1244 | 701 | Danube, dykes, fishing, and food: a history of changes | Cornelia FLOREA, Gabriela IOANA-TOROIMAC
In the middle of the 20th century occurred the alteration of the fishing areas in the Lower Danube River floodplain, in southwestern Romania, by increasing irrigation demand, as well as damming and drying. Nowadays, projects of Danube floodplain hydraulic restoration emerge in the scientific community, at national level._x000D_
Our approach, an anthropological one, is to analyse and problematize the consequences of the human-induced environmental changes, the most visible effects of this change being social and economic, as the locals are affected by the phenomenon of choosing new occupations and supplying a new daily meal. _x000D_
The results come from interviews in which riparian population of Rast (Dolj county, Romania) recall that fishing areas have changed and that professional fishermen have disappeared. In the old days, when the fish roe was laid, in May, the fishing was done with a fence, keeping only the large ones. Fish was the basic food of the inhabitants of the Danube floodplain, the pike being often eaten instead of bread, while today it is considered a luxury food, difficult to find due to the cost and the rarity of the specimens. Then, for some people, the fish even represented a currency of exchange, a barter they made for other goods._x000D_
This is an example of degraded riparian ecosystem in the Anthropocene with consequences on the lifestyle and wellbeing of local communities. From anthropological point of view, this community depending on fishing was neglected and became economically vulnerable. Will new projects give special attention to reduce the uncertainty of the local community? Our study will place the policy makers in better position to consider the local community in future planning of the Lower Danube River floodplain.
Cornelia FLOREA, Gabriela IOANA-TOROIMAC
Romanian Academy – ‘Francisc I. Rainer’ Institute of Anthropology
ID Abstract: 701