BRAZIL. Country Wildlife Response Profiles A Summary of oiled wildlife response arrangements and resources worldwide 09/22/2009

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1 VERSION 09/22/2009 Introduction The Federative Republic of Brazil has a coastline of over 7,491 km. It is bordered on the north by Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana and the overseas department of French Guiana; on the northwest by Colombia; on the west by Bolivia and Peru; on the southwest by Argentina and Paraguay and on the south by Uruguay. Numerous archipelagos are part of the Brazilian territory, such as Fernando de Noronha, Rocas Atoll, Saint Peter and Paul Rocks, and Trindade and Martim Vaz. Brazil harbours an enormous diversity of fauna. It has some of South America s most extensive wetlands host to internationally important migrant birds, notably the Pantanal in the state of Mato Grosso. Brazil has breeding populations of 25 species of seabird. The most important breeding sites are the oceanic islands, with the Fernando de Noronha / Atol das Rochas complex hosting the greatest number of individulas and species. High seabird abundance and diversity is found in southeastern waters, where the northward flowing cold Malvinas/Falklands Current meets the warm waters of the southward flowing Brazilian Current. Waters off southeastern Brazil are important feeding areas for some seabird populations nesting in the Tristan da Cunha and Gough group. The country is also of regional importance for wintering and passage of nearctic and austral migrants, especially shorebirds, ducks and other waterbirds. Brazil is also home to three species of penguins: the King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus), the Southern Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome), and the Magallanes Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus). There are many species inhabiting Brazilian waters listed under the 1979 Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals: Appendix I Iists endangered migratory species and Appendix II lists migratory species with an unfavourable conservation status. Six Appendix I cetacean species inhabit Brazilian waters, the Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus), Finwhale (Balaenoptera physalus), Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis), Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus), and Plata Dolphin (Franciscana; Pontoporia blainvillei). Seven Appendix II species of cetaceans are found, among them the Tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis), Boto (Inia geoffrensis) and Burmeister s Porpoise( Phocoena spinipinnis). Bryde s Whale (Balaenoptera edeni), Antarctic Minke Whale (Balaenoptera bonaeresis), Orca Whale (Orcinus orca) and Spectacled porpoise (Phocoena dioptrica) are also listed in App.II. The Caribbean Manatee (Trichechus manatus) (App I) and the Amazonian Manatee (Trichechus inunguis) (App II) live in Brazilian waters as well. Two pinniped species inhabit Brazilian waters, including the South American Fur Seal (Arctocephalus australis) and the South American Sea Lion (Otaria flavescens). The latter, only is found in the Ilha dos Lobos (Rio Grande do Sul state). Five seaturtle species are found in Brazil including the Green turtle (Chelonia mydas), Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate), Olive Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) and Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea). 80% of Brazil's oil and gas exploration/exploitation occurs offshore. Regional Seas South Atlantic Ocean Past experience Brazil has experienced oil spills affecting wildlife. The MARINA (1985) spilt 2,500 tonnes of crude. The CANOPUS (1995) spilt a small quantity of bunker fuel after grounding on a reef in Natal. A broken pipeline owned and operated by Petrobas, Brazil`s state owned oil company, spilt some 1300 tonnes of bunker fuel into Guanabara Bay (Rio de Janeiro) in January 2000, causing an oiled wildlife incident. The wildlife response was divided amongst two operational strategies including birds and cetaceans. Petrobas took direct responsibility for the containment and clean up of oil. All the infrastructure and logistical support for the wildlife response associated with the spill event was coordinated and sponsored by Petrobas as well. The technical coordination of the birds rescue effort, treatment, rehabilitation and release operations of the animals was done by Centro de Recuperação de Animais Marinhos (CRAM) from MOFURG (Oceanographic Musum). Two field stations were established to receive 1

