Settlement, way of life and worldviews

Abstract

Costa de Caparica and Fonte da Telha are oceanic communities southwards of Lisbon founded by fishers targeting pelagic fish by beach seining (Arte-Xávega). This chapter aims to capture fishers’ environmental knowledge, practices and adaptations over the past century and compare between the two sites. Livelihood interviews and questionnaires provided oral memories and personal experiences complemented with literature and participant observation. Daily life and diet were for many generations organised around fishing, with little else to do or eat. Mechanisation and technological innovations in the past 40 years created safer conditions, prolonged oceanic operations and increased fishing effort. Climatic changes reported are mainly related to decreasing winter storminess and windiness and the blurring of weather seasonality. Overexploitation was visible to most fishers under two discourses interpreting distinctly the socio-environmental drivers of change. Fishing with Arte-Xávega has contributed to the persistence of these communities under changing conditions, where climate is just one of the drivers of change. Nevertheless, urbanisation and tourism have mainly impacted the fishing community with a longer history. Minor, but perceptible, differences emerging in the way of life and worldviews of the two communities are used to hypothesise on the direction of possible future changes.