The Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) announced on Wednesday, November 11, that it has launched an investigation into the mass mortality of various fish species in the Verde Para Sempre Extractive Reserve located in Porto de Moz, southwestern Pará. This decision follows the emergence of a video recorded on November 9 by a local fisherman who captured the sight of numerous dead fish along the banks of the Cupari River, expressing his distress over the environmental tragedy. The content of this video has raised awareness among the local community about the situation's severity.

In response to this alarming event, ICMBio has mobilized teams from its territorial coordination and from the department of research, evaluation, and biodiversity monitoring to conduct thorough inquiries to determine the cause of the fish deaths. While ICMBio has scheduled the first visit to the site for this week, the exact date has not been disclosed, showing the urgency with which the agency is approaching the incident. The suspected species affected include aracu, pescada, and tucunaré, among others, indicating a diverse impact on the local aquatic ecosystem.

The implications of this incident could be significant not only for the biodiversity of the region but also for the livelihood of local fishermen and communities that depend on these fish species for their sustenance. As investigations proceed, the outcome will be crucial in understanding whether human activities such as pollution or changes in water quality are responsible, or if natural factors contributed to this ecological crisis, reinforcing the need for ongoing monitoring and conservation efforts in these vital ecosystems.