The National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) and the Brazilian Navy started this Tuesday (17) the work for the elaboration of the marine spatial planning (PEM).
According to the bank, the study will lead the country to know the economic potential of the Brazilian coast, a region of about 5.7 million square kilometers, in addition to helping with environmental preservation. Brazil has committed to implementing the project along its entire coast by 2030.
The material aims to adapt the country’s legislation to the commitments made in 2017 during the International Ocean Conference. According to the BNDES, planning guarantees legal certainty for investors; the generation of jobs and foreign exchange for the coast of the country.
According to the cooperation agreement signed with the Navy, the bank will finance the studies in the non-refundable modality. The first phase will cost around R$ 5 million. The total study, which should cover the entire Brazilian coast, has an estimated budget of R$ 30 million.
“Marine spatial planning is strategic for national development, as it is an organizational instrument that will lead to a harmonization between the economic use of its riches, the preservation of marine life and leisure and sports activities. In addition, it is an important document for us to legitimize national sovereignty over this space that we call the Blue Amazon, as well as the Brazilian request to expand its continental platform”, informed the president of BNDES, Gustavo Montezano.
Planning
The plan will consist of ten notebooks with information on the following topics: industrial fishing, artisanal fishing, agriculture, oil and gas exploration, mining, navigation and ports, safety and security, tourism, renewable energies, and the environment. It is estimated that the studies will be completed in up to 36 months, with the delivery of thematic notebooks of ten economic sectors in the first 12 months.
The first stage will include studies of the coastal region of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná. According to the BNDES, the choice was made because it is a border region where there are claims to use the space for offshore wind energy generation; five established ports (Rio Grande, Itajaí, Navegantes, São Francisco do Sul, Paranaguá); strong fishing activity; and relevant migration corridor of marine species from the South Atlantic.
*With information from BNDES
