The The environmental licensing of hydroelectrics and the interface with migratory fish and aquaculture in Brazil

In this review, we present a background on the Brazilian Federal Legislation on the environmental licensing of hydroelectric plants focusing on the procedure of the repair of environmental damage caused by dams to migratory fish. To that end, the Brazilian electrical matrix was first addressed, thu...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mayara Venturini Vidal, Sergio Ricardo Batlouni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Instituto de Pesca 2023-03-01
Series:Boletim do Instituto de Pesca
Subjects:
Online Access:https://institutodepesca.org/index.php/bip/article/view/1709
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849701018303987712
author Mayara Venturini Vidal
Sergio Ricardo Batlouni
author_facet Mayara Venturini Vidal
Sergio Ricardo Batlouni
author_sort Mayara Venturini Vidal
collection DOAJ
description In this review, we present a background on the Brazilian Federal Legislation on the environmental licensing of hydroelectric plants focusing on the procedure of the repair of environmental damage caused by dams to migratory fish. To that end, the Brazilian electrical matrix was first addressed, thus highlighting the significant contribution of the energy produced by hydroelectric projects. To better contextualize the characteristics of the legislation, separate sections concerning illustrative reports of the effects of dams on migratory fish and the current panorama of aquaculture in Brazil and in the world were included. In this review, we also present a discussion on the specific legislation concerning a mitigation measure, the “fish restocking programs,” which have the potential to promote fishing and aquaculture, but still lack a scientific basis on their effectiveness and correct application. An assessment of this historical process in Brazil indicates that different mitigation measures imposed to obtain operating licenses by hydroelectric plants vary among different hydroelectric projects and that this heterogeneity in the conditions imposed may have effects (of unknown proportions) on local fish communities. Considering the absence of a specific device foreseen in the law that requires the owner or concessionaire of dams in watercourses to provide for fish restocking programs or specific ichthyofauna conservation programs, the issue seems to depend on the discretion of the licensing agency to demand that the hydroelectric plant operators carry out the reintroduction of fish in their reservoirs. This review concludes that there are political and scientific issues to be debated and explored in order to improve public policies on this topic of extreme relevance for society.
format Article
id doaj-art-6dbdfccdc0944d9bafc8f154d4b7aa2c
institution DOAJ
issn 1678-2305
language English
publishDate 2023-03-01
publisher Instituto de Pesca
record_format Article
series Boletim do Instituto de Pesca
spelling doaj-art-6dbdfccdc0944d9bafc8f154d4b7aa2c2025-08-20T03:18:05ZengInstituto de PescaBoletim do Instituto de Pesca1678-23052023-03-014810.20950/1678-2305/bip.2022.48.e696The The environmental licensing of hydroelectrics and the interface with migratory fish and aquaculture in BrazilMayara Venturini Vidal0Sergio Ricardo Batlouni1Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Centro de Aquicultura – Jaboticabal (SP), Brazil.Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Centro de Aquicultura – Jaboticabal (SP), Brazil. In this review, we present a background on the Brazilian Federal Legislation on the environmental licensing of hydroelectric plants focusing on the procedure of the repair of environmental damage caused by dams to migratory fish. To that end, the Brazilian electrical matrix was first addressed, thus highlighting the significant contribution of the energy produced by hydroelectric projects. To better contextualize the characteristics of the legislation, separate sections concerning illustrative reports of the effects of dams on migratory fish and the current panorama of aquaculture in Brazil and in the world were included. In this review, we also present a discussion on the specific legislation concerning a mitigation measure, the “fish restocking programs,” which have the potential to promote fishing and aquaculture, but still lack a scientific basis on their effectiveness and correct application. An assessment of this historical process in Brazil indicates that different mitigation measures imposed to obtain operating licenses by hydroelectric plants vary among different hydroelectric projects and that this heterogeneity in the conditions imposed may have effects (of unknown proportions) on local fish communities. Considering the absence of a specific device foreseen in the law that requires the owner or concessionaire of dams in watercourses to provide for fish restocking programs or specific ichthyofauna conservation programs, the issue seems to depend on the discretion of the licensing agency to demand that the hydroelectric plant operators carry out the reintroduction of fish in their reservoirs. This review concludes that there are political and scientific issues to be debated and explored in order to improve public policies on this topic of extreme relevance for society. https://institutodepesca.org/index.php/bip/article/view/1709 fish ladderhydroelectric plantspublic policiesrheophilic species
spellingShingle Mayara Venturini Vidal
Sergio Ricardo Batlouni
The The environmental licensing of hydroelectrics and the interface with migratory fish and aquaculture in Brazil
Boletim do Instituto de Pesca
fish ladder
hydroelectric plants
public policies
rheophilic species
title The The environmental licensing of hydroelectrics and the interface with migratory fish and aquaculture in Brazil
title_full The The environmental licensing of hydroelectrics and the interface with migratory fish and aquaculture in Brazil
title_fullStr The The environmental licensing of hydroelectrics and the interface with migratory fish and aquaculture in Brazil
title_full_unstemmed The The environmental licensing of hydroelectrics and the interface with migratory fish and aquaculture in Brazil
title_short The The environmental licensing of hydroelectrics and the interface with migratory fish and aquaculture in Brazil
title_sort the environmental licensing of hydroelectrics and the interface with migratory fish and aquaculture in brazil
topic fish ladder
hydroelectric plants
public policies
rheophilic species
url https://institutodepesca.org/index.php/bip/article/view/1709
work_keys_str_mv AT mayaraventurinividal thetheenvironmentallicensingofhydroelectricsandtheinterfacewithmigratoryfishandaquacultureinbrazil
AT sergioricardobatlouni thetheenvironmentallicensingofhydroelectricsandtheinterfacewithmigratoryfishandaquacultureinbrazil
AT mayaraventurinividal theenvironmentallicensingofhydroelectricsandtheinterfacewithmigratoryfishandaquacultureinbrazil
AT sergioricardobatlouni theenvironmentallicensingofhydroelectricsandtheinterfacewithmigratoryfishandaquacultureinbrazil