Ensuring environmental preservation through tourism is one of the United Nations’ premises for the year 2017, declared by the UN as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. In Porto de Pedras (AL), the work of the Peixe-boi Association, which carries out activities and services involving the community in the protection of the animal and in attending to visitors, has put the district of Tatuamunha on the map of Alagoas tourism and the protection of the species that is threatened with extinction.
The ecological route is part of the tourist options of the Costa dos Corais, an Environmental Protection Area that encompasses 13 municipalities in Alagoas and Pernambuco. There are 135 kilometers of coastline rich in needle grass, the food of the manatee in the preserved marine environment.
The community can receive up to 70 visitors per day. During the raft tour on the Tatuamunha River, tourists observe the interaction between the marine manatees and can also see their reproduction, feeding, and resting. The most threatened aquatic mammal – there are only 500 along the Brazilian coast – can live up to 50 years. It can measure 4 meters and weigh up to 600 kilograms.
The contemplation tour also includes the beauty and richness of the mangrove biodiversity, considered the nursery of the ocean. The Uçá crab and Goiamum are among the delicacies harvested from the mangrove by the riverside dwellers. The observation visit of the manatee also benefits other activities such as artisanal production and the work of fishermen, guides, and rowers.
But tourists can also take the opportunity to observe animals in other destinations. Tourism in the Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park features, among the highlights of the ecological route, the observation of spinner dolphins. The archipelago has the largest concentration of the species in the world. It is the region where free-living aquatic mammals are most accessible to the public through tourism. In 2016, the park received 91,000 visitors.
Tamar Project: The project that revolutionized the fight for the preservation of sea turtles made Praia do Forte, in Mata de São João (BA), one of Brazil’s main tourist destinations. The Tamar museum receives 600,000 tourists annually. In addition to conservation and research, the project promotes environmental education in marine and coastal ecosystems and community sustainable development.
The example of Praia do Forte is repeated in 25 bases across nine states along 1,100 kilometers of coastline. Observing during the nesting and hatching periods is part of the tourist itinerary. Visits are repeated in units with tourism potential. The coast of Sergipe has the highest concentration of turtle nests in the country. The base in Florianópolis ended 2016 with over one million visitors.
Humpback Whale: Tourists also find an informative and interactive space about the humpback whale at Praia do Forte (the other is in Caravelas, in the south of the state). The coast of Bahia, especially the Abrolhos archipelago, on the border with Espírito Santo, is the largest nursery for the species. Close observation of the whales by tourists occurs during the period. Typical behaviors such as the “peek” at the surface and playful antics with their fins delighted tourists who ventured on 187 cruises conducted in 2016. The illustrious visitors can measure up to 16 meters and weigh 40 tons in the open sea. The coast of Brazil receives visits from 9,000 animals per year.
“Whale watching” is an effective conservation tool for whales, adding economic value to their protection. Among the advantages of observation tourism are: minimal environmental impact; educational character; job and income generation for remote areas with little commercial activity; encouragement of the hotel sector and other tourism segments; contribution to scientific research and raising public awareness for sustainable development. Other destinations for humpback whale observation include: Itacaré, Morro de São Paulo, and Porto Seguro (Bahia).