Dietary habits and use of natural resources in fishing communities from Ilha Comprida/SP, Brazil

Abstract

The present work was carried out in three Caiçara communities (Juruvauva, Pedrinhas and Ubatuba) in the municipality of Ilha Comprida, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, with the main objective of analyzing the use of natural resources in the diet of these communities. The foods cited as most frequently consumed were rice, beans, and fish; however, some processed foods and other sources of animal protein were also indicated. The community of Pedrinhas had a greater diversity of consumed food items when compared to the other communities. Preferences and aversions related to animal protein, in the case of fish, were observed with criteria such as taste, preparation, odor and toxicity. Plants were cited as being collected and cultivated because of their medicinal properties, especially by the residents of Juruvauva and Ubatuba. The results suggested that the monitoring of the Caiçaras' diet is a good tool for the estimation of the diversity of natural resources in Ilha Comprida.