Aquaculture expansion in Brazilian freshwaters against the Aichi Biodiversity Targets

• Published in: Ambio Vol. 47; no. 4; pp. 427 - 440
• Main Authors: Junior, Dilermando Pereira Lima, Magalhães, André Lincoln Barroso, Pelicice, Fernando Mayer, Vitule, Jean Ricardo Simões, Azevedo-Santos, Valter M., Orsi, Mário Luís, Simberloff, Daniel, Agostinho, Angelo Antônio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Science + Business Media 01.05.2018; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Aquaculture; Atmospheric Sciences; Biodiversity; biodiversity conservation; Brazil; Conservation; Conservation of Natural Resources; Convention on Biological Diversity; Developing countries; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Economic development; Ecosystem; Ecosystem services; Ecosystems; Environment; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Environmental Management; Environmental management systems; Environmental policy; Fish; Fresh Water; Freshwater ecology; Freshwater fish; issues and policy; LDCs; Natural resources; Physical Geography; REVIEW; Social welfare; Wildlife conservation; Brazil; Environmental management system; Biodiversity conservation; Blue revolution; Non-native invasive species; Convention on Biological Diversity; Megadiversity
• ISSN: 0044-7447; 1654-7209; 1654-7209
• DOI: 10.1007/s13280-017-1001-z

The Convention on Biological Diversity proposed the Aichi Biodiversity Targets to improve conservation policies and to balance economic development, social welfare, and the maintenance of biodiversity/ecosystem services. Brazil is a signatory of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and is the most diverse country in terms of freshwater fish, but its national policies have supported the development of unsustainable commercial and ornamental aquaculture, which has led to serious disturbances to inland ecosystems and natural resources. We analyzed the development of Brazilian aquaculture to show how current aquaculture expansion conflicts with all 20 Aichi Targets. This case suggests that Brazil and many other megadiverse developing countries will not meet international conservation targets, stressing the need for new strategies, such as the environmental management system, to improve biodiversity conservation.