commercial fishing

for those who live
by fishing

License, closed-season insurance, boat, gear rules, selling with invoices and safety at sea, step by step and with the official source for each item.

Checked on October 2026. Checked in October 2026. The rules for professional fishers changed a great deal in 2025 and 2026 and are still changing. This summary does not replace the law or the agency's guidance. When in doubt, confirm at the fishing colony, with the Ministry of Fisheries' superintendency in your state, with the Ministry of Labor (closed-season insurance) or with the Port Captaincy. The closed seasons, minimum sizes and prohibited species on the rules page also apply to you. The 10 kg limit, the list of gear and the sales ban that appear there are for recreational fishers.

RGP: the professional fisher's license

The RGP is the Ministry of Fisheries' official registry. Without a professional fisher license you can't fish to sell, can't apply for closed-season insurance, and can't issue an invoice for the catch.

The General Registry of Fishing Activity (RGP) is the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture (MPA) registry. Anyone who fishes to sell needs the Professional Fisher License, in the artisanal or industrial category.

Artisanal fishers are those who fish to sell on their own account or with family, with their own means or in partnership, from a boat of up to 20 gross tonnage (AB). Industrial fishers are those who work on board as employees or in partnership for shares of the catch.

The license is free, digital and valid across Brazil. It has no expiration date but must be maintained every year: the REAP (Annual Report on Fishing Activity). Without the REAP, the license can be suspended and then canceled. And without an up-to-date license there is no closed-season insurance.

The fisher submits the application themselves in the PesqBrasil system, with a gov.br silver or gold account. The MPA's regional superintendency analyzes it within 60 days, which can become 120.

The amateur license (R$20 or R$60 per year) is different. It does not allow selling fish.

step by step

Keep your gov.br account at silver or gold level. If it's bronze, raise the level in the gov.br app.
Log in to PesqBrasil Professional Fisher and fill out the license application.
Send the documents as PDF and the photo as JPG or PNG. Everything must be legible and without alterations.
Track the process in the system and by email. If they request a document, you have 60 days to send it. If you don't, the request is closed.
While the application is being reviewed, the receipt may count as a temporary license. Carry the receipt and a photo ID. Check with the regional Superintendency whether this applies to your case.
Every year, file the REAP (annual fishing activity report) in the same system. You can fill it in month by month.
Months without fishing must also be reported, with the reason: closed season, illness, maternity leave or another impediment.
Moved, changed boats or changed gear? Update your registration in the system.

documents

Recent 3x4 photo
Official photo ID
CPF
PIS, PASEP, NIT or NIS number
Proof of residence or residence declaration (MPA form, with a version for people who cannot read)
Declaration of membership in a fishers' colony, association or union, only if you are a member (MPA form)
Industrial fisher: work card or partnership contract, and the Navy's Registration Booklet (CIR)
Foreign national: passport with visa and work authorization in Brazil

caution

Special deadline: overdue REAP reports from 2021 to 2025 can be filed until Dec 31, 2026 (Law 15.399/2026, art. 9)
For the 2026 closed-season benefit, the 2025 REAP is enough.
The MPA publishes lists in the Official Gazette (DOU) of licenses with pending issues, suspended licenses and canceled licenses. In 2026, for example, Portaria MPA nº 614/2026 came out, covering people who had not filed their REAP. Check your status in the system or with the Superintendency.
Canceled license: you can apply again only after 6 months.
These people cannot hold the license: retirees on permanent disability, people receiving assistance benefits that bar work, and public servants or political agents (with exceptions). Check your own case.
Providing false information is a crime and cancels the license.
Applying is free and you do it yourself. Be wary of anyone who charges you to "get your RGP."
You must be 18 or older.

sources for this section

official Pescador e Pescadora Profissional (MPA): sistema PesqBrasil, formulários e portariasLists Portaria MPA nº 127/2023, 336/2024, and the 2025 and 2026 lists.
official REAP: perguntas frequentes (MPA)New system for the REAP from 2025; old system for 2021 to 2024.
official Portaria MPA nº 127, de 29 de agosto de 2023 (RGP e licença de pescador profissional)Arts. 2, 4, 7, 8, 13 to 16, 22 and 26. Amended by Portaria MPA nº 336/2024. Text in the DOU; links on the MPA page.
official Decreto nº 8.425/2015 (critérios do RGP)
official Lei nº 11.959/2009 (Lei da Pesca), art. 8º: pesca artesanal e industrial
official Lei nº 15.399/2026, art. 9º (prazo do REAP de 2021 a 2025)

closed-season benefit (seguro-defeso, for artisanal fishers)

One minimum wage per month of closed season for the artisanal fisher who lives only from fishing. Since November 2025, applications go to the Ministry of Labor, through Emprega Brasil or the Carteira de Trabalho Digital app.

