Estudo socioeconómico da pesca artesanal de Tilápia, Oreochromis mossamicus(Peters, 1852), na albufeira de Chicamba, província da Manica

Abstract

In the province of Manica, artisanal tilapia fishing in the Chicamba Dam plays a crucial role in the livelihoods of many local residents. A study was conducted in this province with the main objective of analyzing the socio-economic aspects of this activity, collected over a period corresponding to one month. The study involved 80 fishermen, randomly selected from men aged between 18 and 50 years old. Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were used as data collection instruments. The results revealed a series of important insights about this population. The majority of fishermen (55%) are in the age range of 18 to 26 years old. Regarding education, only 10% have completed the 10th grade, 22.5% have only primary level education, and 67.5% have no formal schooling. In terms of family composition, 6.25% live with families of over 8 members, 5% with 8 members, 33.75% with 6 members, 43.75% with 4 members, and 11.25% are married. Regarding their origin, 56.25% are natives of the region, while 43.75% are from other cities. The majority of participants (75%) depend exclusively on fishing as their source of income, with 85% starting in fishing due to unemployment. Monthly income varies between 3,000 and 15,000 MT for 75% of fishermen, while 25% live on lower incomes. As for acquired assets, 51.25% have bicycles, 6.25% have motorcycles, and 42.5% do not have any means of transportation. Regarding access to water, 6.25% consume potable water, 10% water from public fountains, 26.25% water from wells, and 57.5% water from the river. With respect to electricity, 81.25% use energy from the local company, 5% use lanterns, 2.5% use solar panels, and 11.25% use lamps. These results highlight not only the challenges faced by the fishing community in the Chicamba Dam area but also their resilience and continuous adaptation in the face of socio-economic difficulties.