Analysis of social networks and the competitiveness of the agents involved in the production of tilapia in net-cages in UHE Canoas I

Abstract

The world demand for fish has increased each year, stimulating aquaculture activity with great potential to increase production. In Brazil expanding fish farming in cages, and the Nile tilapia as the main cultivated specie. In Southeastern Brazil, especially in Sao Paulo, the use of fish culture in cages system had a considerable expansion in the late 1990s as a replacement for fish farming in ponds. This expansion of tilapia culture is occurring mainly with the use of cages in large hydroelectric dams. Among the nine reservoirs of Hydro Power Plants (HPP) located in the State of São Paulo, is the reservoir of UHE Canoas I which is located in Paranapanema and covers the towns of Cândido Mota - SP and Itambaracá - PR. Since both cities have significant production in relation to fish farming in cages, this region will be the focus of this project that has as main objective to analyze social networks and the competitiveness of the agents involved in the production of tilapia in net-cages in reservoir hydropower Plant Canoas I. To meet the research objectives, an analysis model which has as theoretical foundation based on creation of social networks and the level of competitiveness presented by the agents will be developed. For the development of research methodology will be used as a combined approach involving the use of qualitative and quantitative approaches, and as a research tool to field research with application of semi-structured questionnaires to fish farm located in that reservoir. (AU)