Marine Extractive Reserves in the light of the social representation of artisanal fishermen on the coast of Santa Catarina

Abstract

As a public policy, the Extractive Reserve has undergone profound transformations since its conception within the rubber tappers social movement. The transposition of this model to the marine biome has introduced new challenges both for the creation processes and for the implementation of different management tools. This article aims to reflect on the pre-implementation stage of Resex based on the the study of the social representation of artisanal fishermen on that protected area category. The research was carried out in the south-central coast of Santa Catarina, where there are two processes of creation of Extractive Reserves partially superimposed on the territory of the Environmental Protection Area of the Baleia Franca: the Extractive Reserve of the Lighthouse of Santa Marta and the Extractive Reserve of Artisanal Fishing of Imbituba and Garopaba. Data were obtained through 60 interviews with artisanal fishermen from both contexts. The results reveal the existence of two social representations about extractive reserves. The content of these social representations reveals that even when the formal process is concluded with the local communities participation, there remain, among the fishermen, antagonistic and partial visions about the meaning and implications of the process of creation and implementation of this public policy.