ENVIRONMENTAL LICENSING AND EXPANSION OF AQUACULTURE IN PARÁ: GEOSPATIAL MAPPING AND REGULATORY CHALLENGES

Abstract

Aquaculture has consolidated itself as one of the most dynamic sectors of animal production in Brazil, registering an average annual growth of 8% between 2004 and 2014. In the state of Pará, this activity is driven by favorable climatic and geographic factors, being mostly composed of small enterprises, with more than 90% of the production units operating in areas of less than 2 hectares. However, regulatory challenges, especially with regard to environmental licensing, directly influence the expansion of the sector. This study carried out a geospatial mapping of aquaculture production areas in Pará, with emphasis on the identification of enterprises exempt from environmental licensing. The methodology involved the collection and analysis of data from the State Secretariat for the Environment and Sustainability (SEMAS), in addition to processing this information in the ArcGIS software for a detailed geographic representation.

The results indicate that the exemption from environmental licensing has stimulated the expansion of aquaculture, but also shows weaknesses in the regularization and inspection of enterprises. The absence of adequate technical information and bureaucracy in accessing regularization are significant obstacles. In this way, the study highlights the need to improve public policies, expanding technical training and the dissemination of regulatory information to ensure the sustainability of aquaculture in the state. The implementation of strategic measures, such as incentives for environmental regularization and optimization of the process of granting water resources, is essential for the consolidation of the sector and the mitigation of environmental impacts.