Resumo

SANTOS, Marco Pais Neves dos et al. Fisheries as a Human Activity: Artisanal Fisheries and Sustainability. RGCI [online]. 2012, vol.12, n.4, pp.405-427. ISSN 1646-8872.

This monographic work is a about the human relation with the marine fish resources, namely the evolution of the Portuguese and Brazilian relation with these resources. The integrative approach of this work is the sustainable artisanal fishing. Artisanal fisheries represent the integration through economic and social values anchoring to upstream and downstream several other activities, namely tourism. Little, if not no attention is given to artisanal fisheries, contrary to industrial fisheries. In Portugal it represented a permanent alternative to the distant fisheries, a buffer for the oscillations such as the restructuration of the fleet in 1973/74. However, the artisanal fisheries is declining, with a decreasing number of workers, the aging of fishers, and the low profits, together with the growing amounts of rules, norms and laws such as the common fisheries policy (CFP) of the European Commission, especially on the “Arte Xávega”, an artisanal fishing style being practiced by some Portuguese. Similar devaluation in artisanal fisheries occurs in the Brazilian context. Also, the Brazilian recent reality reinforces the importance of the Extractive Reserves and the Sustainable Development Reserves as tools for conservation and sustainability. Sustainability is assured as long we care about artisanal fishing, small-scale fisheries and fishing communities by contributing to more effective strengthening of empowered participation in governance. Also the plural knowledge and the traditional and ecological knowledge of these communities should be considered in the coastal zone management together with the social valorization of artisanal fishing communities. Artisanal fisheries continuity, assuring competitive advantages for artisanal fishers is needed. The activity must be considered fundamental to nature conservation and also to the sustainable development to both the sector itself and to the local development (creating jobs, synergies and complementarities for the preservation of local memories and knowledge). Above all, in necessary to give the proper value to fish and fish products because of the high quality and freshness delivered by artisanal fishers, with the growing concerns about nutrition and human health and eco-consumers demands.

Palavras-chave : Coastal Zone; Human Activities; Environmental history; Human Environmental Interactions; Fisheries history; Marine resources.

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