The closed-season benefit pays one minimum wage per month (R$1,621 in 2026) while the closed season for the species you fish lasts. Under the unemployment insurance rules, it is at most 5 installments. The benefit is personal. Only one is paid per year, even if you fish species with different closed seasons.

Eligible: the professional artisanal fisher, a special insured worker (segurado especial) of the INSS. He or she must have fished without a break between the previous closed season and the current one, or in the 12 months before (whichever is shorter). No income other than fishing is allowed. And the person must live in a municipality covered by the closed season or next to the closed-season area.

The rules changed in 2025 and 2026 (Laws 15.265/2025 and 15.399/2026). The Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE) now receives and reviews applications. Applications for closed seasons that began by Oct 31, 2025 remain with the INSS.

Now you must also have biometrics on file and be registered in the CadÚnico (the federal registry of low-income families). The CadÚnico is not an income cap for denying the benefit. Biometrics can be checked with the National Identity Card (Carteira de Identidade Nacional), the Electoral Justice record, or the driver's license (CNH).

To keep the benefit, you must prove that you fished and sold between one closed season and the next. This is done with sales invoices (notas fiscais) or INSS contribution payment slips (guias), and with the annual activity report.

step by step

Check whether your municipality is covered by the closed-season rule for the species you fish. Ask at your fishers' colony or read the rule.
Keep your RGP up to date: artisanal license at least 1 year before applying, and REAP filed.
Register or update your CadÚnico at the CRAS (social assistance center) in your city.
Make sure your biometrics are on file: National Identity Card, voter ID biometrics, or driver's license (CNH).
Set aside the sales invoices showing the INSS deduction (from at least 6 of the 12 months before the closed season). If you sold to an individual, set aside the monthly contribution slips.
Apply on the Emprega Brasil portal or in the Carteira de Trabalho Digital app. Deadline: from 30 days before to 90 days after the start of the closed season (Codefat rule published Oct 8, 2026).
In some cities, Fundacentro holds an in-person interview. Afterward, you confirm "De Acordo" in the Carteira de Trabalho Digital app.
Track the review and payment dates in the same app or portal.
Application denied? Request a review through the app or portal, with your justification and documents. Confirm the review deadline in the app or at the colony.
Problem with your online application: go to a Ministry of Labor service center.
Closed seasons that began by Oct 31, 2025, late payments and old pending cases: Meu INSS or Central 135.

documents

Official photo ID and CPF number
Home address in a municipality covered by the closed season
Artisanal professional fisher license in the RGP, issued at least 1 year ago
REAP filed (in 2026, the 2025 report)
Fish sales invoices showing the INSS contribution, or monthly contribution slips
CadÚnico registration
Biometrics on file
gov.br account

caution

The benefit is cut off if you fish during the closed season or break the closed-season rules.
It is also cut off if you earn income from fishing a species not covered by the rule, if you start another job, or if you begin receiving a continuous cash benefit (BPC). Death pension and accident benefit (auxílio-acidente) can be received alongside it.
There is no benefit if the closed-season rule leaves an alternative fishing option in your municipality.
People who work in support of fishing (cleaning fish, mending nets, selling) and family members receive it only if they meet the requirements on their own.
Fraud: registration canceled and no right to apply for 5 years; double the penalty if repeated. An organization that helps with fraud loses its agreements.
The Ministry of Labor publishes the list of recipients each month: name, municipality and RGP number. Addresses are not published.
Late payments for closed seasons before 2026: Law 15.399/2026 requires payment within 60 days after the fisher is in good standing.
Authentication: for closed seasons starting by Oct 31, 2026, the law gave a transition period to those who did not yet have two-step verification on gov.br. Turn on two-step verification and check the rule for upcoming closed seasons.
Applying is free. You don't need to pay a middleman.
Codefat changes deadlines often. Confirm your closed season's application window in the app or at the colony before the deadline passes.

