The University of Vale do Itajaí (Univali) and the Government of Santa Catarina, through the Secretariat of Aquaculture and Fisheries (SAQ) and the Agricultural Research and Rural Extension Company of Santa Catarina (Epagri), signed an agreement to promote the exchange of information about artisanal and industrial fishing in the State. The agreement was formalized on Tuesday, 23, at the headquarters of the State Secretariat of Administration, in Florianópolis.
Univali, which is a landmark in research in this area, leads the Santa Catarina Fishing Activity Monitoring Project (PMAP-SC). The goal of the collaboration with the State Government is to share the data collected by PMAP in recent years, which culminated in the Santa Catarina Fisheries Statistical Bulletin, released in 2023.
The report is the result of data collection carried out in 2017, 2018 and 2019 along the State’s coast. The project, financed by Petrobras, has more than 30 members, including professors and higher education technicians. The base of the project is the Univali campus in Itajaí and the teams operate in ten cities in the State.
“The Government of Santa Catarina has given special attention to the fishing sector and it was through the PMAP and the results presented by the project that we strengthened our relationship. The State wants to better understand the fishing scenario and the Univali provides its research expertise so that we can, together, seek innovative and viable solutions for the sector”, said the director of the Polytechnic School, professor Cesar Albenes Zeferino.
The ceremony also marked the launch of the Biopesca SC project, which aims to study the population biology of Santa Catarina’s fishing resources. The project is financed by Santa Catarina State Research and Innovation Support Foundation (Fapesc) and coordinated by the State University of Santa Catarina (Udesc), with the support of Univali, the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) and the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Santa Catarina (IFSC).
“This research is an important and historic milestone for the aquaculture and fishing sector in Santa Catarina. With an investment of almost two million reais, renowned institutions such as Univali, UFSC and IFSC, under the coordination of Udesc, will begin research with various species with the aim of generating knowledge about the biology and ecology of fishing resources as tools for management of these resources in Santa Catarina”, highlighted the Secretary of Aquaculture and Fisheries of Santa Catarina, Tiago Bolan Frigo.
The project will last two years and will study species such as mullet, anchovy, croaker, swordfish, shrimp and crab. The coast of Santa Catarina will be divided into sectors and information will be obtained based on the activities of fishermen and experimental fishing to obtain the organisms that will be studied. The research will also evaluate issues such as climate change, destruction of natural habitats and pollution.
“The Government must look at those who need it most and I had no doubt that by creating the Secretariat of Aquaculture and Fisheries we would be able to be closer to fishermen, helping to improve their boat, their quality of life, but, above all, supporting an activity so important for Santa Catarina, which explores the riches of our coast and generates development for the State”, stated governor Jorginho Mello.
“For Univali, it is an honor to be able to contribute to such relevant projects, given the socio-cultural and economic importance of fishing for Santa Catarina. The history of the University is marked by the development of research that contributes to public authorities for the implementation of actions and projects aimed at the development of the State. We are very proud of this partnership and are certain that the results will benefit the entire production chain in the sector and, consequently, society”, highlighted the rector, professor Valdir Cechinel Filho.
In addition to the rector, the institution was represented at the ceremony by the director of Institutional Affairs, professor Luis Carlos Martins, the director of the Polytechnic School, professor Cesar Albenes Zeferino and professors Paulo Ricardo Schwingel, Roberto Wahrlich and Vivian de Mello Cionek.