Between April 23 and 25, Belém will host the International Fish Congress & Fish Expo Brasil (IFC Amazônia). The congress is considered a pre-event to the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP 30), as it aims to discuss fishing and aquaculture in the Amazon region as a sustainable economic alternative, in line with the event's concerns about reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preventing forest clearing.
During the convention, they will discuss and draft the “Belem Charter”, which will propose fishing and aquaculture as the best sustainable animal protein production alternatives for the planet, in particular for the Amazon. The document, which has already been drafted by experts, will be debated by national organizations and the fishing and aquaculture sectors during the IFC and finalized for presentation at the Ocean Pavilion [Pavilhão Oceano] at COP 30.
According to Altemir Gregolin, president of IFC Amazônia, veterinarian, and former Minister of Fishing and Aquaculture, fish production is the livestock activity with the lowest environmental impact. “Firstly, it emits the least greenhouse gases, seven times less than cattle farming. Secondly, it has the best feed conversion rate, meaning it requires the least amount of feed to produce one kilogram of food. For cattle, eight kilograms of feed are needed per kilogram of meat, whereas tilapia requires only 1.2 kilograms of feed per kilogram of protein. This translates to less food and energy consumption. Thirdly, it allows production without deforestation. If COP 30 aims to develop viable and sustainable economic alternatives for the 30 million inhabitants of the Amazon, fish production is one of them,” he states.
POTENTIAL
Gregolin explains that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) projects an increase in fish consumption by five kilograms per capita annually by 2050, which requires producing 50 million tons of fish. In his view, Brazil has better conditions than most countries to expand production, as it has an extensive coastline, the world's largest freshwater reserves, and an abundance of raw materials for feed, such as corn and soybeans.
“According to the FAO, we have the potential to produce at least 20 million tons of fish annually. This represents the newest frontier of food production in Brazilian agriculture. While chicken, pork, and beef industries have historically been prioritized in national public policies, fish production has only gained significant investment in the past 20 years. We are already major exporters, including from the Amazon region, particularly in fish farming, with tambaqui, matrinxã, and pirarucu,” he highlights.
The veterinarian advocates for greater expansion of this activity in the region. “Let's develop this industry. Pará and the Amazon are deeply familiar with fish consumption and production, which provides jobs, income, and food security. Given the Amazon's geostrategic location, we can export to numerous destinations. With a policy of support including credit, technical assistance, infrastructure, and supply chain organization, we can make this industry viable and promote rapid production growth,” he asserts.
Amazon’s significant Aquaculture Export Sales
According to the former minister, Pará and Amazonas have significant export sales of shrimp, red porgy, and piramutaba. “Pará alone exports more than $70 million worth of fish. In other words, 20% of all Brazilian fish exports come from Pará. It competes for the top position with Santa Catarina. Both freshwater and saltwater fishing are extremely important. In 2023, Pará's fish farming sector grew by 30%, driven by government incentives that provided greater legal security and attracted investment,” he points out.
Another success story cited by Gregolin is Rondônia, now the largest producer of native fish in Brazil, with over 60,000 tons produced annually for both domestic consumption and export.
Gregolin believes the largest investment in expanding production should be directed at aquaculture rather than traditional fishing. Aquaculture encompasses not only fish farming but also the cultivation of other aquatic organisms, such as shrimp and oysters. “For the past 30 years, global fishing production has remained stable at around 90 million tons, with Brazil contributing approximately 700,000 tons. We do not expect a significant increase in fishing production, only improvements in quality. However, aquaculture holds great potential, particularly in the Amazon, which has the world’s largest freshwater reserves and an ideal climate for high-value species like tambaqui and pirarucu. This is an activity that can be strategically managed and developed. The Amazon can become a major global fish producer, supplying both international markets and domestic consumers,” he states.
The veterinarian envisions creating the brand “Pescado da Amazônia” [Amazonian Fish] to promote the product in national and international markets, adding value and ensuring sustainability.
FISHING AGREEMENT
For fishing to be sustainable and long-lasting, proper management is crucial. “This is where fishermen's awareness and, more importantly, government roles in monitoring and managing fish stocks come into play. Investment in fishing statistics is necessary—we need to know how much is being fished and ensure proper inspection,” Gregolin emphasizes.
