Heritage-Making and Self-Representation of the Fishers of Lake Trasimeno (Italy)

Abstract This contribution aims to describe how a small cooperative of fishers, known as the Cooperativa Pescatori del Trasimeno, located in a Central Italian Lake, is developing innovative strategies to address economic and environmental challenges. Through a combination of participant observation and in-depth interviews, this research seeks to determine whether the cultural capital derived from intangible heritage is serving as a strategic asset for the fishers’ cooperative in dealing with both new and longstanding threats. Confronting with the inland pressures of a global market and with the threats posed by invasive species and eutrophication of the lake ecosystem, the fishers rely on their ecological knowledge and emphasize the sustainability of their fishing and processing practices. The primary objective of this article is thus to examine the connections between localized knowledge and resilience-based practices. It does so by delving into the realm of heritage creation through two main areas of focus: the strategic use of intangible heritage to promote economic activities and the importance of community and traditional practices for climate change mitigation and for the self-preservation of the cooperative.