Environmental sensitivity mapping for oil spills in the Alcatrazes archipelago (São Paulo, Brazil)

Authors

  • Natasha Travenisk Hoff Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia, Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto Oceanográfico, Praça do Oceanográfico, 191, Butantã, 05508-120, São Paulo, SP, Brasil http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3633-8516
  • Leonardo Silveira Takase Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia, Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto Oceanográfico, Praça do Oceanográfico, 191, Butantã, 05508-120, São Paulo, SP, Brasil http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5189-4620
  • Eduardo Siegle Departamento de Oceanografia Física, Química e Geológica, Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto Oceanográfico, Praça do Oceanográfico, 191, Butantã, 05508-120, São Paulo, SP, Brasil http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3926-1710
  • June Ferraz Dias Departamento de Oceanografia Biológica, Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto Oceanográfico, Praça do Oceanográfico, 191, Butantã, 05508-120, São Paulo, SP, Brasil http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7843-4082

Abstract

On the northern coast of the state of São Paulo, the presence of the São Sebastião Port and the São Sebastião Terminal, associated with other human activities (fisheries, tourism, and industry), pressure its ecological integrity and biodiversity. Contributing to the protection of the Alcatrazes archipelago (São Sebastião - SP), which encompasses two marine protected areas (ESEC Tupinambás and REVIS Alcatrazes), this work aims to elaborate an Oil Spill Sensitivity Map based on primary data from demersal ichthyofauna and secondary data for other biological, socioeconomic and oceanographic variables. The operational map (scale 1:50000) highlights strategic points of biological importance and for the activities developed in Alcatrazes. The sheltered regions of the archipelago, composed of exposed cliffs with lower declivity, or rocks sheltered from wave action, showed greater environmental sensitivity. Alcatrazes' high biodiversity stands out, with the occurrence of 835 taxa, of which many are considered threatened according to different protection levels (international, national, and state), endemic and of commercial importance. Marine protected areas are not necessarily safe from oil spills that occur beyond its geographic limits, making the Alcatrazes archipelago map an essential tool for actions to fight oil spills and for drawing up contingency plans, as well as a database for future work.

Published

— Updated on 2022-06-23

Issue

Section

Research Articles