Fishing begins and ends at sea, but it seems that this is no longer relevant

Revitalisation of Arte Xávega Requires More Than Municipal Efforts, Researcher Says "The fishing begins and ends at sea, but it seems that this has ceased to matter" (Fátima Alves).

Fátima Alves, coordinator of the Societies and Environmental Sustainability Research Group at the Centre for Functional Ecology - Science for People & the Planet, an associate laboratory of Terra at the University of Coimbra, and its extension at the Universidade Aberta of Portugal, warns in an interview with Jornal de Notícias that the actions taken so far to revitalise arte xávega have been insufficient. With nearly half of the fishing boats lost in the last decade, this traditional practice is at serious risk of extinction."The current situation of arte xávega is a consequence of policies that increasingly favour industrial fishing, leaving behind practices like xávega," the researcher notes. She further emphasises that the solution is not merely about physical revitalisation through exhibitions and tourism activities, but rather the adoption of public policies that truly support the fishermen and encourage younger generations to keep this tradition alive.

What can be done?

• Economic support for traditional fishing communities

• Public policies that recognise the cultural and environmental value of arte xávega

• Engagement of younger generations to ensure the continuity of this age-old practice

We invite you to read the completed article at Jornal Notícias

Alves, F. (2024, September 29). Arte xávega perdeu quase metade dos barcos em dez anos. Jornal de Notícias. https://www.jn.pt/3600909921/arte-xavega-perdeu-quase-metade-dos-barcos-em-dez-anos/