Impacts of illegal fishing in the inland waters of the State of Santa Catarina -Brazil

Fish stocks are being severely depleted, marine habitats are threatened and marine pollution is on the rise due to discarded fishing gear. This equipment is generally from illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, leading to incidental fishing and sometimes ghost fishing. In this study, data obtained from reports produced by the Environmental Military Police in Santa Catarina, Brazil, on gill nets fixed in the coastal area and at the baseline limit of this state, for the period of 2019 to 2020, were analyzed. The results show a large number of seized and collected illegal fishing gear, as well as mammals, fish and birds found entangled in the nets.

Automated summary

Discarded fishing gear is causing a depletion of fish stocks, threats to marine habitats, and an increase in marine pollution. A study in Santa Catarina, Brazil, analyzed data from reports on gill nets and found a significant number of illegal fishing gear and entangled marine animals.