SILENCED VOICES: ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE ZRO FISH TRANPORTATION LAW IN THE PANTANAL OF MATO GROSSO

The Zero Fish Transportation Law (Laws No. 12,197/2023 and No. 12,434/2024) in Mato Grosso, which restricted fishing in the state’s three river basins — Pantanal, Amazon, and Tocantins-Araguaia —, generated significant social controversy. This study analyzed public hearings held in Cuiabá and Barão de Melgaço on this legislation, identifying the participation of different social groups and their arguments. The statements of 123 participants were recorded and analyzed with NVivo and Excel, revealing that 90% of the speakers were against the changes in fishing policy, including all researchers linked to state and federal agencies and entities dealing with environmental research and conservation. These researchers highlighted the lack of scientific basis for the restrictions and manifested data-based concerns about socioeconomic impacts on traditional communities. The most compelling criticisms were directed at the state government (the author of the bill) and the parliamentarians who approved the measure, claiming that the proposal was imposed without public consultation and disagreed with the demands of fishing communities. Participants highlighted that the law directly threatens food sovereignty and the economic security of fishermen, whose livelihoods depend on fishing activities. Moreover, they pointed to the omission of factors such as agricultural pollution, hydroelectric plants, and tourism as the real causes of damage to fish fauna, besides the lack of effective social participation in the decision-making process. The practice of recreational fishing as "catch and release" has also been criticized, with allegations that it increases fish mortality and damages the aquatic ecosystem. The study concludes that the new fishing policy conflicts with the 2030 Sustainable Global Goals and recommends adopting more balanced measures based on scientific evidence and constructed in a participatory manner. The study highlights the need for rigorous scientific research on fish stocks and the reformulation of fishery policies on a participatory basis that integrates scientific and traditional knowledge.