Control fishing captures 1.5 tons of arapaima in an area where the species is considered invasive in RO

Around 1.5 tons of arapaima were fished for population control in the Fauna D'Óleo Reserve, in Rondônia. The action ended this Wednesday (6).

The state government's objective is to reduce the pirarucus population in environments where the species is not native. The measure protects aquatic ecosystems.

At this stage, 48 arapaima were captured at the site. The next actions will be expanded to the Ilha das Flores and Corumbiara state parks.

The work is based on Ibama Normative Instruction 7, dated March 17, 2026. The text recognizes the arapaima as an invasive species outside its area.

Ibama also authorized the mandatory slaughter of fish above the Santo Antônio dam. Commercialization can only occur within the state of origin.

Around 1.5 tons of arapaima were caught during the first stage of population control fishing for the Arapaima gigas species in the Fauna D'Óleo Reserve, in Vale do Guaporé (RO). The action was closed last Wednesday (6).

According to the Government of Rondônia, fishing aims to reduce the number of arapaima in places where they are not found naturally. The measure seeks to prevent the fish from harming other species that live in these environments.

In total, 48 arapaima were captured in this first stage. The action was coordinated by the Coordination of Conservation Units (CUC), with support from the Amazon Sustainable Landscapes Program (ASL).

According to the Government of Rondônia, the work should be expanded to two other protected areas in the state: the Ilha das Flores State Park and the Corumbiara State Park.

Fishing is part of a plan created to control the presence of pirarucu in the conservation units of Vale do Guaporé. The document was prepared with technical information and the experience of fishermen in the region.

The activity follows a rule from the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama), published in March 2026. The rule allows the capture and slaughter of arapaima found outside their natural environment to reduce the population in these locations.

The actions are monitored by the State Secretariat for Environmental Development (Sedam) and include the participation of communities in the region.

Decision

The Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) classified the arapaima as an invasive species in the region above the Santo Antônio dam, on the Madeira River, in Porto Velho. Furthermore, the agency authorized the unlimited capture and slaughter of fish in this area. The decision was published in the Official Gazette of the Union this week.

In the case of the Madeira River, above the Santo Antônio dam, the fish cannot be returned to their areas of origin if captured: all must be slaughtered.

Fishery products can only be sold within the state where the fish was harvested. If they are transported to another state, they will be seized.

The standard also authorizes state and municipal governments to encourage actions to control the species. The slaughtered arapaima can be used for social programs, such as school meals, public hospitals and initiatives to combat hunger.

In conservation units, control will depend on authorization from managers and must follow specific management plans.

The decision will be re-evaluated in three years, to verify whether the measure is effective in controlling the presence of arapaima outside its natural range.