sources for this section

official Lei nº 10.779/2003, texto compilado (com as Leis 15.265/2025 e 15.399/2026)Art. 1 (amount, income, residence, biometrics and CadÚnico), Art. 2 (MTE, 1-year RGP, sales invoices for 6 of the 12 months), Art. 3 (fraud).
official Lei nº 15.399/2026 (conversão da MP 1.323/2025)Arts. 7 (authentication), 9 (REAP) and 10 (late payments).
official Seguro-Desemprego do Pescador Artesanal (Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego)Channels, requirements, Fundacentro interview and review.
official Pescadores têm prazo ampliado para solicitar o seguro-defeso (MTE, 09/10/2026)Codefat resolution published in the DOU on Oct 8, 2026. The news report does not give the resolution number.
official Decreto nº 8.424/2015 (regulamento do seguro-defeso), art. 1º, § 12, e art. 6ºAmended by Decree nº 12.527/2025.
official Decreto nº 12.797/2025 (salário mínimo de R$ 1.621 em 2026)

boat: navy and fisheries ministry

A fishing boat has two registrations: enrollment at the Harbor Master's office (Capitania, Navy) and the Fishing Authorization in the RGP (Fisheries Ministry). The person in command needs a mariner certification (habilitação de aquaviário).

With the Navy, the boat is registered at the Capitania, Delegacia or Agência in your region. It issues the Boat Registration Title (TIE) or, for small boats, the Small Boat Registration Title (TIEM). A small boat without an engine is usually exempt from registration. With an engine, as a rule, it must be registered. Check your case with the Capitania.

At the Fisheries Ministry, a boat that fishes for sale is entered in the RGP as a fishing vessel and needs a Fishing Authorization. To build, buy or convert a boat, you first need the Prior Fishing Permit. Boats up to 8 m do not pay the annual fee.

Propesc (National Program for Regularizing Fishing Vessels) is regularizing boats already registered, through inspection. It started on Jan 1, 2025, lasts up to 3 years (until the end of 2027) and can be extended by 1 more year.

To command a professional fishing boat, the Navy requires enrollment as a mariner (aquaviário), with the Inscription and Registration Booklet (CIR), in the fisher category (for example, Professional Fisher, POP). Each level has limits on boat size and distance from shore. The courses belong to the Maritime Professional Education program, run by the Capitanias. Arrais-Amador is a certificate for sport and leisure boating.

PREPS is satellite tracking for fishing boats. It is mandatory for boats 15 m or longer, or of 50 gross tonnage (AB) or more. Smaller boats may join if they wish.

step by step

Go to the nearest Navy Capitania, Delegacia or Agência and ask what your boat needs: registration, inspection and safety equipment.
Take the fisher mariner course when a spot opens at the Capitania. Keep your CIR and keep it up to date.
Apply for the boat's Fishing Authorization at the Fisheries Ministry: through the Digital Protocol, through SEI, or at your state's Superintendency.
Is your boat already in the RGP? Check the Propesc inspection schedule at the Superintendency and don't miss the date.
Bought or sold a boat? Transfer it with the Navy and the Fisheries Ministry.
Carry on board: TIE or TIEM, the CIR of the person in command, the Fishing Authorization, each fisher's license, and the required safety equipment.

documents

Photo ID and CPF of the owner (or company documents)
Proof of residence
TIE, TIEM or ownership record issued by the Navy
Fisheries Ministry application form (template on the website)
Fee receipt (GRU), when the boat is longer than 8 m
Descriptive report and plan, for construction or conversion
Inspection report, when required (Propesc)

caution

A fishing boat that does not get inspected on the Propesc schedule loses its Prior Fishing Permit or Fishing Authorization (Decree 12.336/2024, art. 7).
You cannot operate the boat with the Prior Fishing Permit. To fish, you need the Fishing Authorization.
The Navy rules (NORMAM) were rewritten starting in 2023. Required lifesaving equipment depends on the navigation area and the boat's size. Confirm with the Capitania.
As a rule, one life jacket for each person on board.
Some fisheries require a boat-specific authorization for the method, such as lobster and snapper. The fisher's license is not enough.
The boat's RGP number can appear on the fish sales invoice. If the RGP owner is someone else, present the transfer or the update self-declaration (Portaria Interministerial MPA/MAPA 54/2026).
The general PREPS rule dates from 2006. Some fleets have their own rules and deadlines for joining. Check with the Superintendency whether your boat needs a tracker.

