Leak exhibits fragility in environmental supervision and worries local fishermen, which depend on the bay of Santo Antônio for subsistence
Residents of Outeiro Island in Belém caught this weekend the eviction of dark, oil -like liquid in Santo Antônio Bay. The substance would have leaked from a company vessel that operates in the production of fertilizers in the region. Images made by residents show the exact moment the material is dumped into the river. The Secretariat of Environment of Pará (Semas) said it has already collected water samples for laboratory analysis, but so far has not confirmed environmental damage. Local fishermen report immediate damage to fishing and collecting Cameroon, main sources of income from the community. “The shrimp has already disappeared from here,” said a resident during the video. The incident occurs within a few months of the global conference on climate change that will be headquartered. The leak exposes one of the main challenges of the region: strengthen supervision and ensure the protection of water resources.
Episodes like this put at risk not only the environment, but also Brazil’s credibility on the international environmental agenda. The responsible company has not yet officially commented on the episode. The Public Prosecution Service of Pará reported that it accompanies the case and may open an investigation to investigate responsibilities. Santo Antônio Bay is an area of high biodiversity and source of survival for hundreds of families. The risk of contamination, even without final reports, already shows the need for rapid and effective response by the authorities. COP30 will be an opportunity for Brazil to show the world its commitment to the preservation of the Amazon. Cases such as Outeiro, however, reinforce that there is still a long way between discourse and practice.
