Brasília, April 2, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - The Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) is alerting the public to the suspension of shrimp fishing in the Northeast region, as far as the north of Bahia. In the southern part of the state, the suspension is expected to go into effect in September. The suspension applies to shrimp of the São Paulo ("rosa"), Atlantic seabob ("sete barbas"), and white ("branco") species.

According to Rômulo Mello, Ibama's director of Animals and Human Resources, the new rules were determined after consulting the communities involved in shrimp fishing in these regions. The purpose of the suspension is to preserve fishing resources from excessive commercial shrimp exploitation.

Ibama also cautions that along the coast of Alagoas, shrimp fishing can only be practiced at a distance of at least one nautical mile from the coast. In Sergipe, a minimum of two nautical miles is the rule, and in northern Bahia, three miles. Ibama's calendar foresees a new suspension of fishing in the region between December 1 and January 15.

Along the entire Northeast seaboard, it is also prohibited to use dragnets with a mesh smaller than 28 millimeters, back-up nets (devices responsible for the excess of fish caught in nets), and trawling operations in motorized vessels in estuaries, considered the hatcheries of marine life.

Translator: David Silberstein