Fish production and commercialization in the municipality of Laranjeiras do Sul, Paraná, Brazil

Abstract

Aquatic organisms’ production has grown due to an increased demand for fish and limited natural stocks with a tendency to deplete. Commercialization, however, is one of the obstacles for the activity to consolidate and bring income to the producer especially in the municipality of Laranjeiras do Sul (Paraná State, Brazil) that this aspect is aggravated due to the lack of production and marketing information. For this reason, the aim of this research was to generate and analyze data regarding fish sale and production in Laranjeiras do Sul to subsidize policies of expansion of local fish farming. Mapping marketing channels through monthly interviews with the different fish traders/retailers and surveys with involved institutions (Emater, Seab, Ibge) showed that, except for fish traded at the fish fair and sport fishing, fish marketed in supermarkets or markets, restaurants or bars, shops, or through intermediaries comes from other municipalities, states and even countries. It was also observed that in all the center-south region of Paraná there are no fish slaughterhouses, making this also an obstacle to increase the production, commercialization and consumption of the fish. We identified 32 species with 30 sold in the markets, 16 in the restaurants and only 10 in the sport fishing. The most traded species in all types of establishments is tilapia (34 tons), representing more than 75% of all fish traded in the municipality during the analyzed period, and with average fillet price of R$ 33.97 kg-1. The information obtained demonstrates the need for greater dissemination, expansion of marketing channels and public policies to promote activity in the municipality and region.