The effects of market integration to the fisheries of five Amazonian societies from Brazil and Bolivia

Abstract

This project aims to evaluate the effects of the integration into the market economy to the fisheries of Amazonian indigenous and extractive societies. Accumulated evidence indicates that the integration into the market economy causes changes in the livelihoods of widely autarchic small scale societies and, in particular, in their use of natural resources, such as agriculture and hunting. Although fishing is an important source of proteins and monetary income for these groups, there is little information available about the effects of the exposition to the market on fisheries. This project thus has the central aim of evaluating whether integration into the market economy affects some aspects of fishing. Two hypotheses will be tested. The increase in the market integration will be associated with a reduction: (I) in fisheries (i.e., the number of fish kilograms consumed and the percentage of time allocated to the activity); and (II) in the proportion of time allocated to fishing by adult men. Data were gathered from 1999 to 2005 in five societies of the Amazon (Caboclo, Kayapó, Araweté, Asuriní and Tsimane'), represented by seven communities, through a survey and direct observation techniques regarding consumption (weigh days) and time allocation. Data analysis will be carried on at the household level and will involve multiple linear regression models appropriated for panel and nested data. The results of this study are important because there is little information on the effects of economic factors on the fisheries practiced by small scale Amazonian societies, although this information is relevant to understand the effects of oppenness to markets in the quality of life of forest inhabitants.