기름값 빼면 딱 5만 원. 그런데도 아저씨가 22년째 낚싯대를 놓지 않는 이유. 바다 낚시로 브라질 국민생선 쓸어담더니 / #바다다큐

He is happy even if he heads out at dawn and earns barely 50,000 KRW (around $35). What is the secret behind this 22-year veteran fisherman's daily smile? After sweeping up Brazil's favorite national fish through sea fishing... Brazil, the passionate land of samba rhythms and the largest country in South America! In particular, Rio de Janeiro, the center of Brazil's economy and tourism, is known as one of the country's three most beautiful ports. Famed as a dream city for travelers, Rio de Janeiro boasts stunning scenery as a beautiful coastal city. Yet, at the same time, it is a fierce "sea of life" for local fishermen who head out to the ocean without fail every single dawn, fully immersed in their catch. Located in the western part of Rio de Janeiro is the Barra da Tijuca Fish Market. In the early hours of the morning, this is where fresh fish, straight from the ocean, are traded for the first time. Packed with a vibrant variety of marine life including flounder, red sea bream, rockfish, and rays, this market is the largest traditional fish market operated entirely by the fishermen themselves. Here, local fishermen go out to sea daily, clean their catches one by one, and sell them directly to customers without any middlemen. The 50 or so market vendors are both sellers and "real" fishermen belonging to the local fishermen's cooperative, and only those with official permits can conduct business here. This traditional market is incredibly popular among the citizens of Rio de Janeiro because they can easily purchase the freshest seafood caught year-round. Interestingly, Brazilians generally prefer freshwater fish from the massive Amazon River over saltwater fish. Furthermore, with giant fishing industries from China and Japan flooding in recently, Brazilian sea fishermen who adhere to traditional methods are gradually losing their ground. Nevertheless, the fishermen of Barra da Tijuca continue their humble trade steadily day by day on small fishing boats. This cooperative fish market—where production and sales happen simultaneously—serves as both a vital means of survival and a beautiful testament to the wisdom of coexistence for local fishermen. Just as diverse as the fish brought into the market are the fishing methods employed by these fishermen. From those who use classic line-and-hook fishing to those who cast nets passed down from their fathers, and even divers who plunge into the water to catch fish with spears, their techniques vary greatly. Recently, climate change has significantly depleted fish populations. On windy or stormy days, some fishermen head to the mangrove forests in the estuaries where freshwater and saltwater meet to catch "caranguejo" crabs. Navigating the drained wetlands, they catch crabs barehanded without any specialized tools. Though it doesn't bring in a fortune, they fiercely protect their humble lives as fishermen day in and day out within their given environment. Moreover, despite doing this for a living, they are "true" fishermen who unhesitatingly release undersized catches back into the ocean for the sake of the sea's future... Driven purely by pride and the passion of having "fisherman's blood running through their veins," they set out to sea faithfully every single day—this is how the fishermen of Brazil live. Program: Human and the Sea - Sea of Life, The People of Brazil's Fish Market Air Date: January 25, 2023