The Silent Struggle: Brave Brazilian Women Sustain Luxury Fishing in the Pantanal

In the Pantanal, Brazil, women like Roseli Oliveira start their days at 3 a.m., collecting bait for fishing in dangerous waters. They face caimans, anacondas, and stingrays to earn a living, enduring long hours and dirty water. These women, essential to the fishing tourism economy, are often overlooked. They are part of riverine communities, catching crabs and small fish with flashlights and nets. André Luiz Siqueira, from Ecoa, highlights their autonomy. Bait collecting became prominent in the 1980s with the rise of tourism. Live bait is crucial for sportfishing. While fishing is an ancient activity, professional bait collecting became prominent in the Pantanal in the 1980s, when the region opened up to tourism, Siqueira says. A 2002 study showed that bait gatherers were often marginalized, with low literacy levels. Today, women have taken on these roles, and now represent about 40% of registered professional fishers in the region. Elizete Garcia da Costa Soares, or Zezé, describes the health issues, highlighting that the dirty water causes gynecological problems. The women lack protective equipment, though Ecoa has provided some suits. However, the suits wear out quickly, and the women struggle to afford replacements. The work's precarious nature contrasts with the financial success of the fishing industry. Sportfishing has grown significantly. Bait gatherers earn very little, and there are no formal contracts, leading to competition. During the closed season, fishers are