sources for this section

official Embarcação de Pesca: Permissão Prévia, Autorização de Pesca e taxas (MPA)Fee exempt up to 8 m; accepts TIE or the Small Boat Registration Title (TIEM).
official Decreto nº 12.336/2024 (Propesc)Arts. 5 (requirements), 6 (deadline of up to 3 years) and 7 (cancellation without inspection).
official Portaria MPA nº 127/2023, art. 7º (CIR exigida do pescador industrial)Text in the DOU; links on the MPA's "Professional Fisher" page.
official Instrução Normativa Interministerial SEAP/MMA/Comando da Marinha nº 2/2006 (PREPS)Required for gross tonnage (AB) of 50 or more, or overall length of 15 m or more. We have not read the current official text: confirm with the MPA or the Capitania.
official Portaria Interministerial MPA/MAPA nº 54/2026 (nota fiscal do pescado)
official Lei nº 9.537/1997 (segurança do tráfego aquaviário)Basis of the Navy rules. For certification and safety equipment details, confirm with the Capitania.

professional fishing rules: gear, closed seasons and sizes

Professional fishers may use nets, cast nets (tarrafa), longlines and other gear, but only those allowed by the rule for their river basin or coastline. Closed seasons, minimum sizes and prohibited species apply to you too.

The Fishing Law prohibits fishing in closed times and places. It prohibits fishing for protected species, undersized fish, without a license, and above the permitted quantity. It prohibits fishing near sewage outfalls and in ways that obstruct navigation. And it prohibits fishing with explosives, poison, or prohibited or predatory gear and methods.

It is also prohibited to transport, sell or process fish caught illegally.

There is no single national list of nets and mesh sizes. Each basin, state and fishery has its own rule: minimum mesh, net size, distance from shore and closed areas. Ask at the colony and at the Fisheries Ministry superintendency which rule applies to your area and your gear.

The rules page in this app applies to you: spawning closure (piracema) and closed seasons, minimum and maximum sizes, and prohibited species. There, what appears as "allowed during the closed season," the 10 kg bag limits, the list of gear, and the sales ban are rules for recreational anglers. For professionals, the rule for each closed season and each fishery applies.

On the coast there are many closed seasons for fish, shrimp, crabs, lobster and shellfish. The full official list is at Ibama. See the main ones under "attention."

step by step

Before the season, confirm with the colony and the Fisheries Ministry superintendency: closed season, permitted mesh and gear, closed areas, and whether your boat needs authorization for the species.
Open the rules page and filter by your state and basin. Closed seasons, sizes and prohibited species apply to you.
On the coast, also check Ibama's list of marine closed seasons.
Before the closed season starts, if you hold stock of a protected species caught earlier, file the Stock Declaration with Ibama (through SEI) to prove its origin.
Measure fish by total length. Below the minimum, release it alive.
If a threatened species comes up in your net, release it alive right away.

documents

Professional fisher license (RGP)
Boat's Fishing Authorization, with the method
Photo ID
Invoice or proof of origin of the fish for transport and sale
Stock Declaration, if you hold stock of a species under closed season

caution

Fishing during a closed period, fishing a protected species, below the minimum size, over the quantity limit, or with prohibited gear is a crime: detention of 1 to 3 years or a fine, or both (Law 9.605/1998, art. 34). With explosives or poison: imprisonment of 1 to 5 years (art. 35).
Tambaqui: from about Oct 25, 2026, catching, transporting and selling wild tambaqui is banned all year (Portarias GM/MMA 1.666 and 1.667/2026). Fish from licensed farms remains allowed. See the details on the rules page.
Lobster (red, green and painted), from Amapá to the ES/RJ border: closed season Nov 1 to Apr 30 (Portaria SAP/MAPA 221/2021).
Brazilian sardinella (sardinha-verdadeira), from Cabo de São Tomé (RJ) to Cabo de Santa Marta (SC): closed season Oct 1 to Feb 28 (IN Ibama 15/2009, amended by IN MAPA 18/2020).
Shrimp: from RJ to RS, Jan 28 to Apr 30; in ES, Dec 1 to Feb 28; in AP, PA and PI, Dec 15 to Feb 15; in Maranhão (estuaries and igarapé creeks), Jan 1 to May 31. In the Northeast and Bahia there are two windows a year. Check your area on the Ibama list.
Uçá crab (caranguejo-uçá): from ES to SC, Oct 1 to Nov 30 (in December, females only). In the North and Northeast, the andada (mass crab migration) has windows of about 6 days, tied to the moon, set by ordinance each year (in 2026: Portaria MPA/MMA 45/2026).
Mussel, from ES to RS: Sep 1 to Dec 31. Oysters in SP and PR: Dec 18 to Feb 18.
Piramutaba, from AP to PA: Sep 1 to Nov 30. Gurijuba: Nov 17 to Mar 31. Bluefish (anchova), from PR to RS: Dec 1 to Mar 31. Snowy grouper (cherne-verdadeiro) and peixe-batata (tilefish), from ES to RS: Sep 1 to Oct 31.
Grouper, snapper, snook (robalo, BA and ES), reef fish, and mullet (tainha) in the estuaries of the Southeast and South are on the rules page.
Goliath grouper (mero), miraguaia, white catfish (bagre-branco, outside SP and PR), threatened sharks and rays, and other species on the national list may not be caught or sold.

