Paper short abstract:

The article deals with the idea of Traditional Ecological Knowledge, focusing this concept on the figure of the artisanal fisher as a part of the Inmaterial Cultural Heritage. From a local level and a cultural point of view, we analyse how fishermen in Murcia (Spain) understand this knowledge. This knowledge is transmitted within generations, showing the clear differences between artisanal fishery and industrial fishery. Moreover, this Ecological Knowledge in fishery, is related to enculturation processes, so it is connected to individual and group identity and socialization processes. We also try a slight approach to the particular artisanal fisherman life-mode: as a self-employed, in contrast to wage earners and industrial fishing, and its particular mode of production co-existing in a dominant capitalist mode.

Paper long abstract:

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in artisanal fishery consists of techniques and values transmitted withing generations. We understand this as a cumulative knowledge that provides or create an enriching 'corpus' of knowledge which determines organization, management and redistribution issues in fishery.

Fishing activity doesn't exist isolated, but 'embedded' with other institutions such as kinship, or cognitive aspects created from this particular knowledge, which determines fihermen world-view.

Finally, we understand that artisanal fishermen have a particular life-mode. As a self-employed, in contrast to wage earners, they understand their job not as a means but an ends in itself. This determines the construction of their world-view, where traditional knowledge, with its differente practices, constitutes a vital tool.