Socioeconomic attributes and traditional knowledge of artisanal fishermen communities in northeastern Brazil

Abstract

Interactions between humans and nature are strongly mediated by traditional knowledge, which is built over time according to the laws of nature and society. This study describes the characteristics of artisanal fishing, the socioeconomic profile of the fishermen, and their knowledge regarding the environment, the biology of fish species they exploit, commercial legislation and their rights as members of a fishing community. Questionnaires were answered by 44 artisanal fishermen who perform their activities in the Paraíba River estuary, Paraíba State, in the Northeastern Brazilian Coast. The socioeconomic survey revealed substandard living conditions in the community, in which low schooling (63.64%) and low income (90.90%) prevailed. This work discusses the knowledge of these fishermen regarding the distribution, feeding habits, and morphology of fish fauna, presenting a list of scientific and common names of species. We highlight that these fishermen must be valued for their traditional knowledge transmitted hierarchically. However, the lack of familiarity with the legislation and its provisioned rights highlights the imminent need for effective strategies and measures to allow for the access of knowledge, which requires technical support for the adequate dissemination of information in traditional communities.