Government to Allow Cruises and ‘Artificial Shipwrecks’ in Fernando de Noronha

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The government has decided to allow cruise ships to enter Fernando de Noronha, one of the most delicate biodiversity ecosystems in the country and today managed with strict environmental standards.

In addition to opening the archipelago to accommodate large ships, the government also plans to install new “artificial reefs” in the area, with shipwrecks in specific locations for diving attractions.

The news was confirmed by Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who visited the island with Embratur president, Gilson Machado. On video, Flávio says the government is acting to “untie the knots” of the law and allow and expand the tourist exploitation of Fernando de Noronha. “We are untying the knots in this law to allow these areas to be exploited much better by our country,” he says.

Gilson Machado says that the Navy has approved the installation of 12 new artificial reef points. “Noronha is one of the best places in the world for observation diving. We have just approved, along with the Navy, 12 new wrecks to add to the tourism of Noronha, as we are also clearing the way for sea cruises in Noronha,” said the president of Embratur. “We are surveying the artificial reef spots in Fernando de Noronha.”

Noronha has not hosted maritime cruises on a regular basis for seven years. The reason lies in restrictions imposed on operators for chartering ships and environmental licenses. The archipelago is administered by the Pernambuco State Environment Agency and the Chico Mendes Institute of Biodiversity (ICMBio), which last year saw its administrator removed from office by the government.

The vessels authorized to dock in Noronha had capacity for 150 to 200 passengers, but now the plan is to allow vessels carrying 600 or more passengers, which could jeopardize the support capacity of the Fernando de Noronha National Marine Park.

In July last year, shortly after the preservation fee charged on the island was criticized by President Jair Bolsonaro, the Ministry of the Environment declared that he would reexamine rules for the area, such as a ban on sardine fishing and night flights in Fernando de Noronha.

Today, the value of tickets for the Fernando de Noronha National Marine Park is R$111 (US$28) for Brazilians and R$222 for foreigners. This ticket, valid for ten days, entitles visitors to access all public use areas in the National Park, but specialized outsourced services must be hired separately.

Approximately 70 percent of this ticket is collected for direct improvements to the National Park, through renovation and maintenance projects for trails, signage, implementation, and maintenance of the visitors’ center, among others.

When entering the island, visitors are asked to pay a permanence fee called Environmental Preservation Fee – TPA. This fee is charged and collected by the state government of Pernambuco, which manages the District of Fernando de Noronha. The fee varies according to the number of days of stay. One day costs R$75,93.

Source: O Estado de S. Paulo