Legislative Challenges of Recreational Fishing in Light of Bill No. 618/2019

Abstract

Although Brazil has a natural vocation for fisheries, legislation at all levels continues to exhibit significant gaps that hinder the effective promotion of the activity in its various forms. These gaps are particularly pronounced in the field of recreational fishing, which occupies a distinctive position: it is simultaneously a matter of concern for agencies and stakeholders in both the fisheries and tourism sectors, both ultimately subordinated to the broader environmental regulatory framework. This paper examines the place of recreational fishing within the normative landscape of Brazilian fisheries law, with particular focus on the legislative process of Bill No. 618/2019 and the Federal Government’s drafting of the National Plan for the Sustainable Development of Recreational Fishing.