Amid concluding the United Nations’ annual climate talks in Belém, Brazil, criticism mounts against the Brazilian government’s approval of offshore oil drilling near the Great Amazon Reef System. This vast and largely unexplored marine habitat is estimated to cover 20,000 square miles, though less than 5 percent has been mapped.
Fabiano Thompson, an oceanographer from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, noted skepticism about the reef’s existence. He was part of a 2017 Greenpeace expedition that captured the first images of the ecosystem, which lies beneath the nutrient-rich waters of the Amazon River in the Foz do Amazonas Basin.
This mesophotic reef, unlike typical coral reefs, is composed mainly of rhodoliths and hosts a variety of marine life, including over 90 species of fish.
Energy companies like Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Petrobras see the basin as a potential oil source. Despite previous refusals by Brazilian regulators due to ecological concerns, the recent permit for Petrobras to drill in Block 59 marks a shift. This exploratory well is located about 20 miles from the reef.
This decision has drawn criticism for contradicting Brazil’s environmental commitments, as highlighted by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at COP30, where he stressed the importance of ocean conservation.
Greenpeace Brazil, along with other environmental groups, is challenging Petrobras, citing environmental and human rights concerns. These organizations argue that the licensing process was flawed, particularly Petrobras’s oil-spill models. Disputes highlight risks to both the marine environment and the livelihoods of local communities dependent on the reef.
The Amazon coast is home to over 120,000 fishing communities, with no consultation conducted by Petrobras as required by Brazilian law and international agreements. Critics also emphasize the threat of oil spills to ecosystems like mangroves, which are difficult to clean.
Despite these concerns, the government and Petrobras defend the license’s issuance as a rigorous environmental process. However, the potential for drilling expansion looms, threatening the environmental integrity of the Amazon region.
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org