Paysans-pêcheurs du terroir et marins-pêcheurs du parcours. Les géographes et l'espace aquatique

Abstract

Geographers and aquatic spaces: the farmer- fishermen's aquatic 'terroir' and the marine fishermen's 'fishing territory'. — The paper proposes a definition of «aquatic space», both as a physical support and as the historical product of social relationships, based on fieldwork and a review of the literature on tropical coastal wetland management. The many uses and constructions found in aquatic areas among coastal communities emphasize the difference between the farmer- fishermen's aquatic «terroir» and the marine fishermen's «fishing territory». The former is a closed, limited, managed area, while the latter is a flexible, more or less open, spatial structure, consisting of marine roads and specific controlled sites. The discussion of this opposition, based on case studies, should contribute to solving the «tragedy of the commons».