Suspension of visitation at Marinho de Abrolhos Park extended

The Chico Mendes Institute of Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) decided to postpone until November 14 the end of the suspension of visits at the Marinho de Abrolhos National Park, on the coast of Bahia state. The park is expected to open to tourists on the holiday of November 15, when the proclamation of the Republic is celebrated in Brazil.

The suspension started Monday (4), two days after the fragments of oil that had polluted beaches and swamps in all nine states of the Brazilian Northeast affected a small area of the park.

ICMBio says that no sign of oil had been seen in the region by Tuesday evening (5). Nonetheless, the authorities chose to extend the suspension to facilitate the efforts to remove the oil, and also to minimize risks to tourists’ health.

Suspects

Another four Greek ships other than Bouboulina, of Delta Tankers, have been brought under scrutiny by the Navy and the Federal Police as part of the probes into the firm to be held accountable for the crude oil spills, which have reached Northeastern beaches since late August.