2 the animals: one at Limão Beach for first aids and a second station at Guaratiba Reserve Instituto Estadual de Florestas for long term rehabilitations. In both facilities, permanent veterinary care, medical supplies, nutritional support, tents, cages, water and electricity were provided. The latter was equipped with cages, pools, oxygen chambers, microscopes and laboratories. Food, individual protection gear and an ambulance were available for staff and volunteers. Protocols of the International Fund for Animal Welfare Organisation were strictly followed. Field monitoring and animal rescue were coordinated by the Environmental Department of Magé Disctrict and the local NGO Harpia. Fishermen hired by Petrobas were instructed to capture oiled birds on the field. 323 alive birds and 64 dead (being the most affected species the cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus) corpses were collected in total. 236 birds survived though first aids. 142 animals were released in to mangrove areas inside the Guaratiba Reserve and the Environment Protected Area of Guapimirim after being banded by the Brazilian environment and wildlife authority (IBAMA/CEMAVE). Necropsies of the dead animals were performed by Pesagro-Rio, a state Laboratory of Animal Biology. The cetacean response was managed by Sea Shepherd Brasil, a NGO dedicated principally to the conservation of marine resources. This working relationship with Petrobas was only founded as a part of the Guanabara Bay spill event. A specialist marine veterinarian from the Santa Barbara Zoo (California, US) and an oiled wildlife response and marine stranding response expert from Australia assisted with the cetacean response. The response integrated the development of a plant that included a response system, a monitoring program and actions plans. A pod of about 70 members of Sotalia fluviatilis were stranded and/or oiled. Soon after the spill event occurred the resident population were seen leaving Guanabara Bay, moving out to the open coastline. The Projeto Maqua from Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ)had closely studied Sotalia in Guanabara Bay over a period of 20 years prior to the spill event, thus the cetaceans behaviour was monitored by them. The spill showed that they were able to respond to the threat of oil and avoid the primary effects of contamination. One million litres of crude oil spilling from the sunken PetroBras oil platform P-36 (March 2001), 120 Km off the Brazilian coast, posed threat to an area which is inhabitated by spinner dolphins and dotted with numerous small islands that are nesting colonies for seabirds. Rare seabirds including the endangered Spectacled Petrel (Procellaria conspicillata) and near threatened Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross (Thelassarche chlororhynchos) occur in the area. More abundant species that migrate through this area are the Manx (Puffinus puffinus), Cory's (Calonectris diomedea) and Great (Puffinus gravis) Shearwaters. Sea Shepherd Brazil sent an emergency response team to assist Petrobras in rescuing wildlife at risk. No information available on the oiled wildlife response. Between July and September 2002, oiled penguins came ashore along the coastlines of Brazil and Uruguay due to a mystery spill. The IFAW's Emergency Relief Team and the Centro de Recuperação de Animais Marinhos (CRAM) collected 111 penguins, of which 90 survived and were released. The VICUÑA (2004) spilt approximately 400 tonnes of propulsion fuel in the Brazilian port ofparanaguá, polluting protected area (mangroves swamps, beaches), Baía de Paranaguá and Antonina. Fishing and the sale of aquacultural produce were banned in the bay until the contamination risks had disappeared. According to IFAW s website, IFAW work with three local wildlife organisations, SPVS, Ecoplan and CRAM to rehabilitate the oiled animals. A mobile wildlife rehabilitation center (Petrobas mobile unit) for seabirds was set up and four search and rescue boats attempted to locate and capture oiled wildlife. Wildlife casualties included 14 seaturtles and 2 dolphins, unclear if all the animals died as a result of the spill. Due to a spill from an unidentified ship (August 2008) more than 200 oil-slicked penguins were washed up dead on the beaches of the island city of Florianopolis (Brazilian states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul) and approximately 155 live penguins were treated. Chronic oil pollution has been a long-standing problem along a 4,200-mile stretch of coast from southern Brazil to northern Argentina. Response: the role of the authorities Responsibility for oil spill response rests with the Directorate of Ports and coasts, part of the Brazilian Navy, and the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA, (Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis), which is responsible for environmental protection at Federal level. In the event of a spill, IBAMA will usually devolve the clean-up response to the environment departments of the 18 coastal states and/or to the national oil company, Petrobas. The main role of IBAMA includes evaluating the impacts on the environment, monitoring the incident until recovery of the natural conditions, applying law enforcement, participating 2

