Fitting institutions to ecosystems: the case of artisanal fisheries management in the estuary of Patos Lagoon

Abstract

This paper analyzes the problem of fit of environmental institutions to the conservation of fisheries CPRs and the maintenance of artisanal fisheries in the estuary of Patos Lagoon, southern Brazil. The analysis identified problems with the definition of boundaries and rights to fisheries resources and incongruities between rules and local environmental/resource conditions which can affect the sustainability of artisanal fisheries. The driving forces of misfits showed to be associated to internal and external factors including the weak and changeable institutional arrangements, socio-economic conditions, the regime structure of governance, and individual stewardship for resources.