The state will invest R$ 30 million to fight sharks.
The Pernambuco State Government announced a R$ 30 million investment to transform part of the Pernambuco coastline into an Environmental Protection Area (APA). The area covered by the project – encompassing the space between the beaches of Igarassu and Ipojuca, and also passing through other municipalities in the Recife Metropolitan Region (RMR) – will house areas for the preservation of oceanic fauna and flora, stimulating the creation of food chains specific to sharks. Construction is expected to begin in early 2014, with resources from the environmental compensation fund of companies in the Suape Port Complex and the Abreu e Lima Refinery.
Pernambuco 247 - The Pernambuco state government announced a R$ 30 million investment to transform part of the Pernambuco coastline into an Environmental Protection Area (APA). The works, expected to last four years, should begin in early 2014, with resources coming from environmental compensation funds from companies in the Suape Port Complex and the Abreu e Lima Refinery. The project, which aims to neutralize shark attacks recorded on the state's coast, is generating discussion even before its implementation, due to questions about its effectiveness in preventing incidents involving the animals.
In the area covered by the project – which encompasses the space between the beaches of Igarassu and Ipojuca, also passing through other municipalities in the Recife Metropolitan Region (RMR) – artificial reefs will be built and total conservation units for the marine environment will be implemented. The area will house locations for the preservation of oceanic fauna and flora, stimulating the creation of food chains specific to sharks, as well as transforming locations far from the coast into suitable feeding grounds for the animals.
Furthermore, the State Shipwreck Park, which has around 20 sunken vessels, is expected to undergo an expansion process, transforming it into a tourist attraction. To increase the number of sunken vessels, the state government is considering sinking out-of-service aircraft, transforming the sunken planes into artificial reefs for marine life.
On the other hand, members of the Shark Incident Monitoring Committee (Cemit) claim that the project would not be sufficient to neutralize shark attacks that occur on the coast of Pernambuco. The justification lies in the fact that the animals' attacks are not driven by hunger, and the increase in the food chain in the planned area would not have a cause-and-effect relationship with the accidents recorded in Pernambuco since 1990.
Since monitoring of shark incidents began 24 years ago, 59 attacks have been recorded, 31 against surfers and 28 against swimmers. Of these, 24 were fatal. The most recent case is that of Bruna Gobbi, a student from São Paulo, who died as a result of injuries caused by a shark bite in June 2013.