Resumen

DA NOBREGA ALVES, Rômulo Romeu  y  KIOHARU NISHIDA, Alberto. Aspectos socioeconômicos e percepção ambiental dos catadores de caranguejo-uçá ucides cordatus cordatus (l. 1763) (decapoda, brachyura) do estuário do rio mamanguape, nordeste do brasil. INCI [online]. 2003, vol.28, n.1, pp.36-43. ISSN 0378-1844.

Summary ‘Caranguejo-uçᒠ(Ucides cordatus) is one of the resources most exploited by human dwellers close to mangroves, in Paraíba State, north-east Brazil. Crab gatherers are economically marginal groups of extremely poor people, not worthy of consideration by other traditional fishermen. The socio-economical profile of crab gatherers was investigated aiming to get synoptic information on crab production and commercialization, and the gatherers perception and interaction with the environment. A stratified sampling was carried out by applying 70 partly-structured questionnaires to crab gatherers of four communities along the estuarine mangrove of the River Mamanguape. Open interviews with ‘caranguejo-uçᒠgatherers and field observations were also performed. The observed socio-economical situation reveals the social deprivation to which they are submitted. They live in wattle-and-daub houses, roofed with thatch, supplied with electricity and water, but lacking sanitation. Illiteracy is predominant and the medico-odontological conditions are quite precarious. Despite their difficulties as crab gatherers, they show acknowledgement and respect for the mangrove. The precarious socio-economical situation of crab gatherers and their environmental perceptions would be important factors to be considered in the management proposals of the ‘caranguejo-uçᒠspecies

Palabras clave : Catador de Caranguejo; Caranguejo-uçá; Manguezal; Percepção Ambiental; Ucides cordatus.