In 2002 the company PRJC deployed tanks for shrimps captivity and closed an ancient passage used by fishermen to reach the delta of the river Sanhaua. For security concerns, the owner of the company has installed a gate at the site. In addition to this restriction, community residents add complaints related to salinization of water wells by shrimp nurseries and the death of plants and animals. Without access to the beach, the community faces difficulties to perform traditional activities of fishing and seafood gathering.

In 2005, the Grupo de Trabalho sobre Carcinicultura da Camara dos Deputados was in Paraiba accompanied by technicians from the Instituto Nacional de Meio Ambiente e Recursos Naturais Renovaveis (IBAMA) to check the situation of other traditional communities negatively affected by State shrimp farming. On that occasion, the residents of Forte Velho sent complaints to deputies. As a consequence of the complaints, the President of Associacao de Moradores de Forte Velho, Luiz Carlos de Almeida Gonzaga, was being threatened with death.

In 2007, the company broke a dike contaminating mangroves and causing the death of several species of marine animals. For this reason, the company s activities were suspended by IBAMA. The Ministerio Publico Federal (MPF) moved several lawsuits to ensure the local community access to the beach and to adjust their productive activities to environmental standards. Since then the company has repeatedly disobeyed court decisions favorable to the demands of the community and of the MPF.

In 2011, PRJC turned out about 14 tons of contaminated shrimps in mangroves causing risk to the ecosystem s food chain. The community still awaits a final decision on the lawsuit that plead total suspension of environmentally irresponsible activities of company.