surplus production be de-
termined for all commercially important species once esti-
mates of fishing mortality are available. However, each
estimate must be carefully interpreted in terms of the ac-
curacy and precision of each factor entering into the compu-
tation and the correctness of basic assumptions inherent to
this method.
PRESENT STATUS
The actual impact of technical assistance in fisheries biology
can best be evaluated in qualitative terms such as institutional
growth and maturity and expansion of human skills. Ad-
mittedly, a quantitative evaluation in terms of increased
production of freshwater fish products would be more ap-
propriate. However, a greater period of time is needed to
adequately verify such indicators. For example, because of
the variation in annual weight yield from reservoir fisheries,
at least 8 to 10 years of information will be needed to verify
a 10 per cent increase in yield.
Expansion of Human Skills
Up to the time the CONVENIO DPAN was formed, Bra-
zilian biologists working in the Northeast had little formal
training in fishery science. Their research efforts had been
qualitative and descriptive rather than quantitative, resulting
in information that was not readily transformed into man-
agement policy.
Thissituation has improved to the extent that counterpart
biologists can plan and execute studies to gain specific in-
formation. For example, DNOCS recently requested an im-
mediate recommendation on whether the fishery of a large
reservoir could be industrialized, i.e., the addition of large
outboard motor boats and the construction of cold storage
facilities. The proposed plan called for a relatively large
cash expenditure and would require a substantial increase in
catch of commercially important species to justify the costs.
Whether such an increase in effort would cause an appreci-
able decrease in catch per effort unit and eventually result
in a reduced yield can best be answered by an understanding
of the rates of growth, mortality, and recruitment for the in-
dividual species concerned. However, the counterpart bi-
ologists, having gained an appreciation for the principles of
population dynamics, were able to use available catch and
effort data to approximate the amount of fishing the resource
could accept on a sustained basis.
Long range plans developed: by counterpart biologists re-
flect an increased appreciation for sampling and experimental
error. In past studies, a small number of samples or insuffi-
cient replication in an experiment often resulted in estimates
of low precision and of questionable value. In this respect,
their plans now give careful consideration to economy of
effort and the resources available.
Institutional Growth
The CONVENIO DPAN is recognized by DNOC as an
effective scientific institution capable of administering pro-
grams in fish culture and fishery biology, and they have
pledged continued support to this institution when USAID
contributions cease. To ensure the continued development
of CONVENIO DPAN and the fisheries project, the following
recommendations are offered:
1. Additional academic training in the special field of
population dynamics would be desirable. Such a program
should include instruction in automatic data processing tech-
niques so that returning participants can take advantage of
Sthe computer time that is becoming increasingly available in
the Fortaleza area. DNOCS should provide graduate degree
scholarships for project personnel at the University of Sao
Paulo Department of Biological Sciences, where such train-
ing is possible.
2. It is essential that program personnel receive training
in the special fields of fish diseases and parasites and fish
nutrition. This training could be carried out in Brazil during
a 3-week program by a team of two professors from the In-
ternational Center for Aquaculture, Auburn University. An
ideal location for this training would be the DNOCS Train-
ing Center which is located less than a mile from the Pen-
tecoste Fish Culture Research Station. Adequate facilities
exist for 26 individuals, which would permit approximately
10 biologists from other government agencies to participate
in the program. It is recommended that AID provide special
training funds for this assistance upon the request of the
Brazilian Government.
3. It is possible that individual projects within the CON-
VENIO DPAN have their roles too narrowly defined. As a
result, cooperation between projects, especially in sharing
facilities and manpower, could be improved. In this respect
it is recommended that the Director of the CONVENIO
DPAN review the activities of each project to define areas
of mutual interest where cooperation is possible. The result
will be an institution much more effective in using available
resources.
4. Although a library exists within the CONVENIO
DPAN, it is not functional. No method exists for indexing
the location of material or the deposition of items loaned.
As a result, books and subscriptions obtained are largely
unusable. Attempts to, organize the library in the past have
been unsuccessful because individuals assigned the task were
not qualified or were not hired on a permanent basis. It is
therefore recommended that DNOCS hire a qualified librarian
on a permanent basis to organize and expand the existing
facility.
