‘Enclosed river:’ Women shellfish gatherers fight for access to mangroves in Brazil

Adriana Hora dos Santos wades into the water, her body submerged up to her thighs in the thick, muddy mangrove. In her hands, a machete just over 16 inches long, she deftly plucks dozens of oysters from the twisted roots with a measured rhythm. Far across the Vaza-Barris river, the industrial structures of Sergipe’s capital city, Aracaju, appear surreal.

Here, the rhythmic lapping of the river, the sharp sound of the machete, and Santos’s voice echo: “I am, I am a shellfish gatherer / Queen of the mangrove, I am a warrior! / I am, I am a shellfish gatherer / A fighting woman, a striver / It’s the wind that gives it to me / It’s the river, it’s the mangrove, it’s the sea / My chest aches, enclosed river / My chest aches with no fish caught / Come, woman, fight, emancipate yourself / We are Sergipe’s shellfish gatherers!”

The Movement of Women Shellfish Gatherers of Sergipe (MMS) is a grassroots organization that has been fighting against environmental degradation and cultural erosion for years. These women serve as the guardians of the mangrove, protecting the ecosystem while also facing challenges that threaten their own livelihoods. In this environment, their voices unite as a collective group, emphasizing their strong sense of community.

“We are always in a flock,” Santos explains. It was in this spirit of unity that they began to take action.

The MMS’s fight for their rights is rooted in their essential role as protectors of the mangrove ecosystem. They not only engage in environmental conservation but also provide sustenance for their communities through the gathering of shellfish. However, their efforts are often undermined by external forces, which put both their work and their survival at risk.

The MMS’s anthem encapsulates their struggle and determination to assert their rights and preserve their cultural heritage. Their fight extends beyond the protection of the mangrove; it is a fight for the recognition of their identity and the right to participate in the decision-making process that affects their lives. As the women continue their work in the mangrove, they remain steadfast in their fight for their place in society and the environment.