sources for this section

official Lei nº 11.959/2009 (Lei da Pesca), art. 6º
official Lei nº 9.605/1998 (crimes ambientais), arts. 34 e 35
official Defesos marinhos (Ibama)Page updated Jan 21, 2026. For shrimp from RJ to RS and from MA, the rule was not clear on the page: check there.
official Defesos continentais (Ibama)
official Declaração de Estoque (Ibama)Portaria Interministerial MPA/MMA nº 16/2024. Request through Ibama's SEI.
official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.666/2026 (proteção das espécies ameaçadas)

selling fish: invoices, inspection and government purchases

Selling with an invoice protects you: it counts toward the closed-season benefit and your pension. To process fish and sell it in markets you need sanitary inspection. The government buys artisanal fish through the PAA and school meals.

Invoices. The artisanal fisher can sell with a producer invoice (nota de produtor) or receive the entry invoice issued by the buying company. As a rule, to issue a producer invoice you need producer registration with the state's Finance Secretariat (Secretaria da Fazenda). Rules differ from state to state. Check with the Sefaz, the colony, or technical assistance (Emater or equivalent).

Since April 2026, the invoice is the official document of origin for fish going to a processing plant (frigorífico) or inspected warehouse (entreposto). The invoice must show the RGP number, the registration of the buying establishment, and the name and quantity of each species. It goes with a copy of your license (Portaria Interministerial MPA/MAPA 54/2026). Keeping the fish and taking it to sale does not require this invoice.

INSS on sales. As a special insured worker (segurado especial), you contribute 1.5% of the sales value: 1.2% for social security, 0.1% for work accidents and 0.2% for Senar. When you sell to a company, it deducts and remits the contribution. When you sell directly to an individual, you pay it yourself with an INSS payment slip (guia). These records are requested for the closed-season benefit and count toward retirement.

Processing. To sell cleaned fish, fillets, salted, smoked, frozen, or packaged fish in markets, the facility needs sanitary inspection. The SIM is municipal and valid for sales within the municipality. The SIE is state-level and valid within the state. The SIF is federal and valid throughout Brazil. A municipal or state inspection service that joined SISBI-POA allows sales across the country.

Government purchases. The PAA (Food Acquisition Program) buys from artisanal fishers with a CAF. Most often, sales go through an association or cooperative, in calls by Conab, the state, or the municipality. For school meals (PNAE), at least 45% of the money must buy from family farming, which includes artisanal fishers.

step by step

Get the CAF (National Registry of Family Farming). It is free and valid for 3 years. Apply at an entity accredited by the MDA: Emater or technical assistance, the municipality, or a union. Bring your RGP license.
Ask your state's Sefaz or the colony how to issue a producer invoice.
Selling to a company? Ask for the invoice showing the INSS deduction and keep a copy.
Selling directly to consumers? Pay the monthly INSS contribution and keep the slip (guia).
Want to process fish? Contact the municipal (SIM) or state (SIE) inspection service before setting up your facility.
To sell to the PAA and school meals, join an association or cooperative and follow the calls from Conab, the state, and the municipality.
The right amount of ice: well-kept fish is worth more. See the fish preservation guide.

