Insular Fishermen and markets: aspects of reciprocity relationships in the fishing market of Pará State

Abstract

This paper put on few reflexions emerged from ethnographies on islands on the mouth of Amazon river: Capim island, in Abaetetuba and Apeú Salvador, located in Viseu. We analyzed few features related to the fisheries market in which are the habitants of these islands. The ethnography allows us a rich dialogue with theories towards the analyze of the process involving these small fishworkers, mainly theirs commercial affairs, that include larger than monetarist links. In that region fishery is a very important activity not only by supply food directly to people but in their sole commercial production. Grosso modo, all fishermen in small scales are designated by the term 'artisanal', and we suggest thereway that the simplist opposition from 'artisanal' to industrial fishery, reduce the specificities and particular fields of the production, leading to an idea of homogeneity in the activity. What we want is just point put the complexity and diversification of social organization in which group of fishermen, in accord with each empiric reality.

Keywords

• Amazon river estuarie
• Small fishermen
• Islands
• Fish market
• Ethnography