3 in the incident command system if necessary and authorising antipollution activities. IBAMA has also a network of Wildlife Rescue centres (Centros de Triagem de Animais Silvestres - CETAS) dealing essentially with confiscated animals. It has partnerships with Universities in this matter, to work together in case of an oil spill. The Ministry of Environment plays a role in oiled wildlife incidents (pending more information at the time of writing). Sensitivity maps covering the Ceará- Potiguar Basin and the Santos Basin are available. Oiled wildlife response Formal guidelines? An oiled wildlife response plan as such is not in place. CRAM has an agreement with Petrobas since 1999 to respond to oiled wildlife incidents. Pending information. In 2000, Sea Shepherd Brazil NGO drafted Brazil s first oil spill wildlife rescue plan for Petrobras in the wake of the major Petrobras spill in Rio de Janeiro Bay. Response objectives and strategy Wildlife responders will attempt to rescue and rehabilitate the animals. During the Guanabara Bay spill a detailed cetacean contingency plan and training program was developed and implemented specific to the resident population of Sotalia. The plan was divided amongst: 1) Response Structure 2) Background information 3) Action Plans and 4) Resource Contact List, Forms and Information Sheets. The plan was effective prior to the clean-up of the spill. The Action plans were divided into 2 operational phases: 1) wildlife operations and 2) monitoring operations. The objectives of the wildlife operations were to rescue and rehabilitate stranded or oiled affected cetaceans in Guanabara Bay. This part of the plan considered: the natural resource advice necessary; general control strategies; safety considerations; personnel resources to drive the response; list of resources necessary; different response strategies based on habitat; maps of habitat types; approaches to triage and euthanasia; necropsy procedures; transportation of wildlife; rehabilitation actions and facilities: carcass disposal and reporting requirements. The monitoring operation phase aimed to monitor the cetaceans in Guanabara Bay for deleterious effects resulting from the oil spill both at the acute and chronic level. Data generated from these studies could then be compared to data sets collected by the Projeto Maqua over a 20 year period prior to the spill event and used to detect any likely effects from the spill event. At the time of writing, information pending on the oiled birds objectives and response Euthanasia or rehabilitation? An attempt to rehabilitate animals will be done by the wildlife rescue centres of the country. Most organisations are aware of international guidelines of good practice and have relationships with internationally operating response groups. IBAMA has also a network of Wildlife Rescue centres (CETAS) dealing essentially with confiscated animals. Impact assessment A wildlife impact assessment will most likely br carried out. In Guanabara Bay spill, necropsies of the dead animals were performed by Pesagro-Rio, a state Laboratory of Animal Biology. Notification and early response Pending information at the time of writing Wildlife responders Brazil has a few wildlife rescue centres dealing with oiled and injured marine wildlife. The Centro de Recuperação de Animais Marinhos (CRAM, the Center for the Recovery of Marine Animals), active since 1996, based in Rio Grande (Rio Grande do Sul State) associated to the Oceanograaphic Museum of the FURG Fundação Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, is considered a pioneer in the country. It has broad experience handling oiled seabirds and treating injured or stranded marine wildlife, responding nationally and linked to the national oil company (Petrobras) and its mobile units. CRAM has managed the bird response in previous spills. Species that have been rehabilitated are: penguins, albatrosses, petrels, gulls, sea lions, seals and seaturtles. 3

4 The Centro de Reabilitação de tartarugas marinhas (Sea Turtle Wildlife Rescue Centre) is run by the TAMAR Project, a programme administered by IBAMA in partnership with the Pro-TAMAR Foundation, set up in The Centre rehabilitates five species of seaturtles. Approximately 220 seaturtles are treated each year. It also monitors 1000 kilometers of coast (in the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Bahia, Sergipe, and Ceará) with 20 stations covering 8 Brazilian states, staffed year round and involving fishing communities. In the oceanic islands of Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, and Trindade, only the first has a permanently staffed station. The Acqua Mundo deals with marine mammals, birds and sea turtles. In the past, the centre has rehabilitated oiled penguins. Information pending on the Centro de Reabilitação de animais marinhos CRAM (Guarujá). Centro Nacional de Pesquisa, Conservação e Manejo de Mamíferos Aquáticos Centro Mamíferos Aquáticos (CMA), linked to the Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação Biodiversidade (ICMBIO) is a wildlife rescue centre specialised in rescuing and treating marine mammals with emphasies on manatees. Rehabilitation (2-3 years), release and postrelease monitoring is carried out. The centre mainly operates along the distribution range of the the Antillean manatee (northern and eastern region). Eventually, the centre accommodates oiled wildlife such as penguins. Last year, CMA rehabilitated 500 oiled penguins. Facilites and expertise are available. The centre manages the Rede de Encalhes de Mamíferos Aquáticos do Nordeste (REMANE), which covers over 2.500km of the Brazilian coast concentrating in the Northeast states. It aims to respond to strandings; develop protocols for stranding responses (available in Portuguese), maintain a stranding database and promot technical training for stranding responses. Aquasis is a small NGO that rescues small cetaceans, performs necropsies and conducts research on manatees. Instituto Argonauta para a Conservação Costeira e Marinha, which is a devoted organisation to protection and conservation of marine and coastal ecosystems in Brazil runs the Centro de Reabilitação e Triagem de Animais Aquáticos (CRETA). To this end, the permanent facilities and logistics of the Ubatuba Aquarium are being used, and in some cases, the ones owned by Project TAMAR. The Instituto Mamíferos Aquáticos (north-east of Brazil) does research on different topics related to marine and freshwater mammals. Since 1999, a team of biologist and veterinarians run an operational unit, Centro de Resgate e Reabilitação de Mamíferos Aquáticos (CRMA), which operates 24/7, in Bahia and Sergipe. In 2008, the centre attended an unusual emergency: 1700 young penguins (dead and alive) were found ashore nearby and were brought to the centre, rehabilitated and released back into the wild. None of them were oiled. Necropsies were performed jointly with the University of Salvador. Proamar (Projeto de Estudos e Reabilitação de Aves, Mamíferos e Répteis) belongs to the Centro de Estudos do Mar da Universidade Federal do Paraná (Pontal do Sul, litoral do Paraná). The centre, which rehabilitates seabirds, seaturtles and pinnipeds, counts 7 volunteers (2 biologists, 2 veterinarians, 3 students of oceanography). Sea Shepherd Brasil is an NGO of a network of volunteer marine wildlife rescuers situated at various locations along the Brazilian coast, trained to rescue stranded pinnipeds and cetaceans, and to cope with emergency situations such as oiled wildlife incidents. Aquasis is an NGO which promotes research and actions for the conservation of natural resources and the preservation of biodiversity and endangered ecosystems in northeastern Brazil. Aquasis runs a holding facility to stabilise rescued small marine mammals and bring them to other facilities such as the Brazilian government s Aquatic Mammal Center or Centro Mamíferos Aquáticos (CMA). It also does research on manatees. The Penguin Network member organizations, which is a partnership co-managed by IBRRC and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) would be very useful to contact in the aftermath of an oiled wildlife incident. Other organisations not involved with oiled wildlife issues but worthwile to mention are the Sociedade para a Conservação das Aves do Brasil (SAVE ) which is the BirdLife Affiliate in Brazil, the Fundação Mamíferos Aquáticos (FMA) and the Projeto Albatroz. Cooperation between stakeholders n.a Permanent facilities Pending information on the permanent facilities. 4

5 Current processes n.a Documentation and references General references _protecting_the_seas/past_ifaw_oil_spill_responses/shortcut_of_vicuna_oil_spill,_brazil_%238211% 3B_november_2004.php Terms and Conditions These Country Wildlife Profiles are provided in good faith as a guide only and are based on information obtained from a variety of sources over a period of time. This information is subject to change and should, in each case, be independently verified before reliance is placed on it. Country Wildlife Profiles may have been issued solely to incorporate additional or revised information under one heading only. Each Profile has therefore not necessarily been completely verified or updated as at the stated Date of Issue. Sea Alarm hereby excludes, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all liability to any person, corporation or other entity for any loss, damage or expense resulting from reliance or use of these Country Wildlife Profiles. These Country Wildlife Profiles may be reproduced by any means for noncommercial distribution without addition, deletion or amendment, provided an acknowledgment of the source is given and these Terms & Conditions are reproduced in full. These Country Wildlife Profiles may not be reproduced without the prior written permission of Sea Alarm Foundation either for commercial distribution or with addition, deletion or amendment. 5