Law No. 12.726 prohibiting purse seine fishing within the 12 (twelve) nautical miles corresponding to the territorial waters or coastal zone of the state of Espírito Santo.

This Law establishes a prohibition on purse-seine fishing conducted by large trawling-fishing vessels (traineiras) with a gross tonnage exceeding 20 within the 12 nautical miles corresponding to the state's territorial sea and coastal zone. The law seeks to regulate fishing activities in these waters in order to reduce the environmental impacts associated with industrial fishing practices and to protect fishery resources in the coastal marine ecosystem. It also limits smaller-scale purse-seine fishing operations to vessels already registered in the state at the time of the law's publication. The law's broader objectives are to promote the continuity and sustainability of artisanal fisheries through responsible fisheries management, sustainable use of natural resources, and the adoption of non-predatory fishing practices. It aims to safeguard the cultural traditions and livelihoods of artisanal fishing communities, while conserving biodiversity and protecting native fish stocks, particularly species that are threatened or overexploited. In addition, the law recognizes the interdependence between fisheries and environmental conservation, seeking to ensure long-term income generation and socioeconomic benefits for local coastal communities.