Artisanal mollusc fisheries co-management in Brazil and Italy: Institutional innovations to address environmental crisis

Initiatives of artisanal fisheries co-management and the construction of differentiated markets for seafood products have been emerging in different parts of the world, as an institutionalized way of coping with a global fishery crisis. This paper analyses some institutionalization processes of artisanal mollusc fisheries, considering the role of co-management in two Brazilian and Italian protected areas (Resex Pirajubae ' and Conero Regional Park). Within a theoretical framework aiming at moving beyond the dualism between nature and society, the methodology of multiple-case-study has been used to carry on research about mollusc artisanal fisheries comanagement networks in their constitution and development. The paper analyses how these networks are organised in the two contexts and the relations social actors have been developing for a sustainable fishery as a possible way to influence and increase their capacity to address environmental crisis. In the artisanal mollusc fishery co-management experiences, fishers' participation may favour institutional innovations and the comanagement networks stability may be generated by the institutions legitimacy. Furthermore, the case studies offer complementary insights to better understand the linkage between artisanal fishery institutionalization processes, common natural resources co-management and value aggregation for traditional seafood. Artisanal mollusc fishery co-management experiences should be stimulated and investigated since they can help in diagnosing early climate and environmental changes in the oceans.

Automated summary

This paper analyzes the institutionalization processes and role of co-management in artisanal mollusc fisheries in two protected areas in Brazil and Italy. It explores how these networks are organized, the relationships social actors have developed for a sustainable fishery, and the potential for influencing environmental crises. Fishers' participation in co-management can lead to institutional innovations and stability, while offering insights into the connection between artisanal fishery institutionalization, resource co-management, and value aggregation for traditional seafood. Artisanal mollusc fishery co-management experiences can help in diagnosing early climate and environmental changes in the oceans.