Tropentag 2010, September 14 - 16, Zurich, Germany "World Food System - A Contribution from Europe"

Characterisation and Vulnerability Analysis of the Fish Value Chain in Face of Climate Changes in the Lower Amazon Region, Pará - Brazil

¹University of Pará State, Department of Applied Social Sciences, Brazil
²Amazon Initiative Consortium, Brazil

Abstract

Some characteristics of the climate dynamics in the Amazon include extreme events as the case of drought and flood in the lower Amazon region occurred in 2005 and 2009, respectively. This region presents a very peculiar water dynamics, characterised by strong seasonality, with six months in flood and drought, alternately. Traditional fishing is the main economic activity for communities that occupy such areas located in the Alenquer municipality in the state of Pará, Brazilian Amazon. Because it is an activity intimately connected with the seasonal river flows, which in turn is governed by the weather, fishing activity results vulnerable to climate extremes, with particular consequences to the fishermen, which plays the most important role in the value chain. Thus, this work aims at better understanding the role of agents in the fish value chain, assessing the contribution of the traditional fishermen and the climate, economic and social risks which interfere in the local economy. Moreover, results of this study provide a scenario analysis on the fishery activities that could be useful to draw specific adaptation strategies on climate changes as well as policies to improve local economy. As the fishing industry requires a complex evaluation given the lacking of temporal and quantitative data, the data collection procedures were carried out through literature review, semi-structured interviews with representatives of the strategic sector, questionnaires and participatory methodologies. Despite being composed of simple agents, such as fishermen, middlemen, marketer and refrigerators, the fish value chain presents a great variability in their trade relations depending on its location, presence or absence of land and proximity to the main municipalities. Another aspect is related with the economic losses suffered by the fishermen caused by their vulnerability to the identified risks. Finally, extreme events in the local climate strongly affect the local economy, demonstrating the need of political measures to address such problems.

Keywords: Amazon, rural economy, value chain

Contact Address: Norma Ely Santos Beltrão, University of Pará State, Department of Applied Social Sciences, Tv. Enéas Pinheiro 2626, 66095-100 Belém, Brazil, e-mail: normaelybeltraogmail.com