documents

Professional fisher license (RGP)
Active CAF
Producer registration with the Sefaz, when the state requires it
Sales invoices and INSS slips (guias)
SIM, SIE or SIF registration, for processing

caution

Without invoices and contributions, you can lose the closed-season benefit and struggle to prove your fishing record for retirement.
Fish of a species under closed season or prohibited may not be sold or bought. Fish stocked before the closed season requires a Stock Declaration.
Live lobster: during transport, only the fish invoice counts as proof of origin.
In coastal and marine Extractive Reserves (Resex), origin can be proven with documents issued by the reserve's management agency.
The PAA has a yearly value limit per person and per organization, which changes with each call. Read the call notice (edital).
Selo Pesca Artesanal do Brasil: identifies the origin of artisanal fish and helps sell to the PAA, school meals, and retail. It is free and requested from the MDA, together with the Selo Nacional da Agricultura Familiar (National Family Farming Seal). It requires an active artisanal professional fisher license in the RGP and an up-to-date CAF. An association or cooperative can apply if at least half of its board has an active RGP.
We did not find an official national source for artisanal fish prices. Compare with the colony, buyers, and the entreposto warehouse in your region.

sources for this section

official Portaria Interministerial MPA/MAPA nº 54/2026 (nota fiscal do pescado)Arts. 1 to 4. In force since Apr 10, 2026.
official Lei nº 8.212/1991, art. 25 (contribuição do segurado especial sobre a venda)1.2% (Law 13.606/2018) + 0.1%. The 0.2% for Senar comes from Law 8.315/1991. Confirm the payment slip code with the INSS or the Receita Federal.
official O que é o CAF (panfleto do MDA)Free, valid for 3 years; the fisher presents the artisanal professional fisher license.
official Lei nº 14.628/2023 (PAA) e Decreto nº 11.802/2023
official Lei nº 11.947/2009, art. 14 (PNAE: mínimo de 45% da agricultura familiar, redação da Lei 15.226/2025)
official Lei nº 11.326/2006, art. 3º (pescador artesanal é agricultor familiar para as políticas públicas)
official Conab: agricultura familiar e PAA
official Portaria Interministerial MDA/MPA nº 14, de 23 de dezembro de 2025 (Selo Pesca Artesanal do Brasil)Requirements checked against a summary of the ordinance and MPA and MDA news. Confirm the step-by-step process on the MDA site.
official Já está valendo: selo garante origem aos pescados da pesca artesanal (MPA)

colony, cooperative and credit (pronaf)

Colonies, federations and the national confederation are the representative bodies of artisanal fishers recognized by law. Associations and cooperatives help sell together. Pronaf finances operating costs and investment at low interest rates.

The fishers' colonies (the "Z" colonies, such as Z-1 and Z-2), state federations, and the national confederation are professional representative bodies of artisanal fishers recognized by law (Law 11.699/2008). They defend the category and can file complaints against predatory fishing. Membership is voluntary: no one is required to join.

An association brings fishers together to organize and represent themselves. A cooperative can buy supplies, process fish, and sell on behalf of its members, including to the PAA and school meals.

Pronaf (National Program for Strengthening Family Farming) serves artisanal fishers. The entry point is the CAF. Since Law 15.399/2026, operating and investment credit for artisanal fishers and their associations and cooperatives carries the same interest rates and bonuses as agrarian reform. Each year's conditions are published in the Plano Safra da Agricultura Familiar.

For the 2026/2027 Plano Safra, the government announced lines for artisanal fishing and family aquaculture, promoted as Pronaf Azul: microcredit (Pronaf B), operating costs and investment (Mais Alimentos). Check amounts and interest rates with the bank, because the news reports give different figures.

Law 15.399/2026 also recognizes traditional fishing communities and territories. Their identification and demarcation still depend on regulations.

step by step

Visit your city's colony. Before joining, review the bylaws, monthly dues, and financial reports.
Get your CAF.
Contact technical assistance (Emater or equivalent) to prepare your credit project.
Take the project to a bank that operates Pronaf: Banco do Brasil, Banco do Nordeste, Banco da Amazônia, or a credit union.
Pay on time. For several lines, on-time payers get a discount (payment bonus, bônus de adimplência).

documents

Active CAF
Professional fisher license (RGP)
Photo ID and CPF
Proof of residence
Credit project or proposal (with technical assistance)

caution

You can apply for the RGP and the closed-season benefit yourself, for free. Membership is not a requirement.
An organization that helps with fraud in the closed-season benefit is barred from partnerships and loses existing ones (Law 15.399/2026).
Colonies may sign agreements to manage the special insured registry for fishers (Law 11.699/2008, art. 3, VIII). Even so, check your data in Meu INSS.
Credit is debt. Borrow only what the boat and your fishing can repay, counting the closed-season months.

