Fishermen Gather in Santarém to Discuss Pirarucu Fishing Legislation
Participatory dialogue organized by Semas will discuss the draft of the Bill that will set guidelines for the sustainable management of pirarucu in the state

On July 15, the municipality of Santarém, in the Lower Amazon region, will host the event "Legal Pirarucu: Challenges and Paths of Legislation in Pará," which will bring together artisanal fishermen and fisherwomen, public managers, researchers, and representatives of civil society organizations to discuss the proposed regulation of managed pirarucu fishing (Arapaima gigas) in the state.
The initiative is promoted by the State Secretariat for the Environment, Climate and Sustainability (Semas), through the Regulariza Pará Program, in partnership with the Society for Research and Protection of the Environment (Sapopema) and the Movement of Artisanal Fishermen of Western Pará and Lower Amazon (Mopebam). The meeting will be held at the auditorium of the Federal University of Western Pará (Ufopa) – Tapajós Campus, starting at 8 am.
The aim is to promote a participatory dialogue on the draft Bill that aims to establish guidelines for the sustainable management of pirarucu fishing in Pará. The proposal includes the definition of control instruments and fishing regulations aimed at the sustainability of the species, which has great ecological, economic, and cultural importance for traditional communities.

"We are building a legislative proposal that considers the specificities of the Amazon territory and the protagonism of the communities that manage pirarucu sustainably. The event will be an essential space for listening and contributing to ensure that this public policy reflects local reality and strengthens fishing regulation in Pará,” says Rodolpho Zahluth Bastos, Secretary of Environmental Management and Regularity at Semas.
Visibility - "I want to congratulate Semas for the initiative and courage to resume the discussion on pirarucu legislation in the State of Pará. This construction, in partnership with Sapopema, Mopebam, and various involved agencies, is fundamental. On July 15, we will advance this debate. This resumption will give visibility to pirarucu, strengthen artisanal fishing, ensure income and security for fishermen and fisherwomen, and allow for legal and fair commercialization. I thank and congratulate once again for the initiative,” declared Manuel Pineiro, representative of Mopebam.
In addition to Semas, Sapopema, and Mopebam, the action is supported by the State Secretariat for Agricultural Development and Fisheries (Sedap), Ufopa, Casa do Saulo Restaurant, Yara Couro, the Fishermen's Colony, and the fishing councils of the Lower Amazon Region.