Contested territories. The fishermen, the riverside, the urbanism and the Parana River’s Aquarium (Rosario, Argentina)

Abstract

The article analyzes the territorial disputes around the coast between fishermen, urbanism and the new Aquarium of Paraná in Rosario, Argentina. It addresses the inclusion processes of artisanal fishermen in the public space, the scientific, pedagogical and recreational device of the Aquarium of Paraná. This project contemplated the construction of a Fishermen's Port for the integration of the fishing territory into the riverside space of the Aquarium Park. After reviewing the interventions of urban planning in the revitalization process of the Rosario’s waterfront, considering with particular interest the deterritorialization of fishermen, the analysis focuses on the differences, disagreements and disputes generated around these constructions. The case under study is one of the few freshwater aquariums in Argentina, whose project proposes the integration the fishermen’s work and knowledge. The methodology used has been fundamentally qualitative and guided by an ethnographic exploration, which included participant observation and interviews with different agents and groups involved. The study shows the different ways of thinking about the relationship between the coast and the river of fishermen, urban planners and agents dedicated to the recreational practice. It also proposes the integration of the native territorial knowledge of fishermen in the design of new fishing spaces.