The fishermen of Itapirubá
Itapirubá is located in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil and is close to historical cities like Laguna and Imbituba.
It has two beaches separated by a hill; from the hill the island „Ilha das Araras“ can be seen.
The clear waters around the „Ilha“ are a popular fishing location.
Itapirubá's name is a translation from an Indian word, which means "stones that roll to the water."
Itapirubá is known for the Projeto Baleia Franca of the National Right Whale Conservation Center which works for the recovery of the endangered whale species since 1982.
Right whales visit the Itapirubá region and beaches in winter and spring to mate, give birth and nurse their calves. Thanks to the work of the Right Whale Project, this region has become a Federal Environment Protection Area.
Formerly Itapirubá was a little village known for its two beaches and for the fishermen living and working there.
Fishing at this place has nothing to do with industrial fishing we have in mind these days when we talk about fishing.
Fishermen in Itapirubá still use the resources they ever did: small boats and nets which can be handled by the crews that are fitting in the small fisher boats. They don’t use machines to collect their prey, all is done with their hands work.
There are still left some of the boathouses at the beach, where the boats are packed when not in use.
Nowadays Itapirubá is a rapidly growing touristic village.
The main purpose to visit it today, is to take a bath in the sea, lay at the beach for sunbathing and to surf.
The village is crowded in Brazilian summer and empty in winter when the northeastern wind is blowing strong.
But they are still there, those fishermen, and if one is lucky, it’s still possible to watch them returning and collecting their prey at the north beach of Itapirubá!
