Implementation of aquaculture parks in Federal Government waters in Brazil

Abstract

The Brazilian Government has been promoting studies on the zoning and demarcation of aquaculture parks dedicated to the production of fish in net-cages in the large public reservoirs of the country. The methodology employed for the zoning of these aquaculture parks consists of the execution in three consecutive stages of multidisciplinary evaluations for their social, environmental and economical characterization (global, regional and local). The purpose of the studies involves the generation of thematic maps and scenarios of environmental models that facilitate the process of understanding the regional peculiarities and taking the decisions to identify the most appropriate areas for the installation of the aquaculture parks. The application of this instrument for zoning the reservoirs will assist a more effective planning of investments and efforts, both by the government and by private initiative, in the aquaculture activity. With the implantation of aquaculture parks along the lines of an ecosystemic aquaculture, Brazil has the potential to become one of the largest producers of fish in net-cages in the world.