sources for this section

official Lei nº 11.699/2008 (colônias, federações e confederação de pescadores)
official Lei nº 15.399/2026, arts. 4º, 5º e 6º (formalização, territórios tradicionais e Pronaf)
official Lei nº 11.326/2006 (agricultura familiar; inclui pescadores artesanais)
official Cartilha de linhas de crédito do Plano Safra 2025/2026 (MPA)Previous Plano Safra. Large file, over 10 MB.
press Plano Safra 2026/2027 terá linhas de crédito para pescadores artesanais (O Povo, 30/09/2026)Amounts not confirmed in an official source.
official CAF: cadastro e consulta (MDA)

safety: the essentials before you go out

Life jacket on, someone on shore who knows your plan, a way to communicate, and a checked forecast for wind, waves, and lightning. When in doubt, don't go out.

The Navy issues a Bad Weather Warning (Aviso de Mau Tempo) when it forecasts wind of force 7 or more (28 knots, about 52 km/h). It also issues one when it forecasts waves of 3 m or more on the open sea, visibility of 1 km or less, or heavy surf with waves of 2.5 m or more on the coast.

These limits are designed for ships. For a canoe, dinghy, jangada (traditional raft) or small boat, danger starts much earlier. Know your boat's limit and come back early.

High, short waves (one right after another) are the most dangerous for a small boat. Wind against the tide or current quickly raises waves at river mouths, bays, reservoirs and large rivers (banzeiro).

Lightning: if you heard thunder, you are in range. Get out of the water and go back only 30 minutes after the last thunder. In a boat, everyone sits low, with rods and antennas down.

Emergency: Navy 185 (24 hours) and VHF radio channel 16. Fire department 193. SAMU (ambulance) 192.

step by step

Before you go out, check the Bad Weather Warning and the Navy's Meteoromarinha forecast.
Also check the forecast for wind (strength, direction and gusts), waves and lightning for the hours you'll be on the water.
Tell someone on shore where you're going, who is with you, the boat's color, and your return time. Agree on what time that person should call for help.
Life jacket on and buckled, one for each person.
Phone in a waterproof bag and charged. Where there's no signal, use a VHF radio. Note down 185 and channel 16.
Fuel by the one-third rule: one third to go out, one third to return, and one third in reserve.
Check the boat: hull, pump or bucket for bailing, anchor with line, oar, flashlight and a serviced motor.
On the water, watch the sky and the wind. Dark clouds building, wind shifting, or sea getting rougher: reel in and head back.
Text your community's CEP (postal code) to 40199 to register for Defesa Civil alerts. It is free and works without internet.

documents

Boat's TIE or TIEM and the CIR of the person in command
RGP license and photo ID
List of people on board, left with someone on shore

caution

A forecast is an estimate. The Navy's official warning counts for more. On the coast, wind at sea is often stronger than forecast for a point on land.
Navy warnings use Zulu time (UTC). For Brasília time, subtract 3 hours.
1 knot = 1.85 km/h. Force 6 (22 to 27 knots, about 40 to 50 km/h) is already very dangerous for a small boat.
Having no phone signal at sea and on rivers is common. Defesa Civil's cell broadcast alert needs 4G or 5G signal. A VHF radio and a warning on shore can save lives.
In some states the Navy has already announced another number while 185 was down. Confirm the Salvamar rescue phone number for your region with the Capitania.
Alcohol and boating don't mix.

sources for this section

official Avisos de Mau Tempo (Centro de Hidrografia da Marinha)Heavy page (about 2.6 MB): open it on Wi-Fi if you can.
official Obter serviços e produtos de cartografia e meteorologia marinha (gov.br)Bad weather warnings, Meteoromarinha (twice a day), synoptic charts and buoys. Free.
official Critérios dos avisos de mau tempo (CHM)Force 7 or more (28 knots), waves of 3 m or more in deep water, visibility of 1 km or less, heavy surf of 2.5 m or more. Criteria taken from the information page of the Marine Meteorological Service, found through a search: confirm on the CHM website.
official Avisos meteorológicos especiais (INMET)
official Como receber alertas da Defesa Civil no celular (SMS 40199)
official Defesa Civil Alerta (cell broadcast)
technical Guia Segurança na água (pesca)