Food sovereignty, agroecology and artisanal fishing in the perspective of the artisanal fishermen of the São Francisco watershed

Abstract

Development processes through industrial, agricultural and tourist enterprises have caused
different impacts and threats to the fishing populations and their territories. The present work
has the objective of analyzing the emerging problems of artisanal fishermen ‘s daily life in
relation to food sovereignty, agroecology from the perspective of artisanal fishermen through
the experiences shared during the Fishermen’ s Congress of the São Francisco Basin. From
the discussions among artisanal fishermen it was found that the economic development model
employed in the São Francisco River has impacted and threatened artisanal fishermen, as well
as degraded biomes and ways of life along the river. Discussions and debates have made it
possible to promote the autonomy of communities and the protection of fishing territories and
their natural resources through the construction of shared management of artisanal fisheries,
as well as the application of principles and use of agroecological practices in order to promote
sustainable livelihoods.