Researchers and local residents found areas with massive mortality of fish eggs beneath the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam, specifically in the region known as the Volta Grande do Xingu. Images taken by members of the Independent Environmental Monitoring of Volta Grande do Xingu reveal countless fish eggs exposed on the ground, leaves, and branches, no longer in water and impossible to salvage. This alarming situation highlights the ecological risks associated with hydroelectric projects in fragile environments.

The fish egg mortality was observed in an area referred to as the Piracema do Odílio, a section of the Xingu River characterized by small water channels. This issue is directly linked to how the Belo Monte dam operates, which has implications for local biodiversity and fish populations vital to both the ecosystem and the local communities that rely on fishing for sustenance and livelihood.

In response to inquiries from Folha, the concessionaire Norte Energia acknowledged awareness of the emergence of fish eggs in a breeding area and stated that the information and evidence collected are under analysis by specialists from the Federal University of Pará (UFPA). This incident raises questions about the environmental accountability of hydroelectric projects and their long-term impacts on aquatic life in the region, further igniting discussions on sustainable energy practices in Brazil.