The Movement of Brazilian Artisanal Men and Women Fishworkers (MPP) has denounced the privatization by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture (MPA) of public water bodies for aquaculture.
Reports from Brazil inform that the MPA has opened a bidding process for interested parties to apply for aquaculture concessions in areas of water in Pernambuco Bay, Parana State and the States of Goias and Rio de Janeiro (Public Tenders Nos 11/2013- 12/2013-13/2013-14/2013).
The MPP accuse the MPA of ignoring and undermining artisanal fisheries. In an open letter the MPP states that the prospects for traditional fishing communities have been set back by the lack of development policies for regenerating artisanal fisheries, whilst men and women fishers have been criminalized.
The entire thrust of the MPA say the MPP has been towards promoting aqua-business, initially for the cultivation of shrimp, and now for the transfer of waters to develop mariculture and aquaculture projects for the intensive cultivation mainly of tilapia and beijupira (cobia or Rachycentrom canadum).
The open letter draws attention to conflicts of social, environmental and territorial nature that exist in Brazil, which show how wealth is being generated at any price with the interests of individuals or large commercial groups being placed above the interests of thousands of traditional communities.
These communities have a historic and harmonious relationship with these natural resources, providing food for their families and causing little impact on the environment.
Many fishing communities will be affected once these spaces are privatized, say the MPP as men and women fishers will no longer be able to use them for their traditional activities, losing their right to free passage as is guaranteed in the constitution. The action shows a disregard for small scale fishing and the ways of life of fishing communities, say the MPP.
The MPP call on wider society to join them to take a stand against this violent process to generate profits and to defend free waters, biodiversity, and sustainability so as to guarantee the rights of future generations and the rights of traditional fishing communities.
2013 ICSF