Environmental Racism has Colour: A Look at the Fishing Territory

Abstract

Artisanal fishing, considered a millenary activity, suffers with deep transformations in the face of coastal developments. Factors that constitute the environmental vulnerability of artisanal fishermen from the "economic development". This being said, this study aims to understand environmental racism in fishing territory, especially the Ilha de Maré, located in Salvador - BA/BR. The resistance and the defense of a Healthy and Sustainable Territory (TSS) for the preservation of its natural resources were important elements brought about in this process. The method was based on action research and popular education. The methodological path was based on meetings between researchers from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) and the community, in order to capture the perception of the residents of the Island about health, environment and work, given the impact of the Industrial Complex and the Port of Aratu. As a result, it was observed that environmental racism affects not only the natural environment, but also the living, health and working conditions of the fishing population. Thus, the need for organization and mobilization of the people involved in the search for social rights, improvement of health and work conditions, preservation, demarcation of fishing territories and the fight against environmental racism.