TBTI GLOBAL

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​This book aims to enhance understanding of how various factors influence the economic and social well-being of artisanal fishers, their families, and their communities, while also documenting their coping strategies for sustaining livelihoods. The volume seeks to consolidate widely dispersed information on fishing activities and communities in Brazil, covering – but not limited to ­– topics such as management and regulation, socioeconomics, pollution, gender and public policies, and culture, and other relevant themes. The collection brings together 31 chapters that document diverse experiences in fishing territories across 15 Brazilian states, including 17 conservation units. Case studies reveal a striking difference in the perceived transformations and effectiveness of governance and socio-biodiversity protection mechanisms between territories located inside and outside protection areas.

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O livro tem como objetivo ampliar a compreensão de como diversos fatores influenciam o bem-estar econômico e social dos pescadores e pescadoras artesanais, suas famílias e suas comunidades, ao mesmo tempo em que documenta suas estratégias de enfrentamento para a manutenção dos seus modos de vida. A obra busca consolidar informações que se encontram amplamente dispersas, sobre atividades de pesca e comunidades no Brasil, abrangendo — entre outros temas — gestão e regulamentação da pesca, socioeconomia, poluição, gênero e políticas públicas, além de cultura da pesca e outros assuntos relevantes. A coletânea reúne 31 capítulos que documentam diversas experiências em territórios pesqueiros em 15 estados brasileiros, incluindo 17 unidades de conservação. Os estudos de caso revelam uma diferença marcante nas transformações percebidas e na efetividade dos mecanismos de governança e de proteção da sociobiodiversidade entre territórios localizados dentro e fora de unidades de conservação.

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​Rodrigo Pereira Medeiros, Beatriz Mesquita Pedrosa Ferreira and Sérgio Macedo Gomes de Mattos did what is known in a project management circle as “think slow, act fast”. Rather than rushing to deliver something, they spent a lot of time thinking and deliberating about the book, what it should be about and how to go about doing it. Even though it might not be explicit, they were probably assessing the risk of doing it, weighing it with the opportunity it provided. We waited a while before they confirmed that they were ready. Then, everything happened very quickly, smoothly, and efficiently. The result is just impressive. Not only that they acted fast, but they also acted big.

 

As one could imagine, a 1,000+ page book, written by 100+ contributors, is not easy to put together in a short period of time. The volume itself speaks to the great collaboration and a level of commitment required to look at the richness and the complexity of small-scale fisheries in a large country like Brazil. The book shows that the process of “think slow, act fast” also applies to how we should address issues, challenges and concerns in small-scale fisheries. The problems are as diverse, complex and dynamic as small-scale fisheries themselves are, and they require thick description and careful deliberation in the thinking about solutions or solution pathways. This is to avoid unforeseen problems and unintended consequences, typical of quick decisions and superficial planning. Small-scale fisheries deserve better, and more.

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The book does a great job at describing small-scale fisheries in Brazil in their current state, as well as in the transition, which is triggered by different kinds of change, both within the sector and outside. Some of them foster positive transformation while some add to their vulnerability. Among other things, the chapters highlight the need to provide social protection, especially for women involved in the fisheries value chain, illustrate how science needs to be transdisciplinary, and argue for governance to be inclusive and transformative.​​​​​​​