Fishing activities are an important component of the society and culture of Povoação, a small Brazilian city located on the northern shore of the Doce River, close to the sea and to many coastal lakes. Fishing arts and gears used are the seine, caceia (a controlled-drifting gill net), jequi (a type of trap or pot), hook- and-line, hand net (dip net), gill net, beach net and cast net. Fishing is carried out for commerce, sport or subsistence. Commercial catches are sold to intermediate buyers. Coastal lakes hold the highest number of fishing methods, followed by rivers and sea. Sea fishing is the activity with the highest income, but is carried out by few fishermen, due to the dangers faced by the small rowing boats. Taking into account all fishing arts and all ecosystems in the area, the catches were composed of 63 fish species. Gillnets captured the highest number of species and the coastal lake Monsarás had the highest fish diversity. The local fishermen have a deep traditional knowledge of the dynamics of the resources they exploit. However, some features of fishing activities put at risk the sustainability of the catch. Environmental education, sustainable alternatives to predatory fishing activities, fisheries management and creation of areas either fully protected or for sustainable uses are possible options to guarantee the continuity and productivity of the species in the long term.