Introduction
The IBAMA (Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) has ended one of the most emblematic discussions of the last years on submarine mining in Brazil, by denying the environmental license for the GBMEX Mining project to explore marine bioclastic granulate in the Davis Bank, off the coast of Espírito Santo.
The Project
The project planned to extract up to 275,000 tons per year of the material, used in agriculture for soil correction and mineral supplementation, about 590 kilometers from the Capixaba coast. The mining would be carried out through high-sea dredging by the ship to ship system, without the need for port facilities.
Environmental Impacts
The IBAMA concluded that the predicted impacts are incompatible with the ecological relevance of the area. Technical studies indicate that the Davis Bank – which is part of the Vitória-Trindade Chain, a submarine mountain range with over 1,000 km of extension – is in a region considered a priority for the conservation of marine biodiversity in the South Atlantic, with extremely high biological importance.
Biological Structures
The studies identified a large occurrence of rhodolith beds in the area intended for mineral exploitation. These biological structures are formed by calcareous algae that develop over hundreds or thousands of years and function as true submarine reefs, offering shelter, food, and breeding areas for various marine species.
Concerns
According to technical opinions, about 82% of the ocean floor in the region is covered by these biogenic formations. The main concern is related to the low capacity for regeneration of these ecosystems in the face of physical impacts caused by seabed dredging activities.
Consequences
The IBAMA's decision recognizes something that science has been pointing out for years: the submarine mountains of the Vitória-Trindade Chain are among the most sensitive and least known marine environments in the South Atlantic. The enterprise planned to remove over hundreds of thousands of tons of material per year in an area considered a priority for the conservation of marine biodiversity.
Regulatory Discussions
The outcome of the process rekindles discussions about the regulatory limits of mineral exploration in oceanic areas. In recent years, the advancement of robotic prospecting and deep extraction technologies has increased the interest of mining companies in resources located on the ocean floor, both on the Brazilian continental shelf and in international waters managed by the UN.
Conclusion
The IBAMA's decision is an important step for the protection of the marine environment and for the conservation of biodiversity in the South Atlantic. However, it is essential that clear and rigorous regulatory limits be established for mineral exploration in oceanic areas, in order to avoid irreparable damage to marine ecosystems.
Source / Reference
Source: ClimaInfo