Fisheries agreements, governance and deliberative council of extractive reserve: the case of Resex Cassurubá, Caravelas, Bahia Brazil

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the operational process of the Deliberative Council of the Cassurubá Extractive Reserve (RESEX), its discussions and decisions regarding fisheries agreements, and the implications for local governance. The Cassurubá RESEX is a sustainable use conservation unit, established in 2009, located in southern Bahia. The Council is considered a democratic space for decision-making and conflict resolution and is utilized as an instrument of local governance. In this sense, there had been established rules of use of fisheries resources through fisheries agreements, drawn up by users. We applied qualitative research methods of record analysis, participation in Council meetings, and review of Good Governance Principles. This analysis made it possible to describe the forms of construction of Fisheries Agreements and the performance of the Council and, in relation to principles of good governance, predominated the Legitimacy and Voice.