Regulamentação, governança e questão social da aquicultura em parques aquícolas no reservatório da Usina Hidrelétrica do Lajeado, estado do Tocantins

Abstract

Brazil's privileged water conditions and the establishment of aquaculture as an economic activity have driven the implementation of public policies targeting certain populations and activities since the mid-1990s. The purpose of these policies has been to capitalize on the extensive reservoirs under federal control, linked to hydroelectric plants, for fish farming in cages, distinguishing between large and small producers. This thesis discusses the concession of public waters to the Federal Government for cages aquaculture and the legislative nuances associated with these areas and governance from the perspective of the assignees of the Sucupira and Miracema-Lajeado Aquaculture Parks, located in the Lajeado Reservoir in the state of Tocantins, presenting the socio-economic profile of the Park assignees and the dilemmas arising from the expression of the social question in the socio-ecological system of the Aquaculture Parks studied. As for the methodology, bibliographical, documentary and field research was carried out for the case study, using the focus group technique. The information was obtained through on-site interviews and field journals entries. The results indicate the need to adjust the rules that regulate the activity, considering regional realities, especially in terms of social, environmental, and technological characteristics, with the aim of promoting the development of aquaculture in hydroelectric reservoirs with the active participation of fishers and riverine communities. The production systems of these communities represent their historical relationship with nature, expressing subsistence strategies adapted to variations in the abundance and availability of resources for the activity. Most of the assignees are fishermen who are now also involved in agriculture and aquaculture. However, these nuances are not supported by current legislation and they face a series of challenges, including a lack of investment and technical assistance, high feed costs, low profitability, high fish mortality rates, lack of access to land and poor implementation of public policies and incentives, among other difficulties. However, the personal dedication and resilience of the producers emerge as fundamental elements for the sustainability and continuity of this activity.