THE IMPASSES OF EXTRACTIVE RESERVES IN BRAZIL: CONFLICTS AND INTERESTS THREATENING A FISHING COMMUNITY IN CEARÁ

Abstract

This article describes the history of the fishing community of Prainha do Canto Verde, located on the east coast of Ceará, and the struggle of its residents for the preservation of artisanal fishing and against the threats of real estate speculation. This struggle resulted in the community's transformation into an environmental conservation unit, and Prainha do Canto Verde was officially included in the list of Brazilian Extractive Reserves (RESEXs) in 2009. The status of Extractive Reserve did not prevent the continuation of predatory fishing or real estate speculation in the region, leading to internal disputes among its residents. This conflict was fueled by external agents whose tourism ventures were threatened by the creation of the RESEX and, more recently, by the arrival of vacationers who buy land and houses from fishermen at prices below market value. This confluence of factors and the ineffectiveness of environmental protection policies and agencies, such as the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), have threatened the development and continued existence of Prainha do Canto Verde as an environmental conservation unit. By describing this scenario, based on field research conducted with a group of native people, as well as data collected from documentary and bibliographic sources, the article aims to provide elements for reflection on the problems and impasses surrounding extractive reserves in Brazil and their environmental protection policies.