Brazil aquaculture environmental licensing updates

Brazil has introduced new regulatory frameworks for environmental licensing, including the General Environmental Licensing Law (Law No. 15.190/2025) which established general norms and analysis deadlines across various government levels.

In conjunction with these broader laws, the National Council of the Environment (Conama) issued Resolution 517/2026 to update licensing specifically for the aquaculture sector, replacing the 2009 regulations. This update shifts the classification of aquaculture enterprises—covering fish, crustaceans, and mollusks—from area-based criteria to annual production volume.

Under this new system, small-scale operations may use the self-declaratory License by Adhesion and Commitment (LAC), medium-scale enterprises will follow the Single Environmental License (LAU), and large-scale operations will continue with ordinary licensing processes. While the cultivation of non-native or hybrid species does not automatically change the licensing modality, mandatory biosecurity and escape prevention measures remain required. The aquaculture-specific rules are set to take effect in April 2027.