Resistance Strategies of Traditional Fishers in Their Struggle for Territory on Paraná’s Coastline in Brazil: A Categorization of the Conflict

Abstract

This article categorizes the resistance strategies used by traditional fishers on the coast of Paraná, Brazil, against local authorities that seek to deterritorialize their territories. Documentary sources and interviews with informants were used as part of this research. The local traditional fishing sector is not immune to external pressure. The resistance strategies of this group can be classified into eight categories. We find that the local traditional fishers already lost much of their territory during the last few decades, and the pressures they face continue to increase. However, the rise in resistance actions throughout the twenty-first century allowed this group to engage with new perspectives concerning their struggle for territory. This is a fight that is active in its effort to guarantee the rights of traditional fishing communities in Paraná.