Maceió Airport to host voluntary coral and shell collection point

The Federal Public Ministry (MPF) has proposed the establishment of a voluntary collection point at Zumbi dos Palmares International Airport in Maceió, Brazil. The initiative aims to allow travelers to surrender corals, shells, and other natural materials collected from beaches before boarding.

This measure is intended to prevent legal issues and police intervention for tourists who may be unaware that transporting such materials is prohibited. Currently, when these items are discovered during baggage inspection, the Federal Police are notified. The proposal, discussed by the MPF, the Federal Police, environmental agencies, and the airport administrator Aena, seeks to transform potential criminal or environmental infractions into voluntary surrenders.

In addition to the collection point, the plan includes educational campaigns to inform tourists at hotels and tourist sites about the ecological importance of these materials and the legal consequences of their removal. The collected items will be periodically retrieved by environmental authorities for proper disposal.