In the Paraense coast, crab extractism is of great economic and cultural importance. Although they are areas of public domain, in practice, entorum communities establish forms of ownership that control access in response to the growing demand for crabs in urban markets, in the region and beyond. The article looks at these forms of ownership and the resulting conflicts, focusing on the locality Ponteu de Bacuriteua (Bragança municipality). It is based on qualitative research with ten experienced professionals. From observations and interviews conducted between 2011 and 2012, it has been identified that there are temporary working territories, alongside the social vision of the manguezal as a place of free access. Studies and public discussions are suggested, with the active involvement of workers in the industry, on the relationship between local territories and sustainable crab extractivism. This is crucial, not least because the area is located in a conservation unit, the Caeté-Taperaçu Mining Reserve.