Archipelago of Saint Peter and Saint Paul

Rear Admiral Jos Eduardo Borges de Souza

Strategic Aspect
Approximately 1,100 kilometers off the coast of Rio Grande do Norte, the Archipelago of Saint Peter and Saint Paul (ASPSP) is the heights of a colossal rock formation which rises from a depth of 4,000 meters. Comprised of six larger islands and four smaller ones and several rock tops, its total emerged area is of 17,000-square meters, and the distance between the extreme points, 420 meters. The islands are formed basically of rocks that project sloping steeply from sea, destitute of beaches, vegetation and drinking water. The development of scientific research on this small rocky archipelago has significant importance for the country, which is translated into strategic, scientific, technological, political, social and logistical aspects. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which Brazil signed in 1982 and was later ratified in December 1988, changed the international legal order related to the maritime spaces, establishing the right of the coastal States to explore and use the natural resources from the water column, the soil and subsoil of the oceans, present in their Economic Exclusive Zone. However, concerning the Regime of Islands, the article 121 of the Convention, in its 3rd paragraph reads: Rocks which cannot sustain human habitation or economic life of their own shall have no exclusive economic zone or continental shelf. Consequently, the geographic position of ASPSP is strategic for the prominence of the country at sea once this challenge of establishing permanent local settlements has been faced. On 25 June 1998, the challenge was met with the inauguration of the ASPSP Scientific Station. Fruit of a daring project developed by renowned research institutions aiming at the technological development, such as the Laboratory of Planning and Projects of the Federal University of Espirito Santo (UFES), the Electrical Energy Research Center (CEPEL) and the Laboratory of Forest Products of IBAMA (Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources), among other collaborators, the Station has proved to be suitable for the regions harsh weather and consolidated in a irrefutable way, the permanent occupation of the ASPSP. Thus in 2004, Brazil made official the limits of the Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) around the ASPSP, adding the impressive 450,000km2 to its original EEZ, which is approximately 15% of the entire Brazilian EEZ or 6% of the National Territory.

Scientific and Technological Aspects

The ASPSP has always aroused great scientific interest. Renowned explorers stopped by the archipelago such as Darwin, the father of marine biology, on board of the Beagle in 1832; and the famous Irish explorer Shackleton in 1921, on board of the Quest. Despite its extremely inhospitable character, the area is surrounded by rich biodiversity. Located between the Northern and Southern hemispheres and the African and North American

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continents, it lends the ASPSP a unique condition to carry above the surface, which is the result of a transform fault out research in several fields of science. In a way, we of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Precisely because it is situated could say that the construction of the scientific station on in a transform fault, the ASPSP is also one of the points in the ASPSP transformed it into an oceanographic ship the Brazilian territory with greater seismic activity, aspect constantly anchored in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, that ensures particular relevance to the development of seismology studies. available to the Brazilian scientific As for Physical Oceanography, community. the ASPSP, due to the proximity of the In the Meteorology area, studies The geographic Equator line, is a highly privileged have been carried out on the ASPSP, position of ASPSP is place for the development of studies in addition to the knowledge of the strategic for the climatology of the Atlantic Ocean as of the Equatorial System of Currents, a whole, including variability of the in which it is included, being directly prominence of the inter-annual cyclic phenomena like influenced by the South Equatorial country at sea once the ENSO (El Nio/Southern Current and Submerged Equatorial this challenge of Current. The latter is one of the Oscillation) and the Atlantic Dipole, establishing which has allowed much clearer fastest, most variable and least known permanent local understanding of the dynamics of the among the other Atlantic oceanic Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone currents, reaching speeds above 100 settlements has been (ITCZ) that influences a great deal the centimeters per second. From the faced hydrological viewpoint, the rain regime on the north and development of research in the northeastern coasts of Brazil. In the area of Marine Geology and Geophysics, the surroundings of the ASPSP has contributed to better ASPSP means a unique opportunity to know better the understanding of the enriching phenomena resulting from structure of the upper mantle, because it constitutes an the interaction between oceanic currents and the exceptionally rare geological formation. The archipelago submarine relief. On the other hand, the Chemical Oceanography is an outcrop of the sub-oceanic mantle that sticks out of abyssal depth around 4,000 meters, up to a few meters Studies will allow for better understanding of such processes, elucidating mainly the meaning of them for the offer of nutrients in the euphotic zone (superficial layer of the ecosystems, whose metabolism is driven by the direct action of sunlight) and their consequences from the trophic dynamics point of view. Furthermore, its remote position, and thus, still little impacted by the antropic action, promotes the accomplishment of research related to the checking and monitoring of the concentration of polluting substances present in the marine ecosystem. From the point of view of Biological Oceanography, the studies related to the understanding of the processes of assimilation and transference of energy, associated to the hydrological phenomena aforementioned, are particularly relevant. Another highly significant aspect, which has been studied, is related to the vertical distribution and migrating movements of fish of the Myctophidae family, in the proximities of the ASPSP, because of its great importance in the trophic chain in the oceanic environment such as the Northeastern coast. Due to its strategic geographic location, the ASPSP is also an area of considerable biological importance, playing a relevant role in the life cycle of several species which have in this area, an important stage of their migrating Meteorological Antenna of the ASPSP routes, should it be in the reproduction area, or as feeding

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Whale shark in the region of the ASPSP

zone, not only for fish, but also crustaceans, birds, Chelonians and aquatic mammals. Also in the area of Biological Oceanography, due to its remote location, the ASPSP has a high level of endemism; the presence of the Scientific Station constitutes an important undertaking for the knowledge and preservation of the biodiversity and the national genetic heritage. Some very rare species such as the whale shark, for example, are found with relative frequency in the vicinities of the archipelago, thus providing an outstanding opportunity for studying their behavior. The ASPSP region has proved to be a perfect laboratory for testing technological innovations. In the specific case of Architecture, for instance, a building was erected which provides comfort and safety, without impacting on the fragile environment; this was possible only after tireless search for engineering solutions which would overcome the hindrances imposed by the typical adversities of the place. The acknowledged success achieved with the occupation of the ASPSP has proved that it is possible, even in extreme cases, to establish a tuned relationship between human presence and the preservation of a given ecosystem.

Political and Social Aspects

The ASPSP is in the migrating route of fish of highly commercial value, such as some tuna and similar species from the Atlantic Ocean. Although these fish mean a fishing commodity with a yearly turnover of over four billion dollars, the direct sales value, the Brazilian

participation in the capture is still extremely meager. The position of the Brazilian Government in the ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) has been that, at the same time that Brazil should defend with intransigence the respect to the maximum limits of capture established by the Permanent Committee of Research and Statistic of ICCAT, it should also, as it has been doing, demand a greater participation in the capture shares, suitable for the countrys geopolitical stature. Within this context, the information generated by the research on the development on the ASPSP, associated with the fact that the ASPSP is situated in the North Atlantic, has expanded significantly our chances of stocks, which constitutes an important trading asset, not only in the ICCAT, but also in other international forums, such as FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). Recently, Brazil has increased the capture share of the swordfish from 2,300 to 4,700 tons. The configuration of promising potential concerning the capture of stocks with aggregated value, as mentioned before, makes the ASPSP one of the most important fishing areas of the Northeast of Brazil; it has been much visited by vessels based in Northeastern ports mainly in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte (RN), and Recife, Pernambuco (PE). The tuna fish fleet based in Natal-RN, for example, fish regularly in the surroundings of the archipelago, aiming to capture migrating species such as the rainbow runner (Elagatis bipinulatus), the yellow fin (Thunnus albacares) and the flying fish (Cypselurus cyanopterus). As the result of this activity, about 600 tons of fish are captured yearly, which accounts for approximately R$ 1,950,000 at wharf price,

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creating about 100 direct jobs and 500 indirect, which also attributes to the ASPSP a great social importance.

Logistic Aspect
Today, the ASPSP Scientific Station is manned by a team of four researchers, from universities scattered throughout the country, who take turns in scientific expeditions which last fifteen days. However, to keep the referred researchers in an inhospitable place such as Saint Peter and Saint Paul (1,100 kilometers from the coast, with no beaches, shades or drinking water, intense heat, incidence of violent waves and earthquakes, etc) with the necessary comfort conditions and mainly safety requires copious logistical effort. All researchers appointed to integrate the scientific expedition must undergo the Pre-Archipelago Training, which lasts a week and is performed in the facilities of the Naval Base of Natal. On that occasion, they learn about the dangers that they may face in the ASPSP. They receive training on firefighting, first aid, survival at sea, functional swimming and operation of equipment, such as desalinator, electricity generator, several types of communication equipment, inflatable dinghy and outboard engine. They also learn about the procedures to be adopted in cases of earth tremor and breaking of giant waves. The transport from Natal to the ASPSP is made by boats that SECIRM charters for this exclusive purpose. It is important to highlight that, in addition to being used for transport, these boats remain permanently in the vicinities of the archipelago to provide support in unusual and emergency situations. These boats have food supplies and a large amount of stored water, communication equipment compatible with the one on the archipelago and an experienced and trained garrison. The electricity in the place is generated by a modern photovoltaic system designed by CEPEL (Electric Power Research Center attached to MME Ministry of Mines and Energy). Totally clean, the electricity generated supplies the modern communication apparatus via satellite that the Scientific Station has as well as the all electric-electronic equipment employed, including the modern desalinator, which is capable of producing enough water to supply the researchers needs comfortably.

Researchers during a firefighting training session

The provisions and fuel supply are transported with the support of the Naval Warehouse of Natal and the maintenance of equipment and buildings is performed by professionals based in the Naval Base of Natal, with the invaluable support from the units subordinated to the Command of the Naval District. Furthermore, there is also the effective participation of the Laboratory for Planning and Projects of UFES (Federal University of Espirito Santo) and the Laboratory of Forest Products of IBAMA, among other partner institutions, in the buildings maintenance of the Scientific Station. Therefore the complex logistical support related to the ASPSP Program involves actors from the most varied spheres of the Federal Government, with greater concentration in the installed capacity of the Navy itself.

Support Boat

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Comandante Manhes Navigational Aid Tender in the ASPSP

Conclusion
The results of the works related to the occupation of the ASPSP have led to important progress: - Increase in the power of persuading international bodies which regulate the capture of species of migrating behavior, and of high commercial value; - Concrete possibility of preserving several native species, granting the country a prominent place in the international arena; and - Production of information from different fields of science in a simultaneous and permanent interaction, producing significant results with direct impact on the increase in food supply as well as the generation of jobs and income in different segments of the community. Another fact that deserves special attention is that most of the financial resources allocated for the program end up, in a way, benefiting the Military Organizations based in Natal, mainly the Naval Base of Natal, because of the direct involvement with the logistical support. Even if these reasons were not enough, there is also the fact that the occupation of the ASPSP consolidates a 450,000-squarekilometer EEZ around it, which by

itself, would already justify the efforts made to keep the place permanently inhabited. Therefore, it is well known and unquestionable the considerable importance of the activities developed there, from different viewpoints. Many benefits have already been achieved and many others will come for future generations of Brazilians from the occupation of this important marine space. After all, a certainty is imprinted: the Brazilian Flag should remain flying uninterruptedly in that far corner of Brazil in the Atlantic Ocean.

View of the Scientific Station of the ASPSP

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