Changes and challenges in artisanal fishery: unpacking the impact of a mining waste disaster

Abstract

The Fundão dam failure in the Rio Doce basin in 2015 triggered a significant socioecological regime shift. In this study, changes and strategies employed by small-scale fisheries (SSFs) in the wake of dam failure were analyzed. From 2021 to 2022, 441 semi-structured interviews were conducted with fishers in Espírito Santo municipalities, using the snowball method to sample 20% of total fishers. The interviews focused on socioeconomic aspects and post-disaster changes. Responses were statistically analyzed according to data type (chi-square test, ANOVA, or Kruskal–Wallis’s test). Overall, 96.35% of surveyed participants were impacted by the dam failure. The strategies adopted after the disaster characterized three groups: the first abandoned the fishery, the second made adaptations in their fisheries, and the third did not make any changes. In this context, we highlighted two aspects for study: (1) understanding the characteristics of the most affected groups and (2) understanding the main adaptations found. The first aspect mainly involved those farther from the coastal zone, including a higher proportion of women and older and more experienced individuals who currently have a lower mean income and greater economic dependence on monetary indemnities. The second aspect involved those who managed to make adaptations, largely aimed at maintaining fishing activities, often by changing the target species and/or fishing area. All groups identified environmental contamination as the main current challenge. This study contributes to the deepening of knowledge about local impacts and recovery strategies following human-made disasters. Moreover, understanding the experiences of groups affected to varying degrees, each with distinct implications and structural differences, can facilitate the development of collective strategies for more effective coping with the challenges faced by SSFs. This case presents potential for improvement by adopting more participatory frameworks aimed at implementing mitigation and recovery measures.