Artisanal Small-Scale Fishery and Community-Based Fisheries Management by 'Jangadeiros' in Northeastern Brazil

摘要

Brazil is the largest country in South America with a land surface area of 8.5 million km~2 and a coastline of more than 8,000 km. The coast of the state of Ceara in the northeastern part of Brazil runs west to east and spans 573 km. This area is characterized by a series of coastal communities that depend on the coastal and marine resources for their survival. Among these resources the lobster fishery has provided much needed wealth to many of these communities. After an initial boom of lobster pports from foreign investment in local fishery operations since the 1950s the stock has collapsed and generated a bust for all who depended on this resource. This study focuses on one of these communities and how an opportunity for comanagement of coastal and marine resources has been taken towards sustainable alternatives in the Brazilian political, social and cultural context.