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Ibama Brazil
DECREE No. 11 of January 30, 1995

SECRETARIAT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT Brazilian Institute for the Environment and for Natural Renewable Resources
The Acting President of the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and for Natural Renewable Resources-IBAMA, making use of the attributions granted him by Article 24 of the Regimental Structure attached to Decree No. 78, and in Article 83, paragraph XIV of the Internal Rules approved by Decree GM-MINTER No. 445, of August 16, 1989, and taking into account the contents of Process No. 003784-94-89; WHEREAS - there is a need for the protection and handling of sea turtles found in Brazil, Dermochelys coriacea, Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata, Lepidochelys olivacea e Caretta carreta; - law 4.771/65 of September 15, 1965, in its 2nd Article, letter ''f'', considers the permanent preservation of forests and other types of natural vegetation in sand banks; - law 7.661/88 of May 16, 1988, which creates the National Plan for Management of the Coast, in its Article 3 foresees the division of the coast into zones of usages and activities and gives priority to the conservation and protection of sand banks, dunes and beaches, among other properties; - some beaches, which are fundamental to the maintenance of the sea turtle population, are being used for urban development; - IBAMA, through the National Center for the Preservation and Handling of Sea Turtles - TAMAR Center - develops activities for the preservation and handling of sea turtles in these areas; - matrix female sea turtles are discouraged from laying their eggs because of the existence of lights and other disturbances; - lights from buildings near the beaches, from street lamps, from vehicles and other artificial sources may interfere in the orientation of newly born baby turtles on their way from the beach to the sea; - such environmental changes cause an irreversible impact on the successful outcome of nests; DECIDES Article 1 - To forbid any source of illumination which produces a light intensity higher than zero LUX, on a beach strip situated between the lowest low tide up to 50m (fifty meters) above the line of the highest high tide in the following regions: a) In the state of Rio de Janeiro, at Farol de São Tomé beach up to the boundaries with the state of Espírito Santo; b) In the state of Espírito Santo, from Porto Cel (Municipality of Aracruz) to the boundaries with the state of Bahia; c) In the state of Bahia, from the boundaries with the state of Espírito Santo to the mouth of the Corumbaú River (Municipality of Itamaraju) and from Itapoã beach (Municipality of Salvador) to the boundaries with the state of Sergipe; d) In the state of Sergipe, from the boundaries with the state of Bahia to Pontal dos Mangues (Municipality of Pacatuba) and from Santa Isabel beach (Municipality of Pirambu) to the boundaries with the state of Alagoas; e) In the state of Alagoas, from the boundaries with the state of Sergipe to the end of the shore line of the Municipality of Penedo; f) In the state of Pernambuco, in the District of Fernando de Noronha, the beaches of Boldro, Conceição, Caieira, Americano, Bode, Cacimba do Padre e Baía de Santo Antonio; g) In the state of Rio Grande do Norte, the whole extension of Pipa beach (Municipality of Alagoinhas); Sole Paragraph: Sites mentioned in item (a) which were not mentioned in Decree No. 1993, of September 24, 1990, shall adapt the existing illuminations within 6 months from the publication of this Decree. Article 2 - It is TAMAR Center's responsibility, together with the local electric company, in each of the reproduction sites: a) To identify the areas which need to be adapted; b) To establish, in each area, the technical criteria for adapting the illumination, with the aim of lessening the interferences with the phenomenon of sea turtle reproduction; c) Inspect these areas, follow up illumination projects and projects for adapting existing lights, and issue technical opinions evaluating the execution of such projects; d) Deliberate over technical aspects and areas not specified in this Decree. Article 3 - Infractors of this Decree will be subject to the penalties and sanctions foreseen in specific legislation. Article 4 - This Decree shall be in force as from the date of its publication and all provisions to the contrary are hereby revoked, especially IBAMA's Decree No. 1993, of September 28, 1990. ROBERTO SERGIO STUDART WIEMER