The team of scientists involved in the research are confident that these reef structures are part of the Amazon Reef. This unique biome could be threatened by a spill if French company Total starts drilling for oil in Brazilian waters.
“We found reef structures in both areas studied. We were able to take pictures of a few corals and fish species. Future analysis will tell us more about the presence of the Amazon River plume, sediments and microorganisms present in the water of French Guiana,” said Gizele Duarte Garcia, professor at Rio de Janeiro Federal University.
“This is breaking news. With the strong currents present in the region, an oil spill from Total’s project in Brazil could reach and damage the reef found in French waters. If the French government truly intends to be an international leader of environmental protection, it must take on the principle of precaution and protect French waters from possible threats to an ecosystem that has barely been studied,” said François Chartier, a campaigner at Greenpeace France.
“Oil companies are rushing to drill on the Amazon Reef before scientists have even scratched the surface in understanding this newly discovered wonder. Every day we explore this reef brings new surprises. Now that we see the reef extends from Brazil all the way into French Guiana, there is new hope that these countries will work together to protect this unique ecosystem,” said John Hocevar, oceans campaign director for Greenpeace USA and a submarine pilot for the 2017 Amazon Reef Expedition.
“Finding visual proof of these formations is an important achievement. It is exciting for all the scientists involved to think of the possibilities of developing new research. More studies are needed. Nature still has lots of surprises in store for us,” added Gizele Duarte Garcia.
Total has applied for a license to drill for oil near the Amazon Reef but has failed so far to receive approval from IBAMA. The Brazilian environmental agency stated the company’s environmental impact assessment lacked basic information about the impacted area, resulting in uncertainties regarding the threats a spill would pose to the biodiversity of the region and to neighboring countries.
The Greenpeace Esperanza ship has sailed for the past 6 weeks in Brazilian and French waters to survey the Amazon Reef and discovered Amazon Reef formations in the area where Total plans to drill for oil, off the Brazilian coast. A few days later, the Brazilian federal prosecutor of Amapá state recommended Brazil’s environmental agency deny the license to the French company. Greenpeace is calling on the oil giant to cancel its project. A spill in the region could be devastating to a biome scientists have barely studied and to coastal communities that depend on a healthy ocean for their way of life.
###
Photo and video:
Images and footage of this reef are available here: https://media.greenpeace.org/collection/27MZIFJX5QZ39
Contacts:
Angélina Pineau, Greenpeace France (in Cayenne) : 00 33 6 42 64 83 76 / [email protected]
Greenpeace International Press Desk, +31 (0) 20 718 2470 (available 24 hours), [email protected]
