More of the same: New policies continue fostering the use of non-native fish in Brazil

Incentives for farming non-native fish species in public waters have regained strength in Brazil (Charvet et al. Reference Charvet, Occhi, Faria, Carvalho, Pedroso and Carneiro2021), and some states strive to boost the aquaculture market with the non-native striped catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (Sauvage 1878). First authorized in the state of São Paulo, striped catfish farming has been allowed in other states (e.g., Rio Grande do Norte Decree Nº 27.684/2018 and Tocantins Decree Nº 3.825/2021). The national environmental licensing process has been simplified and inspections loosened from the permission process for farming non-native species (Dias et al. Reference Dias, Pelicice, Tófoli, Alves, Lopes and Castello2021). The direction of Brazilian national policies puts biodiversity at risk and encourages unsustainable practices that contrast with international agreements. Therefore, the increase in state authorizations for the farming of P. hypophthalmus, in addition to illegal farming that occurs in other states, can contribute to the spread of P. hypophthalmus throughout the country. This becomes even more worrying if other states also authorize or illegally farm the species, especially in those that share river networks with neighbouring countries (SAE 2013). Here, we aimed to register the legislation of the Brazilian states that authorize the farming of P. hypophthalmus and to warn about the risks of yet another imminent invasion of P. hypophthalmus in the country and in South America.