Fiscalização ambiental e infrações nos recifes de corais da APA Costa dos Corais (Alagoas): análise de processos do MPF (2001-2025)

Stephanie Plech da Cruz; Ariane Loudemila Silva de Albuquerque

doi:10.66205/mabra.v8i3.602

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Abstract

This study analyzed environmental enforcement and violations affecting the coral reefs of the Costa dos Corais Environmental Protection Area (APACC/AL), based on cases filed by the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office between 2001 and 2025. The objective was to identify patterns of environmental violations, understand their evolution over time, and assess the institutional limits of enforcement activities in light of the current legal framework. The study adopts a qualitative-quantitative approach, with an emphasis on documentary and interpretive analysis of the collected data. Data collection was conducted through the examination of administrative and judicial cases obtained via freedom of information requests, which were subsequently systematized and categorized according to violation type and time period. The results demonstrate that environmental violations in the APACC are structural and recurrent in nature, with irregular nautical tourism standing out as the main driver of degradation, particularly in the municipality of Maragogi, followed by predatory fishing and, to a lesser extent, illegal coral extraction. It was also evident that illicit practices persist even in the face of a robust regulatory framework, including the SNUC, the Management Plan, and the Environmental Crimes Law. The study’s significance lay in the integration of empirical data and legal analysis, highlighting the gap between regulatory provisions and their actual effectiveness. Although limited to the specific spatial and institutional context analyzed, this study has helped to fill gaps in our understanding of the practical application of environmental law in reef ecosystems. It was concluded that strengthening enforcement, combined with coordinated action among institutions and user awareness, is essential for the effective protection of these environmental assets of a diffuse nature.