THROUGH THE MEANDERS OF THE PANTANAL: TERRITORIAL CONFLICTS AND SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS FACED BY ARTISANAL FISHERWOMEN AND FISHERMEN IN SANTO ANTÔNIO DE LEVERGER

Fishing is one of the oldest activities practiced by humanity, transcending time. Santo Antônio de Leverger is home to a few hundred of the 7,633 professional artisanal fishermen and women in Mato Grosso. Under the river even before sunrise, these guardians of fishing traditions notice with each hook thrown into the river the decrease in their daily catches. In view of this, the present research sought to investigate the socio-environmental impacts that plague the daily life of these subjects. For this, quantitative methodologies were adopted, with data collection, and qualitative through semi-structured interviews with fishermen and fisherwomen from the Z8 colony. One of the main socio-environmental impacts identified is the sad desire that the new generation does not continue in the trade due to the difficult conditions of maintaining the art of artisanal professional fishing. A knowledge transmitted and resisted for generations is at the forefront of its epilogue.