strain factors, etc. Up to now, the Actions PROARQUIPELAGO and
PROTRINDADE have achieved, in view of the Brazilian authorities, considerable
scientific data production with significant results and direct impacts on the sustainable optimization of food supply chains, generation of employment and elevated
income in various segments of the Brazilian society. In addition to that, the Actions
are also credited with having developed technological know-how on systembuilding in inhospitable areas, as well as on clean energy production and logistic
support capacity for long distances.
145
Those are but a few examples of how the principled management of the Blue
Amazon, with a focus on instrumentalizing the region towards the technological
advancement of Brazil and the enlarged understanding of ocean dynamics, can prove
beneficial to the country. The question remains, though, whether such
instrumentalization of the Blue Amazon respects internationally accepted environmental standards and rules or whether local excitement with the benefits of the
immense ocean obfuscate the quest for a truly sustainable, in the sense of
environment-friendly, management of the zone.
9.2.3.4 Environmental Dimension
Hence, on the environmental dimension, it is the case to assess whether Brazil is
making use of its “right-duty” to manage continental shelf resources in accordance to
UNCLOS and other internationally assumed commitments on the conservation of
marine spaces under national jurisdiction. Key strategic topics of Brazilian ocean
policies usually include, at least in paper, (i) maintaining biological diversity;
(ii) reconciling competing interests in marine and coastal areas; (iii) investing in
sustainable activities; and (iv) sharing benefits from the use of marine genetic
resources in a fair manner, all that through cooperation with other countries and
multilateral forums. Furthermore, the environmental conservation dimension of the
Blue Amazon is not left aside in theorization efforts embraced by Brazilian political
strategists, though it is also not given much of a relevance either.
In addition to the defense and economic facets of the “Brazilian seas”, the
Marinha do Brasil also highlights the biodiversity richness of the Blue Amazon.
High-ranking Navy officials appraise the “Brazilian marine territory”
146 as critical
for climate regulation, absorption and gradual release of heat, process of nutrients,
thus contemplating a wide range of services, mineral reserves and food that benefit a
large part of the coastal population. A possible reason for such concern is that, for the
Brazilian Navy, both environmental and security considerations go hand-in-hand.
145 Viana et al. (2009), p. 22.
146 Letter of Admiral Ilques Barbosa Júnior, as to the festivities of the National Day of the Brazilian
Blue Amazon, 16 November 2017, available online. As mentioned elsewhere, the expression is
misleading from a strictly legal perspective, but is employed in the context of international
relations’ documents and writing of the Brazilian Navy officials.
9.2 The Brazilian Extended Continental Shelf: A Larger Blue Amazon
287
PROTRINDADE have achieved, in view of the Brazilian authorities, considerable
scientific data production with significant results and direct impacts on the sustainable optimization of food supply chains, generation of employment and elevated
income in various segments of the Brazilian society. In addition to that, the Actions
are also credited with having developed technological know-how on systembuilding in inhospitable areas, as well as on clean energy production and logistic
support capacity for long distances.
145
Those are but a few examples of how the principled management of the Blue
Amazon, with a focus on instrumentalizing the region towards the technological
advancement of Brazil and the enlarged understanding of ocean dynamics, can prove
beneficial to the country. The question remains, though, whether such
instrumentalization of the Blue Amazon respects internationally accepted environmental standards and rules or whether local excitement with the benefits of the
immense ocean obfuscate the quest for a truly sustainable, in the sense of
environment-friendly, management of the zone.
9.2.3.4 Environmental Dimension
Hence, on the environmental dimension, it is the case to assess whether Brazil is
making use of its “right-duty” to manage continental shelf resources in accordance to
UNCLOS and other internationally assumed commitments on the conservation of
marine spaces under national jurisdiction. Key strategic topics of Brazilian ocean
policies usually include, at least in paper, (i) maintaining biological diversity;
(ii) reconciling competing interests in marine and coastal areas; (iii) investing in
sustainable activities; and (iv) sharing benefits from the use of marine genetic
resources in a fair manner, all that through cooperation with other countries and
multilateral forums. Furthermore, the environmental conservation dimension of the
Blue Amazon is not left aside in theorization efforts embraced by Brazilian political
strategists, though it is also not given much of a relevance either.
In addition to the defense and economic facets of the “Brazilian seas”, the
Marinha do Brasil also highlights the biodiversity richness of the Blue Amazon.
High-ranking Navy officials appraise the “Brazilian marine territory”
146 as critical
for climate regulation, absorption and gradual release of heat, process of nutrients,
thus contemplating a wide range of services, mineral reserves and food that benefit a
large part of the coastal population. A possible reason for such concern is that, for the
Brazilian Navy, both environmental and security considerations go hand-in-hand.
145 Viana et al. (2009), p. 22.
146 Letter of Admiral Ilques Barbosa Júnior, as to the festivities of the National Day of the Brazilian
Blue Amazon, 16 November 2017, available online. As mentioned elsewhere, the expression is
misleading from a strictly legal perspective, but is employed in the context of international
relations’ documents and writing of the Brazilian Navy officials.
9.2 The Brazilian Extended Continental Shelf: A Larger Blue Amazon
287