ECOSYSTEM SEAWEED BANK AND TERRITORIAL IDENTITY IN ICAPUÍ/CE COUNTY: TRADITIONAL FISHING COMMUNIT

Abstract

The territory approach as a category and its insertion in studies of other humanities and environmental sciences, was reaffirmed through discussions held in the traditional fishing community called Barrinha, in the municipality of Icapuí, east coast of Ceará. That way, we developed the steps of this research in order to highlight the links between the coastal territory and actions of identity affirmation to ensure the continuity of the way of life and the sustainability of algae production. The identification of community social processes from Barrinha were analyzed in its relationship with the introduction and establishment of the technic, the science and the information in the territory constituted by the algae bank called “Cajuais”. The first stage of the study consisted of a theoretical approach about the territory, the identity and the study area. The second stage, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seaweed farmers (also linked to shellfish activities). It was possible to conclude that community involvement in technical-scientific-informational approaches, although incomplete in seaweed farmers territory, has promoted human, social and environmental growth with repercussions in the way that community understands and identifies new territorial relations. The practices wrapped in community sustainable activities provide socioeconomic alternatives and ensure the territory of affirmation of the seaweed farmers. Besides strengthening the material and symbolic appropriation of the territory by the community.