Challenges and lessons from marine finfish farming in Brazil

Abstract

Marine finfish production is currently a market opportunity and an activity that could be more developed in the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Ocean. Here, we discuss the reasons a country like Brazil, which has great potential for marine finfish farming, still has not managed to evolve this activity. We present the main arguments for the Brazilian unsuccess as an example to other countries that also have not yet achieved prominence in marine finfish production. Finally, we argue that one of the challenges is obtaining the leasing title (‘cessão de área’), which enable the spatial planning in coastal areas. However, conflicts are a natural occurrence due to the multiple uses of these areas; thus, advancement and success of marine finfish farming can only be attained through governance strategies, such as adaptive governance. The adaptive management would bring legal certainty for the Government and guarantee a participatory and transparent process for all involved. Brazil example demonstrates that the organization of the aquaculture space is not sufficient for the activity evolution, as conflicts arise from different interests in the use of these spaces. Therefore, only establishing adaptive governance would be possible to organize the marine space, reducing conflicts and developing the activity. Therefore, only establishing the adaptive governance would be possible to organize the marine space, reducing conflicts and establish the activity.