Marketing and Distribution of Fish Products
The marketing and participant training programs recom-
mended in the report, "Short-Term Marketing Study of the
Intensive: Freshwater Fisheries Development of Northeast
Brazil," (6) were not implemented. In this report, the author
described, the existing marketing and distribution systems as
archaic and unsanitary. In 19.72 there has been no improve-
ment in the system. Although this report was concerned
with market development in conjunction with the develop-
ment of intensive fish culture systems, the same ills affect
the marketing and distribution of the commercial catch from
12
the reservoir fisheries. As a result, both projects would
benefit from the findings of the study.
Because the present marketing system is recognized to be
a limiting factor to future development of the freshwater
fishing industry of northeastern Brazil, it is recommended
that action be taken to determine the market potential for
handling, marketing, and distribution. If the Government of
Brazil requests USAID technical assistance, suitable counter-
part personnel could come from the newly formed graduate
program in agricultural economics, School of Agronomy, Uni-
versity of Ceara. The Government of Brazil could provide
support through in-country training scholarships in fish mar-
keting.
CONCLUSIONS
Technical assistance rendered under the Auburn University
Brazil Contract, AID/csd-2270, Task Order No. 4, served
to consolidate the results of previous assistance in fishery
biology of reservoirs and to stress the importance of more ad-
vanced methods of assessing fish stocks, of sampling, and of
design and analysis of experiments. Obviously the form of
advice required changes with advancements in institutional
development and increasing human skills. In this case, in-
puts provided were appropriate because of progress made
under previous technical assistance in fishery biology.
The freshwater fish stocks of northeastern Brazil are being
moderately to heavily exploited. As a result, rather precise
estimates of population parameters are required for devel-
oping management policy. In tropical areas, fisheries are
usually based on a number of species. However, in north-
eastern Brazil the number of commercially important species
in any one reservoir is not great, usually numbering between
3 and 8. The currently recommended approach is to analyze
the data for each species separately, taking into account any
interactions, and add the results together. However, as new
species are introduced, this approach may prove to be un-
workable. An alternate approach would be to treat the
species complex as a unit and relate fishing effort to the com-
bined catch of all species.
The Brazilian counterpart biologists are well aware of these
options. They now have the necessary technical skills and
understanding to conduct basic studies on growth, mortality,
and gear selection characteristics, and to use these data to
determine management policy. Additional inputs into this
project, such as scholarships for advanced graduate studies
and equipment purchases, can and should be supplied by the
Brazilian Government.
To ensure the continued development of the CONVENIO
DPAN and the fisheries biology project, additional AID in-
puts are desirable. These are special training funds for a
3-week course in fish diseases and parasites and fish nutrition
to be presented in Brazil, technical assistance for at least 1
year in the fields of fishery marketing and economics, and a
once-a-year visit by a specialist in fish population dynamics
to evaluate expected gains.
CONFERENCES
Brazilian Government
DPAN
Amaury Bezerra de Silva, Coordinator
J. Jarbas Studart Gurgel, Assistant Coordinator
Odilo Freire Dourado, Fisheries Biology Project
Joao de Oliveira Chacon, Fisheries Biology Project
Helio A. Rezende Melo, Limnology Project
J. Afonso Mendes Agusto, Limnology Project
J. Valdo Ferreira Freitas, Food Technology Project
Cincinato Maciel Paiva, Assistant in Chemistry
Pedro Alberto M. Pequeno, Laboratory Assistant
Jose Anderson Fernandes, Fish Culture Project
Antonio Carneiro Sobrinho, Fish Culture Project
Edson Rodrigues Lira, Economist
DNOCS
Jose Lins de Albuquerque, 
General Director
Osmar Fontenele, Director, Division of Fisheries and Fish
Culture
Raimundo Adhemar Braga, Director, Center of Ichthyolog-
ical Research
Jose Napoleao de Carvalho, 
Regional Director, Division 
of
Fisheries and Fish Culture (Ceara)
Edmundo de Albuquerque Duarte, Regional Director, Di-
vision of Fisheries and Fish Culture (Pernambuco)
Francisco Hilton Nepomuceno, Chief, Amanari Fish Hat-
chery
Francisco Ali-Bala Cabral, Chief, Lima Campos Fish Hat-
chery
SUDENE
Paulo de Oliveira Burgo, Director, Division of Fishery Re-
sources
Jose Bento Pereira Barros, Biologist, 
Sururu Project
Ramlson Freire, Biologist, Red Snapper Project
Secretary of Agriculture, Fisheries Institute
Jose Maria Barker Brownley, 
Director
Helioladislau Stempeniewski, Interior Fisheries Project
Jose Torres Rojas, Sector Development 
Project
University of Sao Paulo, Institute of
Biological Sciences
Paulo Sawaya, Director
Edison Pereira dos Santos, Fisheries Biologist
Ford Foundation, Rio de Janeiro
Eduardo L. Venezian, Program Assessor, Agriculture
Private Industry
Claudio Negrao, Ormnamental Fish Exporter, Belem and
Manaus
13
LITERATURE CITED
(1) DENDY, J. S., E. W. SHELL, AND E. E. PRATHER. 1966.
