p99-111This study characterizes the fisheries at Babitonga Bay, in the northern coast of Santa Catarina (Brazil), in order to point out management implications of local contexts. Qualitative and quantitative surveys were conducted at 12 fishing localities in the region, assessing fishing practices, socioeconomic features, and aspects of the institutional organization of fishermen. A great variety of small-scale fishing practices and resources was observed, as well as different ways of fishing commercialization, with considerable differences between localities, resulting in part from differences in spatial use patterns. Despite the existence of a few local associations, so-called "Colônias de Pesca" were the main representative organizations. Yet, not all fishermen acknowledged their importance. A low degree of political organization of the fishermen was observed, as well as an apparent lack of leadership, moderate participation in representative fora ("Colônias") and disagreement regarding group union perception. In their own opinion, their interactions with fisheries management government agencies , as well as with partner non-governmental organizations, were weak. Thus, while they realize the worsening conditions of local fisheries, which require management interventions, fishermen find it difficult to communicate with the organizations in charge. Differences in fishery resources use patterns also potentially increase complexity for local fisheries management. Changes in the local fisheries management perspective are needed, with an emphasis on the establishment of collaborative management arrangements (co-management), which could better deal with the complexity of the local fishery context, thus ensuring greater institutional effectiveness.Keywords: small-scale fisheries, fisheries management, resource appropriation, fishermen participation, fishermen organizations, co-management.Serafini et al.: Pesca e gestão na Baía da Babitonga-SC 100 cerca de 1 770 pescadores, distribuídos em mais de 30 comunidades e atuando dentro do estuário e na plataforma ou mar aberto. A pesca está presente nos seis municípios do entorno da baía, sendo bastante expressiva na economia de alguns deles, como Balneário Barra do Sul e São Francisco do Sul, e também na produção pesqueira artesanal do estado, com cerca de 15% da produção estadual, segundo PROZEE (2006). A natureza da região encontra-se relativamente em bom estado de conservação e concentra a maior extensão de manguezais do estado (IBAMA, 1998), apesar do histórico de degradação e contaminação de alguns ambientes (Cremer et al., 2006).Estudos anteriores da pesca na Baía da Babitonga descreveram alguns dos seus aspectos técnicos, socioeconômicos e culturais (IBAMA, 1998;Pinheiro & Cremer, 2003;Bastos, 2006). O presente trabalho procura avançar sobre essa base de conhecimentos e descrever atributos da pesca local relevantes para um enfoque de gestão compartilhada (cogestão), abrangendo as práticas de pesca, os recursos explotados, as áreas de atuação, os aspectos socioeconô-...