Environmental Impact of the Stranding of a Freighter Ship in the Parque Nacional Marinho Dos Abrolhos, Bahia, Brazil

Gonchorosky, J.; Sales, G.; Oliveira, M. C. P.; ,

Environmental Impact of the Stranding of a Freighter Ship in the Parque Nacional Marinho Dos Abrolhos, Bahia, Brazil

by J. Gonchorosky, Parque Nacional Marinho dos Abrolhos, Brazil,
G. Sales, Parque Nacional Marinho dos Abrolhos, Brazil,
M. C. P. Oliveira, Parque Nacional Marinho dos Abrolhos, Brazil,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Coastlines of Brazil

Abstract:

The Abrolhos Marine National Park was created by presidential decree no. 88,218 of April 6, 1983 encompassing two distinct areas of the southern coast of the State of Bahia, Brazil, with a total area of approximately 266 square nautical miles. However, the actual implementation only began in August of 1987 with the hiring of the current project coordinators. During this time the 'Golden Unity' ecological accident occurred. The cargo vessel, after crossing over Abrolhos shoal, got stuck on some reefs near Santa Barbara Island in the Abrolhos Archipelago. The removal of the 'Golden Unity', which remained stranded for 20 days, was followed by a direct visual study of the destruction caused by the cargo vessel as well as photographic documentation. As a result of the accident, three legal proceedings were opened but none has, to this moment, had any positive results in terms of punishment for those responsible or reimbursement to the Park.

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