Brazil to allocate BRL 12 mi for maritime planning in Southeast

The National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) will invest BRL 12 million in studies focused on the marine, coastal, and oceanic environments of the states of Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo. This investment aims to enhance maritime economic planning for the region’s coastal areas. The funds are part of the Maritime Spatial Planning (PEM) initiative for the Southeast Region, which encompasses approximately 82 percent of Brazil’s entire ocean economy, also known as the blue economy. This sector includes vital industries such as oil and gas, ports, and tourism.

Rich in biodiversity and resources, the region is part of the Blue Amazon, covering approximately 5.7 million square kilometers. This area includes the sea surface, the waters overlying the seabed, and the marine soil and subsoil extending from the coast to the outer limit of the Brazilian Continental Shelf, according to the Brazilian Navy. Notably, 95 percent of Brazil’s foreign trade, which constitutes 20 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP- the sum of all goods and services produced in the country) and 25 percent of jobs, is conducted via maritime routes.

To carry out maritime economic planning in the Southeast, the BNDES selected the Southeast Blue consortium, formed by Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV) and Environpact Sustentabilidade. The non-reimbursable resources from the BNDES Project Structuring Fund will be invested over a period of 36 months.

Future

The PEM is a tool for mapping the sea to organize current and potential resources, integrate various socio-economic agents, and ensure legal security and national sovereignty. Its aim is to provide the Brazilian state with precise data to promote the sustainable use of the Brazilian coast.

According to the BNDES, the blue economy contributes 18.3 percent of GDP for Rio de Janeiro, 13.7 percent for Espírito Santo, and 0.9 percent for São Paulo. The project will identify investment gaps and provide information on industrial and artisanal fishing, agriculture, oil and gas exploration, mining, shipping and ports, safety and security, tourism, renewable energy, and the environment. Additionally, maps will be created to detail legal and environmental restrictions.

Other regions

The project to map the marine potential of the Brazilian coast began in February with the selection of Codex Remote, the company responsible for developing the PEM in southern Brazil. This initiative has received BRL 7 million in non-reimbursable funding from the BNDES. By 2030, the PEM is also planned to be implemented in the North and Northeast regions, in addition to the South and Southeast.

The PEM and its developments are part of the “Blue BNDES” initiative, announced in January. This initiative aims to develop the Brazilian blue economy through investments focused on research into the potential uses of the sea for decarbonizing the naval fleet and port infrastructure.

Source: Agência Brasil