Three men aged 38, 58, and 60 were fined more than R$ 3,700 after being caught fishing in a prohibited area of the Paraná River in Rosana, São Paulo on Sunday. This enforcement action by the Environmental Military Police was part of a nautical patrol in the stretch downstream from the Sérgio Motta Hydroelectric Plant, where fishing is restricted. The team intercepted a boat located less than 1.5 kilometers from fish passage mechanisms, which are protected by law.

Inside the boat, police found the three individuals engaged in recreational fishing with nylon rods and reels. They had already caught 33 fish of the piau-três-pintas species, weighing a total of 13.11 kg. The fishermen claimed they were unaware of the environmental legislation that prohibits fishing in that specific area, highlighting a potential gap in public knowledge regarding local fishing regulations and conservation efforts.

This incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by environmental authorities in enforcing fishing regulations and the need for awareness campaigns to educate the public about protected areas. Such enforcement actions are critical in maintaining the balance of aquatic ecosystems, particularly in regions impacted by industrial activities like those linked to hydroelectric power generation.