Brazil creates fishing settlements to protect traditional communities from real estate pressure

The Brazilian government began implementing a new type of land settlement to protect traditional fishing communities from real estate speculation and territorial threats.

Since the end of 2025, the government has used Agroextractive Fishing Settlement Projects (PAE Pesqueiro) to secure land for artisanal fishing populations. These settlements target federal lands such as islands, floodplains, and areas near rivers and lagoons.

According to the National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform (Incra), 44 of these projects were established across ten states by August 2026. These projects aim to provide legal security for groups like caiçaras, shellfish gatherers, and riverine people, preventing private land grabs and incompatible land uses. The new settlement model allows families to access public policies, including technical assistance and credit from the National Agrarian Reform Program (PNRA).

Cristiano Ramalho, a secretary at the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, described the initiative as a historic milestone for recognizing fishing territories. He stated that recognizing these lands is essential for the cultural existence and social life of these communities. While the program offers more protections, some community members, such as Juliane Teixeira, noted that the policy is an instrument for territorial defense rather than a 100% guarantee against all external pressures.

In São Paulo, the Praia de Santiago territory became the first PAE Pesqueiro in the state in April 2026. It covers approximately 720 hectares and supports five families. In Rio Grande do Sul, the Torotama island settlement protects trutameiros, who primarily fish for shrimp and mullet. These communities face ongoing threats from tourism and industrial projects, such as wind farms. The initiative seeks to preserve traditional knowledge and ways of life that have existed for centuries.