Oil exploration by ExxonMobil in the São Francisco River could affect 52 conservation units.

Brasil de Fato - The multinational company Exxon Mobil is preparing to explore for oil in a stretch of the river basin between Alagoas and Sergipe, near the São Francisco River estuary, for the so-called SEAL Project, which could affect 52 conservation units.

The activity can have a direct impact on several communities that derive their livelihood from the economic activities of the São Francisco River. Among them are people like the fisherwoman and member of the Fishermen's Federation of the State of Alagoas, Maria Aparecida da Silva. “Look, my story in fishing practically begins as a child, at 4 years old, in Jaraguá, which is the major fishing center of the capital, the Jaraguá Market. And so, I come from a family entirely of fishermen – uncles, brothers, cousins, and so on,” is how she recounts how she came to the craft of artisanal fishing. 

Among fishermen, Maria Aparecida's story is not uncommon. But the tradition of artisanal fishing in the Lower São Francisco region of Alagoas, and the river itself, may be threatened by the oil exploration project.

Researchers who have been accompanying the technical team studying the potential environmental impacts view the situation with concern, especially if there is a spill. "This oil could reach more than 15 kilometers inland, entering the cities of Brejo Grande (SE), Piaçabuçu (AL), and reaching close to the border with Penedo (AL), depending on the flow of the São Francisco River. So it's a situation that we really need to be attentive to," points out researcher and professor at the Federal University of Alagoas, Emerson Soares, who has been working in the region since 2007.

He points out that there is little transparency in the process. "In my view, the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) still needs to be more careful about this situation, and there needs to be more transparency and information from the company itself. And this needs to reach the traditional communities; it needs to be presented more clearly and discussed more thoroughly with the entire population of the region," he states.

In the stretch between Alagoas and Sergipe, up to 11 oil wells can be drilled in a region that includes Environmental Protection Areas (APAs) and breeding grounds for species that only exist in the São Francisco River. "What caught my attention most among all these wells was that the region between Sergipe and Alagoas is, firstly, a nesting area for turtles of five species, most of which are threatened with extinction. We also have the Piaçabuçu Environmental Protection Area, the São Francisco estuary, which is a priority area for fishing."

Currently, the project is in the exploratory phase and is still awaiting a license from Ibama (Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) to begin searching for oil, which may or may not exist in the region. Exxon Mobil has already been responsible for socio-environmental impacts, such as the oil spill in Alaska in 1989, known as the oil slick.

The team at Brazil in fact Pernambuco We contacted Ibama, but received no response by the time this report was published. Exxon Mobil responded after the video report was published, stating that "it is following Ibama's recommendations and protocols. It is worth noting that the project, which is still in the pre-licensing phase, is located offshore and not on the São Francisco River."

The statement affirms that the priority is "to preserve the health and safety of the community and the environment. In this regard, we inform that more than 190 meetings were held with representatives of the communities in the project's area of ​​influence." The company also made available a recording of a public hearing held on the subject. 

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