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Post-Mariana, Fishing in the River Doce May Take Ten Years to Return to Normal

11/24/2015 - 09h04

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JULIANA COISSI
SPECIAL ENVOY TO LINHARES (ES)

The toxic mud that is flowing down the River Doce had not even reached the state of Espírito Santo last week, but the fisherman Ermínio Pimenta, 58, was struggling to sell his fish in Linhares, the city where the river reaches the sea.

"There were already restaurants refusing to buy from me. They were saying, "Ah, your fish is polluted," he says.

Pimenta is one of 66 fishing professionals registered at an association in Regência, a town located near the mouth of the River Doce.

Fishing conditions at the mouth of the river are likely to take ten years to return to normal, according to estimates by fishing professionals and members of the association. Given the economic impact on the community, the association hopes to claim compensation of R$1800 (US $482) a month from Samarco for each person affected.

According to the president of the association, Leônidas Carlos, 58, this value considers the average profits, which can be as much as R$1000 (US $268) a week in the periods when bass fishing is good.

The fishing community are concerned that even after the river has returned to normal, the "polluted fish" stigma will persist. Eidimiar Soares dos Santos, 32, admits that it will take time before he has the courage to feed his nine-month old daughter Analu with fish from the river.

"When she's about ten years old I think we'll see better things here," he says.

Translated by TOM GATEHOUSE

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