ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL FISHERMEN OF CÁCERES, MATO GROSSO, BRAZIL: HOW TO KEEP THE TRADITION OF ARTISANAL FISHING ALIVE?

Abstract

Artisanal fishing is an essential activity for the cultural identity and livelihood of riverside communities; however, the restrictions imposed by Law No. 12,197, of June 28, 2023, known as the Zero Transportation Law, in the state of Mato Grosso, challenge the continuity of this practice, requiring adaptation strategies. Artisanal fishing has always been one of the economic and cultural pillars of the city of Cáceres/MT, where fishermen depend on fishing for their subsistence and the traditional fishing practices, which have been passed down from generation to generation, characterize Traditional Knowledge and Local Ecological Knowledge. Thus, this research aims to analyze how the Association of Professional Fishermen of Cáceres, in Mato Grosso, contributes to the maintenance of artisanal fishing, from the perspective of Good Living and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations (UN). The case study methodology employed field research with interviews, application of the Good Living indicator matrix (Alcântara; Sampaio, 2019, 2020), and thematic content analysis (Bardin, 2016). Thus, the study contributes to the debate on artisanal fishing in a context of environmental restrictions, exploring ways to ensure that this activity continues to be a means of livelihood and cultural expression for fishermen and riverside communities in Cáceres-MT.