Development of an artisanal tanning method of the acoupa weakfish (Cynoscion acoupa) skin and its transfer through a workshop to a community in the city of Bragança, PA, Brazil

Abstract

Bragança is one of the largest fishing centers in the state of Pará, northern Brazil. In the city, there are several environmental and socio-economic problems such as lack of waste management and contamination of water sources that supply to the city and the Caeté river estuary. The social and economic problems are mainly caused by social inequality, which usually occurs in communities where the population depends mainly on fishing. Fish waste forms a part of the waste disposed in the region. Fish skin represents a significant portion of this waste and may be used for manufacturing leather by the tanning process, thereby generating income for the community and reducing environmental impacts. The acoupa weakfish (Cynoscion acoupa) has a high potential for tanning because of its large size and high yield of skin. The aim of this study was to develop a methodology for artisanal skin tanning of acoupa weakfish and the subsequent transfer of this methodology to a fishing community through a workshop. The methodology developed in the laboratory is more streamlined than traditional methods and is based on tanning methods cited in the literature and techniques applied in regional tanneries. To assess the quality of acoupa weakfish leather, resistance tests were performed, which proved its potential for manufacturing clothing and footwear. An economic analysis of the hypothetical production of leather based on the tanning methodology developed in this work revealed that the project is feasible and the effluents generated during the process are less harmful to the environment, compared to those generated by traditional tanning methods.

Keywords

• Fish leather; Tannin; Fish waste; Resistance test; Economic analysis