Regresar

Artisanal fishing tradition and sociocultural identity of Puerto Bolívar: Context of the Gulf of Guayaquil-Ecuador

Abstract:

Fishing is considered one of the main subsistence activities throughout the world and one of the oldest ways in which people have met part of their basic needs. In the case of artisanal fishing, in addition to being a source of food, it is also an important option for obtaining economic income and, even more, for generating social ties between those who engage in it. This is the reality that is shown, specifically, the social, cultural and economic realities that surround artisanal fishing as a tradition and generator of sociocultural identity in the context of Puerto Bolívar, in the Gulf of Guayaquil. The research aims to analyze the relationship between fishing tradition and cultural identity from the hermeneutics of various texts and institutional sources that have been contrasted with the historical and geographical reality in the area. Among the results are the more cultural than economic roots of fishing; its economic and cultural impact, as well as ecological damage due to the cutting down of mangroves to build shrimp farms. It is concluded that for the design and execution of public policies, cultural practices and the ecological issue must be respected.