Recent years have seen Brazil’s social and environmental policies weakened and dismantled at a frightening scale. Rights violations, lack of access to benefits, and a complete disregard for the sector during the pandemic has led to a rise in inequality and poverty. Our research confirms a lack of government initiative and desire to combat historical vulnerabilities in small-scale fishing communities. Much like other sectors, even fisheries in Brazil are fighting to protect themselves from large scale enterprises taking away livelihoods, and indeed a way of life. The country’s adoption of the Voluntary Guidelines to Guarantee Sustainable Fishing Small Scale (FAO) has been ineffective. Much more needs to be done to aid the community, the sector and uplift them to a standard that ensures sustainability and its survival.