Short term survey of Pereira de Miranda Reservoir and
Amanari Fish Culture Station. USAID, Recife, Per-
nambuco, Brazil.
(2) DNOCS - UNIVERSIDADE DO CEARA. 1963. Pesca nos
acudes publicos e sua commercializacao. Imprensa
Universitaria do Ceara, Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil.
(3) DPAN. 1971. Relatorio Anual: Pesquisas de limnol-
ogia. Convenio SUDENE/DNOCS/USAID-DPAN,
Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil.
(4) DUQUE, J. G. 1953. Solo e agua no poligono das secas:
Publicacao No. 154, Serie I-A. Departamento de Obras
Contra as Secas, Servico Agro-Industrial, Fortaleza,
Ceara, Brazil.
(5) JEFFREY, N. B. 1972. Progress report on the develop-
ment of fisheries in Northeast Brazil. I. Aquaculture.
Auburn Univ. (Ala.) Agr. Exp. Sta. ICA R&D Series
No. 1.
(6) LINEHAN, J. F. 1967. Short term marketing study of
the intensive freshwater fisheries development of North-
east Brazil. USAID, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
(7) MAGNUSSON, H. W. 1971. End-of-tour report: Project
No. 512-15-180-247.4, Fish production, processing and
marketing in Northeast Brazil. USAID, Recife, Per-
nambuco, Brazil.
(8) REES, G. H. 1971. End-of-tour report: Project No.
512-15-180-247.4, Fish production, processing and mar-
keting in Northeast Brazil. USAID, Recife, Pernam-
buco, Brazil.
(9) ROBOCK, S. H. 1964. The rural push for urbanization
in Latin America: The case of Northeast Brazil. Oc-
casional Paper No. 1, presented at the Symposium on
Urbanization in Latin America - The Rural Setting,
Michigan State University.
(10) STEVENSON, W. 1968. End-of-tour report: Project No.
512-247.4-2-80197, Fish production, processing and
marketing in Northeast Brazil. USAID, Recife, Per-
nambuco, Brazil.
APPENDIX
FISH SPECIES COMMON TO RESERVOIRS OF NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL
Common name
Acclimated species
Apaiari*
Tucunare comum
Tucunare pinima*
Tilapia
0
Pescada do piaui*
Pescada AMC*
Piau verdadeiro
Curimata pacu
0
Pirarucu
Regional species
Beiru
0
Piaba chata
Piaba nao pintada
Piabucu
Piau comum'
Curimata comum
Traira
0
Pirambeba
Piranha
Sardinha
Bodo
Cangati*
Guaru
Moreia branca
Moreia preta
Mucu
Timbiro
Family
Cichlidae
Cichlidae
Cichlidae
Cichlidae
Sciaenidae
Sciaenidae
Characidae
Characidae
Arapaimidae
Characidae
Characidae
Characidae
Characidae
Characidae
Characidae
Characidae
Characidae
Characidae
Poeciliidae
Cobiidae
Gobiidae
Synbranchidae
Engraulidae
Species
Astronotus ocellatus
Cichla ocellaris
C. temensis
Tilavia rendalli
Plagioscion squamosissimus
P. surinamensis
Leporinus sp.
Prochilodus sp.
Arapaima gigas
Curimata sp.
Astyanax sp.
Hyphessobrycon paryellus
Curimata elegans
Leporinus friderici
Prochilodus cearensis
Hoplias malabaricus
Serrasalmus sp.
Serrasalmus sp.
Triportheus angulatus
Plecostomus plecostomus
Trachycorystes galeatus
Poecilia vivipara
Awaous transadeanus
Eleotris pisonis
Synbranchus marmoratus
Pterengraulis atherinoides
* Indicates commercially important species.
14
rll I~Y CI~UI LL..