Oil spill on Northeast Brazil beaches reach 9 States
[Versão em português abaixo!]
For over one month now (44 days), an unprecedented extensive area along the shoreline of Brazil’s Northeast Region has been hit by an oily substance in the form of lumps of black tar, which origin remains unknown.
Substantial oil slicks were first spotted since at least 30 August 2019, but it was only weeks later they realised that the pollution was widespread and gradually reached the entire shoreline along the northeastern coast of the South Atlantic Ocean, heading south.
According to the federal environmental agency IBAMA, more than 70 municipalities in the nine Northeastern states - Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Maranhão, Paraiba, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio Grande do Norte and Sergipe - have been reached by the oil spill in the course of recent weeks. The affected area spans over 1,370 nautical miles across sandy beaches, mangroves, reefs, and rocky coasts and varied fauna and flora, extending from Cururupu in the state of Maranhão to Arempebe in Bahia soon to reach the metropolitan area of Salvador, Northeast’s largest city, and beyond.
Image: BBC
To date, more than 130 tonnes of oil waste has been collected on the many affected beaches, while oil-soaked sea turtles are being washed on the shores of the northeastern coast, many of them already dead. Fish contamination and mortality and even dolphin are also being reported.
Petrobras stated that representative samples of the substance were tested, and it was concluded that the product that currently pollutes the pristine northeastern beaches is crude oil, neither produced nor imported by Brazil.
A study by the Institute of Geosciences of the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), in partnership with the Federal University of Sergipe (UFS), points out that the oil is of Venezuelan origin.
According to the Brazilian environment minister Ricardo Salles, based on an alleged match between the samples tested and Venezuelan crude, it is likely that the product in question actually came from Venezuela, possibly carried on a vessel sailing near the Brazilian coast that accidentally or otherwise discharged it.
Official investigations Brazilian Navy’s Directorate of Ports and Coasts (DPC) has opened an administrative enquiry to determine the source of the oil spill. The procedure includes analysis of maritime traffic data, information collected by naval ships and aircrafts passing or patrolling the area.
Navy’s Integrated Maritime Safety Centre (CISMAR) is investigating maritime traffic in the region, comprising an area of about 36,000 square nautical miles in Brazil’s exclusive economic zone, with an emphasis on oil tankers. In just one month, CISMAR identified 140 tankers, some of which are being notified by the maritime authority to provide information.
The maritime authority - DPC - is also assisting the environmental agencies in the pollution response and conducting sea and air patrols; however, so far, no trace of oil has been found in the open sea, only in the coastal area near the beaches.
In accordance with the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (CLC/1969) and the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation (OPRC/1990), both signed by Brazil, the fines for oil pollution can reach R$ 50 million, without prejudice to other administrative and criminal sanctions and the polluter's strict responsibility to fully repair environmental damage.
Year by year the shipping industry has been adopting good practices which consequently results in a substantial reduction of oil spill incidents. The industry is adopting measures aimed at the reduction of the environmental impact, such as IMO 2020.
The truth is that maritime transport is a matrix with less environmental impact than road transport that is so largely used in Brazil. Obviously it is necessary to investigate and identify the polluting source.
Source: Promare
- ⚓⚓⚓ -
Derramamento de óleo nas praiss do Nordeste brasileiro chega a 9 estados
Há mais de um mês (44 dias), uma extensa área sem precedentes ao longo da costa da Região Nordeste do Brasil foi atingida por uma substância oleosa na forma de pedaços de alcatrão preto, cuja origem permanece desconhecida.
Manchas de óleo substanciais foram detectadas pela primeira vez desde 30 de agosto de 2019, mas apenas algumas semanas depois eles perceberam que a poluição era generalizada e atingiram gradualmente toda a costa ao longo da costa nordeste do Oceano Atlântico Sul, em direção ao sul.
De acordo com o IBAMA, 70 municípios dos nove estados do Nordeste do Brasil - Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Maranhão, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte e Sergipe - foram atingidos pelo derramamento de óleo nas últimas semanas. A área afetada abrange mais de 1.370 milhas náuticas em praias, manguezais, recifes e costas rochosas e fauna e flora variadas, estendendo-se de Cururupu, no estado do Maranhão, a Arempebe, na Bahia, e em breve chegar à área metropolitana de Salvador, a maior do Nordeste.
Mais de 130 toneladas de óleo usado foram coletadas nas muitas praias afetadas, enquanto tartarugas marinhas encharcadas de óleo estão sendo lavadas nas margens da costa nordeste, muitas delas já mortas. A contaminação e mortalidade de peixes e até de um golfinho também estão sendo relatadas.
A Petrobras afirmou que amostras representativas da substância foram testadas e concluiu-se que o produto que atualmente polui as praias do Nordeste é o petróleo bruto, não produzido nem importado pelo Brasil.
Ano após ano, a indústria naval tem adotado boas práticas, o que resulta em uma redução substancial de incidentes de derramamento de óleo. O setor está adotando medidas destinadas a reduzir o impacto ambiental, como o IMO 2020.
A verdade é que o transporte marítimo é uma matriz com menos impacto ambiental que o transporte rodoviário, amplamente utilizado no Brasil.
Obviamente, é necessário investigar e identificar a fonte poluidora.
|
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário