RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's Fernando de Noronha archipelago on Thursday announced a ban on all disposable plastics.

The archipelago, which is known as an expensive tourism destination, very much appreciated by surfers and fans of ecotourism, is the first region in Brazil to ban those plastics.

The ban is applicable to items such as straws, disposable packages, plates and cutlery, plastic bags, styrofoam packages, and even small soda bottles. Items like syringes and tubes for the collection of biological material are excluded from the ban.

According to the decree, signed by island administrator Guilherme Rocha, residents and tourists have 120 days to adapt to the changes; after that period, heavy fines are foreseen for those who break the rules.

The decree also foresees programs to encourage the use of reusable bags, paper packages and other biodegradable materials to replace plastic items.

According to Guilherme Rocha, local population supported the ban. "There was no resistance. We had the full support of hotels and restaurants," he said.

In order to preserve the islands and sea life surrounding it, life at Fernando de Noronha has strict regulations. The population is controlled, as is the number of visitors permitted at the same time; agriculture and fishery have limitations; and, due to a lack of neonatal care facilities, resident pregnant women have to leave the islands to have their babies in the continent. Enditem

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