Brazil updates aquaculture environmental licensing rules

Brazil's National Council of the Environment (Conama) has issued Resolution 517/2026, updating the environmental licensing regulations for the aquaculture sector. This new regulation replaces the previous Resolution Conama No. 413/2009.

The primary change involves classifying aquaculture enterprises based on their annual production volume (tons per year) rather than other metrics. This shift aims to create greater proportionality between environmental requirements and the scale of production. Under the new framework, small-scale enterprises may qualify for the License by Adhesion and Commitment (LAC), medium-scale enterprises will follow the Single Environmental License (LAU), and large-scale operations will remain subject to ordinary licensing processes.

The resolution also addresses the cultivation of exotic, non-native, or hybrid species, stating that such cultivation does not automatically change the licensing modality. However, specific mitigation and prevention measures, including biosecurity and escape prevention, remain mandatory. The updated rules incorporate modern industry concepts such as integrated cultivation systems, closed production systems, and mass escape management.