Valorization

extension and Research in Traditional Fishing Communities of Lagoa dos Patos/RS

Abstract

Artisanal fishing has gained increasing attention in geographical studies in recent years, driven by the pursuit of recognition of fishing communities as traditional communities. These communities are shaped by traditional ways of life, where they reframe specific knowledge and practices that demonstrate a more sustainable relationship with the environment, as outlined by International Labour Organization Convention No. 169 (ILO 169) and Decree No. 6,040 (Brazil, 2004), granting them unique characteristics. This article aims to foster theoretical and methodological reflections based on the development of an extension and research project involving the traditional fishing communities of Lagoa dos Patos. The extension activities included community mobilization, the facilitation of community workshops, and fieldwork, resulting in a set of data and information, including statements from fishermen and fisherwomen, as well as escrevivências — records that combine personal and cultural experiences — and the creation of social cartographies of the territory, collectively developed by participants. In this article, we present the theoretical and methodological foundation that guided the extension work, as well as an evaluation of the contribution of conceptual and methodological choices, using concrete examples from the workshops conducted.