Abstract

Fishery and marine resources exist in two different dimensions: in the environment and habitats, and in the cognitive (cultural) constructions of the fishers. Popular (folk) knowledge of marine resources and their spatial distribution is the result of years of observation, formal/informal learning through information transfer, and experimentation. More important, it is based upon the formulation and articulation of a schema, or cognitive model developed over time. This paper discusses the results of an interdisciplinary project (anthropology, popular knowledge and fisheries’ biology) that explores the schema and local system of classification and understanding of fishery resources. Data employed is derived form thnographic observations, informal interviews, and various in-depth interviews that included free-listing and pile sorting procedures. Preliminary analysis shows that species are grouped by habitat and behavior which correlates to fishers productive behavior.

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