Traditional way of life and fishing territorialities in Maxaranguape (Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil)

Abstract

The traditional way of life is dynamic, with practices involving territorialities in disputes, as can be seen in research conducted in Maxaranguape (Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil) regarding the sociocultural processes modified by the insertion of new territorialities. These new territorialities, identified here as disruptive, have caused a reduction in productive activities such as agriculture and fishing, as well as in symbolic and folkloric practices. Thus, the objective is to understand the continuities and ruptures in the traditional way of life concerning traditional knowledge and artisanal fishing, taking into account the transformations in territorialities and the conflicts produced in the fishing community of Maxaranguape. The method adopted was historical and dialectical materialism, emphasizing cultural, environmental and political dimensions, utilizing research techniques centered on fieldwork, such as participant observation, ethnographic reporting, interviews, photo documentation, and participatory social cartography. As a result, it was concluded that fishing is an activity inherent to the traditional way of life of the community and that activities causing its reduction alter the overall dynamics of the way of life. These activities are primarily related to tourism and organized crime, which lead to deterritorializations and a reduction in productive activities such as fishing, as well as cultural activities like folklore.