In Brazil, a “Popular Court of the Sea Economy” (Tribunal Popular da Economia do Mar) was established in 2022 by the “Brazilian Fisherwomen and Fishermen for Fishing Territories Movement” (MPP) and the Fishers Pastoral Council (CPP) as an act of resistance, to challenge the historical and emerging threats posed by a burgeoning ocean/blue economy (Prado et al., 2022; Gerhardinger et al., 2023). In the Brazilian context, this includes many different forms of development including industrial fishing, aquaculture, oil development, renewable energy, mining, and coastal development. The Brazilian coastline, which is rich in diverse coastal and marine ecosystems and home to countless traditional fishing communities, is the epicenter of this conflict.

The Popular Court is an initiative of a nationwide movement of ocean defenders, primarily led by the MPP and CPP, who are intrinsically linked to the marine environment and their traditional lifestyles as small-scale fishers and harvesters. They view themselves as guardians of the oceans, striving to preserve their culture, livelihoods, and the environment. Their identity is anchored in shared experiences and values, emphasizing the protection of their territories and maintenance of ecological equilibrium. 

The broader movement of ocean defenders is engaged in an ongoing struggle that stretches from conflicts facing local traditional fishing and shellfish gathering communities to the broader national political arena. Central to this movement is the confrontation against the Ocean Economy’s extractive model, which inflicts socio-environmental harms on the marine environment and resource-dependent coastal communities (Silva, 1988; Ramalho et al., 2020). 

The objectives of the movement are multifaceted, including defending fundamental rights, preserving traditional ways of life, combating environmental racism, and advocating for the recognition and respect of their territories. They also seek policy reforms to ensure traditional communities are not negatively impacted by the Blue Economy. Their resistance methods include protests, documentation of environmental impacts, social media campaigns, legal battles, and participation in the Popular Court. 

Preparatory hearings of the Popular Court have shed light on the severe environmental impacts of various forms of ocean/blue economy development. This includes threats to ocean health, marine ecosystems, coastal habitats, species diversity, resource productivity, and ecosystem services and the people who rely on them (de Carvalho Costa et al., 2022) – as well as  pollution and water contamination from urban/industrial discharges, agriculture, and mining, (Bossolani et al., 2022; Souto 2022). The social repercussions presented to the Popular Court are also significant, encompassing violations of fundamental rights, impacts on women and fishing youth, discrimination specifically aimed at certain racial groups, loss of cultural and social identity, environmental racism, lack of consultation, and threats to the economic autonomy of women in fishing communities (Barros et al., 2021). In Pará, some of the most severe cases of violence against artisanal fishers occur near the mouth of the Amazon River and the coastal zone. In Aranaí and Monte Alegre, close to this area, fishers face uninvestigated murders and conditions akin to modern slavery, driven by private entities exploiting labor. Aranaí’s fishers live in fear with no protection from authorities, while in Monte Alegre, companies trap fishers in debt and exploit them on industrial vessels. In Prainha, death threats are common as powerful groups restrict access to fishing grounds, highlighting the systemic violence these communities endure, as denounced by the Popular Court. 

Before these and many other testimonies, the MPP accuses the Brazilian State and various entities of endorsing projects that generate environmental injustices and social conflicts. The defense of human rights as well as of nature and all other living beings are at the core of the MPP claims. And, yet, when small-scale fishing communities try to resist the blue/ocean economy – their voices are silenced, they are criminalized, they are threatened, they are attacked, and some are even murdered (CPP, 2022a; CPP, 2022b).

Despite facing persistent challenges related to political instability and corporate influence, the movement has achieved significant milestones, such as raising awareness, building capacity, and altering mindsets. The Bolsonaro administration’s handling of Brazil’s artisanal fishers was fraught with neglect and broken promises. The government pledged financial aid to fishers affected by the 2019 oil spill that devastated the northeastern coast, but many never saw a cent of this promised support. This failure exacerbated the economic difficulties these communities were already facing. Coupled with this was the administration’s systematic dismantling of environmental protections, allowing for increased pollution and illegal activities that further threatened the fishers’ livelihoods (Mattos et al., 2024). 

The “Popular Court of the Sea Economy” was organized in November, in the last months of Bolsonaro government and, in that regard, has been key to enable fishers to voice out and scrutinize his mandate after presidential elections hence during a federal government transition. With the new presidential government starting in January 2023, the fishers movement has also gained substantial political influence. Several of their leaders are ever since part of the re-established Ministry of Aquaculture and Fisheries. Yet, they continue to navigate a complex social struggle along Brazil’s coast, for instance with fishing communities affected by major floods due to climate change struggling to receive governmental support (Gerhardinger and Mesquita, 2024). With the new government, there were heightened hopes for greater political support and policy shifts. For instance, the collaborative making of the National Plan for Artisanal Fisheries (“Plano Nacional da Pesca Artesanal”) was initially supported and welcomed by fishers’ movements as a crucial step toward enhancing the sustainability and social inclusion of Brazil’s artisanal fishing communities. The plan aimed to improve market access, secure fair pricing, and protect traditional knowledge. However, in mid-2024 progress has been significantly undermined by budget cuts, stalling the initiative and putting its ambitious agenda on hold, much to the concern of the fishing communities that had high hopes for its implementation.

Through adapting their strategies to overcome obstacles, they have persisted in advocating for long-term changes. The ocean defenders maintain their momentum by fomenting community-led initiatives, fostering resilient networks at the national scale, and seeking international backing for their efforts from organizations such as the International Collective in Support of Fishworkers. Their ongoing efforts underscore the need for continued protection, resources, funding, and empowerment in decision-making processes, exemplifying the enduring struggle for marine conservation and social justice in Brazil.