Ethnobiology and Conservation https://ethnobioconservation.com/index.php/ebc Ethnobiology and Conservation en-US Ethnobiology and Conservation 2238-4782 <p>This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="license noopener">Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY).</a> The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.</p> The Ethnobiology of Absurdities https://ethnobioconservation.com/index.php/ebc/article/view/972 <p style="font-weight: 400;">We are often overwhelmed by a sense of frustration when we observe that certain social issues, rather than progressing, seem to stagnate or even worsen–a rise in violence against women, racism, misogyny, and transphobia. These problems, far from disappearing, raise the question of whether we truly advance toward a higher state of civility or are trapped in an endless cycle of setbacks. The feeling that progress is illusory and fleeting leads us to reflect deeply on the state of science, particularly ethnobiology.</p> Ulysses Albuquerque Copyright (c) 2025 Ulysses Albuquerque https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2024-09-25 2024-09-25 14 10.15451/ec2025-09-14.01-1-2 Argentine Ethnobiology: A Future in Peril https://ethnobioconservation.com/index.php/ebc/article/view/960 <p>Based on an online survey and a workshop with young ethnobiologists, we analyze the current state and future prospects of the discipline in Argentina. The research topic analysis, geographic distribution, and insights into participant motivations and challenges highlight concerns regarding professional development in the context of underfunding and science devaluation within the country. We propose strategies for strengthening the field, including increased networking and improved representation in university curricula.</p> Catalina Rico Lenta Pablo Andrés Grimaldi Ana H. Ladio Copyright (c) 2025 Catalina Rico Lenta, Pablo Andrés Grimaldi, Ana H. Ladio https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2024-09-25 2024-09-25 14 10.15451/ec2025-09-14.03-1-7 Non-food uses of sharks in southern Bahia, Brazil https://ethnobioconservation.com/index.php/ebc/article/view/965 <p>Sharks are a highly threatened group, and the threats these animals face also affect the cultural ways artisanal fisher communities interact with them. Consequently, local knowledge arising from human interactions with these animals also becomes threatened, as well as the potential of fisheries management through ethnoconservation. In this sense, this study examines the dynamics of shark use by fishers in northeastern Brazil. In 2012, data was collected through semi-structured interviews about shark uses applied to 65 traditional fishers who use sharks differently. The ways fishers use these fish are changing mainly because fishers informed an overall reduction in shark catches. Thus, the analysis of their uses comprises a historical-anthropological record, as specific interactions are quickly disappearing. Therefore, the variety of utilitarian connections and changes in shark use patterns over time reveal both ecologic and cultural extinction threats of the traditional shark fisheries in this area. We suggest implementing anthropological and biological studies that aim to contribute to the maintenance of the livelihoods of populations that interact with sharks and seek to guarantee the sustainable exploitation of these animals.</p> Márcio Luiz Vargas Barbosa-Filho Salvatore Siciliano Rachel Ann Hauser-Davis Gabriel Barros Gonçalves de Souza Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves Eraldo Medeiros Costa Neto Copyright (c) 2025 Márcio Luiz Vargas Barbosa-Filho, Salvatore Siciliano, Rachel Ann Hauser-Davis, Gabriel Barros Gonçalves de Souza, Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves, Eraldo Medeiros Costa Neto https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2024-09-25 2024-09-25 14 10.15451/ec2025-09-14.02-1-14