Ibama seizes 104 tons of illegal fishing in Rio Grande do Sul

Ibama (Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) seized 104 tons of illegal fish on the coast of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), this Monday (8).

A fine of R$6 million was imposed for the action of a trawling vessel, which is prohibited in the regions of the Albardão National Marine Park.

The action is the result of the first stages of Operation Mugil, which aims to protect the mullet (Mugil liza), in the South and Southeast regions of Brazil. The action began in May and runs until July, involving several institutions.

The main focus of the operation is to control illegal industrial fishing. Among the infractions, the following are configured:

- Illegal fishing in prohibited areas and in Uruguayan jurisdictional waters;
- Imposition of difficulties in inspection, which led to the persecution of vessels;
- Fishing without authorization;
- Transport of fish with invalid and unsuitable proof of origin,
- Transport of fish unfit for human consumption without proof of origin;
- Capture of 24 specimens of endangered aquatic fauna.

Inspection began in Lagoa dos Patos, in RS, considered the largest breeding ground for the species in the South and Southeast of Brazil. There, it develops from the larval stage.

The patrols were concentrated in the channel and at the mouth of the Lagoa dos Patos Estuary, an area in which gillnet fishing is prohibited. This space is strategically where schools of mullet pass through for spawning migration.

In the first stage of Mugil, ICMBio (Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation) carried out a patrol from Praia do Cassino to the border with Uruguay, with the aim of identifying illegal fishing activities in the

In the second phase, team reinforcements were requested to expand the area inspected, carrying out actions in Laguna and Imbituba, on the coast of Santa Catarina (SC). These regions are known for their intense illegal fishing, especially in the Mullet harvest.

In addition, the ban on fishing at the sites has been in place for over 14 years, as it constitutes the main migration corridor for mullet to the sea.

According to Ibama, the operation resulted in a reduction in illegal practices in the areas and in 36 infraction notices, R$6 million in fines, 104 tons of fish, 32 nets, 7 vessels and 5 vehicles also seized and 9 terms of suspension of the activity of industrial fishing vessels.

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Mullet fishing
Mullet was once a species in abundance and linked to ancestral fishing traditions. However, it began to be captured in its reproductive phase due to its eggs with high export value, being caught precisely during its reproductive migration.

Mullet is currently the most regulated fishing resource in Brazil, due to its state of overexploitation due to uncontrolled exploitation.

For control, measures are applied to control catch quotas, fishing exclusion areas, effort control, capture periods per fleet, as well as minimum fish size for fishing.

*Under AR supervision.

Source: CNN