A pesca ilegal, não declarada e não regulamentada como tática de guerra híbrida nas águas jurisdicionais brasileiras

Abstract

This study analyzes illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing as a potential Hybrid Warfare tactic, focusing on its strategic impacts on sovereignty in the Blue Amazon and the actions of the Brazilian Navy (BN) in combating this threat between 2013 and 2023. Given the growing complexity of contemporary conflicts, the research sought to understand how a seemingly criminal activity can be instrumentalized to generate instability and challenge state authority. The general objective, therefore, was to analyze the use of Naval Power by identifying the main crimes associated with IUU fishing, the operational challenges faced by the BN, and describing its modus operandi for countering this threat. For data collection, a qualitative approach was adopted, based on bibliographic and documentary research of legislation, academic articles, and defense documents, which allowed for the correlation of Hybrid Warfare theory with practices in the maritime domain. The results revealed that IUU fishing often serves as a front for a complex network of transnational crimes, such as drug trafficking and slave labor. The analysis also identified that the vastness of the Blue Amazon and the use of deceptive tactics by illegal fleets impose an asymmetric challenge on the Navy, which employs a combination of ostensive patrol, intelligence, and interagency cooperation as its main modus operandi. In summary, the research demonstrates that framing IUU fishing as a hybrid tactic is fundamental, as it elevates the issue from a mere enforcement problem to a national defense challenge. This new perspective contributes to the development of more robust and integrated strategies, which are essential for ensuring the effective protection of the Blue Amazon.