Most small‐scale fisheries of large floodplain rivers are still managed under conventional top‐down regulations that limit the application of an ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) due to inappropriate legal frameworks. Using the Parana–Paraguay River fisheries (Argentina) as an example, this study examines the extent to which existing provincial legislations can be prepared for the adoption of an EAF. An Ecosystem Fishing Legal Approach (EFLA) framework is proposed based on different criteria across an environmental–ecological, fishing, social, economic and institutional template. Policy Component Scores (PCS) and an Integrated Policy Legal Index (IPLI) were applied to assess the degree of compliance by current provincial legislations to EAF implementation. Cluster analysis was used to recognise the potential for articulating a legal framework at a basin scale. The EFLA framework, which provided an accurate picture of how provinces were poorly prepared to adopt an EAF for the Paraguay–Parana fisheries, and represents a suitable tool that can be adapted and extended to other basins around the world.

We conducted structured surveys using photographs of 88 fish species grouped by commercial and non-commercial relevance to analyze the characteristics of the folk taxonomy of artisanal fisheries in the lower La Plata river basin (Argentina). The photographs were shown to 60 artisanal fishers from the Paraná and Uruguay Rivers. Out of a set of 332 folk names recorded, monotypic names (79%) prevailed and over-differentiation (68%) was the most frequent correspondence among generic folk names. Morphology (68%) and ecology (29%) were the most common categories related to specific folk nomenclature. The number of folk names per species was lower amongst the most relevant commercial species; the percentage of species recognized decreases inversely with species relevance but increases with species body size. A comparison of species similarity based on presence/absence data in five fishing sites showed a more accurate picture of species distribution according to fishers’ knowledge than that based on the scientific literature. Our observed results suggest that ethnoichthyological information can be successfully applied to improve fish conservation and fisheries management; it also provides new insights on species abundance and distribution. We conclude that the folk taxonomy method is a valuable tool for long-term monitoring research programs oriented to species conservation and resource management.

La relación de Rosario con el Paraná estuvo mediada por el puerto. Este vínculo comenzó a revertirse en los años 1990. Se reemplazaron las instalaciones ferroportuarias fuera de uso por una cadena de espacios públicos, ramblas y avenidas. Este procedimiento mejoró la conectividad de la ciudad con la ribera, a partir de una escala menor pensada para el transporte automotor y la circulación peatonal. La interface ferroportuaria que había regido la relación ciudad-río fue reemplazada por un continuum de espacios públicos. Gran parte de los estudios efectuados sobre esta trasformación urbana se han concentrado en las inspiraciones, la planificación, los impactos de estos Grandes Proyectos Urbanos en los usos del suelo, el mercado inmobiliario, la gentrificación del área y las metamorfosis de la ciudad. Pero no se ha analizado otros cambios aledaños vinculados al ambiente, el hábitat y los oficios de los antiguos habitantes de la barranca. Mientras los espacios públicos crecían y eran parcialmente concesionados, los pescadores artesanales observaron cómo su hábitat y fuentes de trabajo quedaban reducidas. En este artículo, procuramos comprender cómo esos sujetos-otros experimentan los procesos de acumulación por desposesión y de desterritorializacion de los que son objeto con la reinvención del waterfront de Rosario.

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