Fishing Tourism in the Amazon: reflections on the “work waters” category

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the category of "work waters" within the context of recreational fishing tourism conducted by riverside communities in the Amazon. In pursuit of this objective, a bibliographical research was conducted with a focus on studies aimed at comprehending the riverside way of life and the significance of water in this context. Additionally, a documentary analysis was carried out on field diary belonging to one of the authors, who studied tourism experiences in approximately one hundred Amazonian communities between 2016 and 2023. The synthesis that can be established is that the category of "work waters," originally conceived to describe the aquatic environment in which subsistence fishing takes place, has the potential to be expanded to encompass and understand the dynamics of recreational fishing in riverside communities. While recreational fishing in traditional territories is predominantly driven by economic goals and individual objectives, seeking profit maximization and the commercialization of nature, it simultaneously pursues collective and cooperative benefits, such as the maintenance of communal lakes, the perpetuation of riverside knowledge, and organization for territorial defense. Furthermore, recreational fishing is a prevalent activity in numerous communities in the Amazon and cannot be overlooked in the analysis of the relationship between riverside communities and water resources.