Fisheries Policy in Brazil (2003-2011): the Choice for Production Growth and the Place of Artisanal Fisheries

Abstract

This paper examines the Brazilian fisheries policy between 2003 and 2011, aiming at identifying the place of artisanal fisheries. The election of the Workers Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores), its popular basis and the announced government program created expectations that this subsector would be, for the first time, especially favored. Later, empirical evidence, the critical view that arose in the autonomous organizations of artisanal fishermen and fisherwomen, and the lack of systematic knowledge motivated this research. Therefore, in addition to the literature review, we analyzed documents and data from the institutions involved, interviewed key informants, as well as made direct and participant observation. The measures directed at the artisanal subsector, despite representing several improvements, were insufficient to strengthen it and reverse the environmental vulnerability of their communities.

Keywords

• política pesqueira
• pesca artesanal
• justiça ambiental