The production of fishing nets is another characteristic inherited from the Azoreans. In the past, the island's fishermen produced their own nets and sold them to people who had not yet learned the technique. This method was passed on from generation to generation, but it lost strength with the arrival of industrialized networks on the island, as these were cheaper than artisanal ones. However, there is a difference between hand-produced and industrialized nets. The artisanal ones have a better knot, since the net is made according to the fisherman's preferences. In addition, they are also more fisheries, that is, more efficient in catching fish. Currently, there are few fishermen who still make fishing nets. Producing them is an expensive and difficult procedure. For fishermen, it is better to buy the fishing net than to make your own. Therefore, the sale of fishing nets is no longer a profitable business, causing many to leave the activity. Despite this, there is still production in some communities in Florianópolis. At Cachoeira do Bom Jesus, about four fishermen make trawls and also repair nets. At the Campeche, the natives of the community produce Tarrafa-type nets. There are also some fishermen from the neighborhoods Big bag e Barra da Lagoa that still produce and sell fishing nets.
Features
The material of nets is usually made of nylon and lead. But there are some made with silk thread, which benefits fishing in large quantities, as is the case with mullet, the fish most found in the seas of Florianópolis.
network types
The fisherman chooses the net depending on the animal and the amount he wants to catch. The cast net is a simple, individual fishing net used only for subsistence. The gill net is stopped at sea, waiting for the animals to enter to catch them. The process is similar to that of the seine net, which, in turn, is fixed on the shores. The trawl is shaped like a bag and is used to fish in large numbers, having to be pulled by many men when used in artisanal fishing. This net is very popular in the city for being used in mullet fishing.
Irregular fishing net
The irregularity occurs because of the mesh of the nets, which varies in size according to the animal to be fished. There is strict legislation regarding the size of the mesh so that it does not capture chicks, as this could lead to the extinction of some species. In addition, there are several occurrences of irregular fishing nets that trap other animals such as turtles, whales, penguins and dolphins. Some fishing nets were even banned by IBAMA. One of them is the sorceress, which is composed of three meshes, two large and one thin, which holds both large animals and young.