One effective strategy to ensure sustainability is the establishment of fishing agreements. In Pará, the State Office for the Environment and Sustainability (SEMAS) has already signed twelve agreements with riverside families engaged in artisanal fishing. These agreements aim to prevent overfishing and preserve river biodiversity.
“Fishing Agreements are established between communities living in an artisanal fishing territory. The community itself agrees on the rules for that particular area, so that these natural resources can be managed in a common way,” explains Rodolpho Zahluth Bastos, SEMAS deputy secretary.
The documents are drawn up by the riverside people themselves, with SEMAS mediating and guiding the dialog, which can take up to six months, in debates during community assemblies. “SEMAS' aim is to respect the traditional nature of the discussion, the rhythm of the community, how it wants to approach and deal with defining the rules of the agreement,” Bastos said.
MOTIVATION
The deputy secretary highlights two primary reasons for establishing these agreements. The first is the presence of large fishing vessels known as “geleiros,” equipped with high-capacity fish storage and trawling nets. These vessels indiscriminately capture marine life, disrupting local ecosystems and depriving riverside communities of their primary food source.
“The second reason is the need to regulate local fishing practices, such as setting mesh size limits for fishing nets. If fishermen use small-mesh nets, they catch juvenile fish that have not yet reached reproductive maturity, impacting species reproduction and reducing future fishing availability. These agreements ensure the sustainability of local fishing,” he explains.
Bastos emphasizes that these agreements not only sustain fishing activities but also protect the forests. “By securing the communities' primary socio-economic activity and food sovereignty, we prevent them from seeking alternative, potentially harmful means of survival,” he notes.
Fifteen New Agreements Under Development
Of the twelve agreements already established with communities across various regions of Pará, the largest are in the western part of the state, covering municipalities such as Santarém, Oriximiná, Óbidos, Juruti, and Monte Alegre. “We also have the Cametá agreement, which involves more than 40 communities; the Maúba River agreement, in Abaetetuba and Igarapé-Miri; and, more recently, the Amazon Shrimp Agreement, which includes the municipalities of Curralinho and Oeiras do Pará, marking the first agreement to include shrimp farming,” says Bastos.
In addition to the twelve agreements already in place—encompassing 309 communities and benefiting 18,000 riverside families—fifteen more are currently under development. “Our challenge moving forward is to finalize the next fifteen agreements we are negotiating. Others will likely emerge, but we will also evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of the existing agreements, making adjustments if necessary. The work does not end with the signing of an agreement and the demarcation of territories: SEMAS will oversee their implementation for two years, providing monitoring vessels, collecting data, and ensuring feedback to the communities,” explains the secretary.
TERRITORY SIGNAGE
Once the agreement is established, SEMAS installs signs to visually demarcate the designated territories. These signs not only indicate the specific locations but also list the rules of the agreement. “This is crucial because it helps prevent outsiders from fishing in the area without knowing that there are regulations in place. It may discourage them from entering, thereby protecting the community that relies on fishing for survival,” says the manager.
Fisherman Afonso Farias, involved in the Nhamundá Igarapé Fishing Agreement in Oriximiná, highlights the importance of these signs. “Everything is explained here—what can and cannot be done. If people break the rules, it’s because they choose to. Everyone in our region and those passing through can see that an agreement exists,” he states.
FUTURE
Fisherman Moacir Batista, from the district of Curuai in the Lago Grande region of Santarém, also acknowledges the importance of the region’s fishing agreement. “The agreement definitely benefits our region, which involves three municipalities—Santarém, Óbidos, and Juruti. It took a lot of effort and discussions to get approval for something crucial to maintaining our fish stocks, respecting the closed season, and preventing large boat operators from engaging in predatory fishing. The invasion of ‘geleiros’ is making our fish scarce,” he comments.
In addition to his work as a fisherman, Batista is also actively involved in raising awareness, monitoring, and enforcing the agreement alongside the SEMAS team. “I am always fighting for the environment, advocating for better conditions for our fishermen, and defending the fishing practices of our region. Ensuring the sustainability of fishing through these agreements is crucial so that we can continue to have fish in the future. Without fish, there are no fishermen,” he reflects.
INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERSHIP
The production of Liberal Amazon is one of the initiatives of the Technical Cooperation Agreement between the Liberal Group and the Federal University of Pará. The articles involving research from UFPA are revised by professionals from the academy. The translation of the content is also provided by the agreement, through the research project ET-Multi: Translation Studies: multifaces and multisemiotics.
