Ecologia política da construção sócio-institucional das Reservas Extrativistas nos maretórios do Pará

Political ecology of the socio-institutional construction of Extractive Reserves in maretórios of Pará

Abstract

The Marine Extractive Reserves (MERs) are “Conservation Units” that have among their objectives the protection of the lifeways and culture of the traditional resident communities and economic improvements with the sustainable use of socio-biodiversity. In the region of the MERs in Pará, marked by estuaries and mangroves, local peculiarities go beyond the concept of territory, thus emerging the concept of maretório. The institutionalization of these MERs occurred from the mobilization of local communities facing socio-environmental conflicts such as the violation of customary rules. This article seeks to identify i) the main reasons that led to the creation and expansion of the REM and, in this context, ii) the evidence of customary law of traditional communities. We analyzed official administrative processes that contain information provided by community actors pointing to the occurrence of a common conflict: the threat to traditional artisanal fishing. This conflict involves, among other factors, predatory fishing practices that threaten the mangrove ecosystem and external pressure from industrial fishing. Finally, we found evidence of the direct relationship between the violation of customary law, the emergence of socio-environmental conflicts and the demands for the institutionalization of the maretório.