Regulatory conflicts and ecotourism potentials: a documentary reading of the Guaraqueçaba EPA

Abstract

Through documentary analysis of public laws and documents, this study examines how the regulatory arrangement of the Guaraqueçaba Environmental Protection Area (APA) simultaneously generates zones of conflict and opportunities for community-based ecotourism in caiçara territories. The corpus comprises decrees, ordinances and regulations; management plans/zonation and related documents; acts of the consultative council; official gazettes; technical reports; and scholarly literature. Using thematic content analysis, we precisely distinguish APA-specific provisions from external norms (federal, state, municipal) that govern small-scale fisheries and territorial use. Methodologically, we develop a comparative matrix (technique/practice × norm × jurisdiction × rule × implications) to track overlaps, gaps, and points of regulatory friction. Results indicate that a significant share of restrictions commonly attributed to the APA actually stems from broader sectoral regulations, fueling perceptions of “blanket prohibition.” Conversely, the existing framework already contains zones, instruments, and guidelines compatible with ecotourism that values caiçara cultural heritage and environmental interpretation—provided governance advances in regulatory mediation, plain-language communication, and meaningful participation in the management council. We conclude that disentangling APA competencies from those of other jurisdictions is a decisive step to reduce information asymmetries, strengthen environmental justice, and unlock sustainable initiatives along the Paraná coast. The study offers a replicable analytical tool for other coastal APAs and practical recommendations for managers and local collectives to co-produce public-use guidelines aligned with conservation, while acknowledging the limits of an exclusively documentary design and outlining future monitoring and evaluation agendas.