Petrobras Begins Drilling Near Amazon Reef and Endangered Manatee Habitat
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Brazil's state oil company Petrobras began drilling in the Amazon River mouth seabed in October 2025. The project area is home to endangered West Indian manatees, marine birds, turtles, and the Amazon reef system. The drilling is located on the shores of the Brazilian states of Amapá and Pará.
Facts First
- Petrobras began drilling in the Amazon River mouth seabed in October 2025.
- The project area is home to endangered West Indian manatees, marine birds, turtles, and the Amazon reef system.
- The West Indian manatee population in Brazil is estimated at 1,047 individuals.
- The drilling area is located on the shores of the Brazilian states of Amapá and Pará.
What Happened
In October 2025, Brazil's state oil company Petrobras began drilling in the seabed where the Amazon River empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The drilling area is located on the shores of the Brazilian states of Amapá and Pará. The oil project affects a region containing marine birds, turtles, and the recently discovered Amazon reef system.
Why this Matters to You
Industrial activity in sensitive ecosystems could impact global biodiversity and the health of marine environments that are part of a shared planetary system. The project directly affects the habitat of the endangered West Indian manatee, a species with a slow reproduction rate of one calf every four years and an estimated Brazilian population of just over 1,000 individuals.
What's Next
Environmental monitoring of the area by agencies like Brazil's National Center for Research and Conservation of Aquatic Mammals (CMA) is likely to continue. The project's progress may be watched closely by environmental groups and scientists concerned about impacts on vulnerable species and the unique Amazon reef.