Boat workers held a protest on Sunday, 1 November, at Orla Pôr do Sol in Aracaju's Expansion Zone against the mandatory use of propeller guards on vessels navigating the area. The requirement stems from a Federal Court ruling in a public civil action brought by the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) in Sergipe to protect the marine manatee Astro.
Workers said the requirement has caused operational failures because the propeller protection breaks easily and leads to financial losses. Alessandro dos Santos, who took part in the protest, also said Astro does not usually appear in the area where vessels navigate at Orla Pôr do Sol.
The Cooperativa de Lanchas da Região Sul de Sergipe said in a statement that, while it recognizes the workers' situation, it is fully complying with the court order because it is a safety, prevention and aquatic-life protection measure.
Astro, a symbol of marine conservation and recognized by law as Cultural and Natural Heritage of Sergipe, usually moves between the Piauí-Real-Fundo Estuarine Complex at Praia do Saco and the Vaza-Barris River estuary in the capital. The Federal Court also ordered nautical inspection by the Capitania dos Portos; mandatory propeller guards, with enforcement from 1 October; and an environmental education and inter-federative governance plan involving the Union, Sergipe, Bahia and municipalities in the region. Unjustified noncompliance by public entities or responsible authorities may result in fines.
On 1 February 2026, at Praia do Saco, propeller blades caused five deep cuts on the manatee, up to 22 centimeters long and six centimeters deep, requiring weeks of intensive veterinary treatment to prevent a generalized infection. Marine manatees (Trichechus manatus) are classified as endangered in Brazil, with the native population estimated at 1,100 individuals in a survey from Alagoas to Piauí, according to specialists, making each specimen important to the species' survival.
Sources: G1.