Tilapia remains the most cultivated species in Goiás State, with 23,200 tons produced in 2024

Goiás State Has Climate and Area Favorable to Fish Farming, But Taxation Is a Hindrance

BRAZIL
Friday, March 28, 2025, 06:00 (GMT + 9)

Proximity to grains is a differentiator, however, the lack of tax parity between the states of the Midwest and constant changes in legislation hinder the sector's expansion.

Goiás has significant potential for the development of fish farming, with highly favorable geographical, climatic, and economic conditions. The proximity to the Federal District and the strong production of grains, such as corn and soybeans, help reduce feed costs, making the activity more competitive. However, the growth of production is still timid, and challenges such as the lack of tax parity between the states of the Midwest and constant changes in legislation prevent a more significant evolution of the sector.

The president of the Aquaculture Commission of the Federation of Agriculture and Livestock of Goiás (FAEG), Paulo Roberto Silveira Filho, reinforces that the state has all the necessary factors to expand its participation in the national fish market. He highlights that the supply of essential inputs, combined with the favorable climate, favors mainly the production of tilapia, which represents the largest part of Goian fish farming.

In 2024, Goiás produced 30,730 tons of fish, a growth of 2.95% compared to the previous year, according to data from the Brazilian Fish Association (Peixe BR). Despite the advance, the numbers demonstrate an oscillation in production in recent years. In 2020, 30,062 tons were recorded, with drops and recoveries in subsequent periods, evidencing the challenges faced by the sector.

Tilapia remains the most cultivated species, with 23,200 tons produced in 2024, followed by native fish, which totaled 7,300 tons. Other species, such as carp, trout, and panga, had more modest production, totaling 230 tons, as reported by Peixe BR.

Infrastructure

In addition to production, Goiás stands out for its infrastructure focused on fish farming. The state has a total area of 7,336 hectares of nurseries, distributed in 30,569 units. In addition, there are 5,648 net tanks, which highlights the diversity of production systems employed by Goian fish farmers, according to a survey by the Bussola.farm platform.

Among the municipalities, Niquelândia leads the ranking of the largest fish producers, followed by Inaciolândia, Quirinópolis, and Gouvelândia. Other municipalities such as Luziânia, Colunas do Sul, and Morrinhos also stand out in the activity, according to preliminary data from the Municipal Livestock Research of the IBGE.

Challenges

Despite the competitive advantages, Goian fish farming still faces challenges that prevent more accelerated growth. One of the main obstacles is the lack of tax harmonization between neighboring states, which generates distortions in the market and impacts local producers.

In addition, environmental legislation, which is already widely complied with by Goian fish farmers, undergoes constant updates, making it difficult for small and medium producers to adapt.

The scenario indicates that, to consolidate fish farming as an activity of greater economic expression in Goiás, it is necessary to advance in the simplification of rules and in the creation of public policies that favor the sector.

Meanwhile, producers continue to seek efficiency to overcome the challenges and expand the state's participation in the national fish market.

[email protected]
www.seafood.media

Print