The Limpeza dos Mares (Sea Cleanup) team closed another edition of its annual cycle of environmental-education talks on Wednesday. The project, created by ACATMAR, the Brazilian Nautical Association, held its final activity at the Magia do Saber school, in Vargem do Bom Jesus, Florianópolis, gathering roughly 200 children and marking the end of a series of actions that reached about 5,000 students from public and private schools across Greater Florianópolis.
Run every year during August, the cycle aims to bring children and teenagers closer to a reality that often stays out of society's sight: the amount and variety of waste that reaches rivers, beaches and oceans. This edition featured more than 20 talks, counting the morning and afternoon activities.
Learning by doing
The idea is to have students take an active part in the learning. Some of the waste found during Limpeza dos Mares clean-ups is taken into the schools, letting the children see the different materials pulled from aquatic environments and understand that the problem goes far beyond better-known items such as plastics and straws.
Topics covered include microplastics, recycling, correct waste disposal and the impact of litter on marine life. The language and activities are adapted to the students' age group. Games, play and challenges help teach how to sort and dispose of waste correctly and show how marine animals, such as turtles and dolphins, are affected by rubbish.
The talks also show a video about the work done by Limpeza dos Mares, including the clean-up actions and the dives to remove submerged materials. Playful activities then place the students at the centre of the experience.
"There is a time to talk about sustainability, but also a time to teach by doing. And that may be one of the most important parts of environmental education: letting the child experience it. That is why we use games, a prize wheel, challenges and missions, so they understand why waste harms the oceans, learn to sort it and realise they are also part of the solution. Sustainability stops being a difficult word and starts to make sense in their lives. And when a child understands, they take that knowledge home, teach the family and talk to friends. It is learning, but it is also experience, and that is what stays," says Michele Ferrari, ACATMAR's director of Tourism, Events and Sustainability and coordinator of Limpeza dos Mares.
The closing at the Magia do Saber school
At the activity that ended the cycle, at the Magia do Saber school, around 200 students aged 6 to 15 took part in the programme. Beyond the educational content, the children experienced dynamics such as an activity wheel, which includes the "Fort Mission", and exercises to identify the right disposal for different types of waste.
The team also hands out the Turma do Limpeza dos Mares comic booklets, currently with two issues released, a socio-educational and playful material that, through stories, activities and games, carries important messages of environmental awareness.
Next step: the Limpeza dos Mares Olympics
The work in schools also seeks to encourage students to stay involved with the project. During the visits, the institutions are invited to take part in the Limpeza dos Mares Olympics, an annual initiative reaching its third edition in 2026. This year, the event is scheduled for 28 November, in Jurerê, Florianópolis.
About Limpeza dos Mares
Limpeza dos Mares is a social and environmental project dedicated to preserving aquatic environments. The initiative combines actions to remove waste from rivers, beaches and the sea with ongoing environmental education and awareness work.
Beyond the clean-up drives, the project draws attention to the so-called "litter no one sees": submerged, hard-to-reach waste that builds up underwater and directly affects ecosystems and marine life.
The initiative is part of the commitment of ACATMAR and its partners to the Ocean Economy, promoting the preservation of the environment that sustains activities such as tourism, fishing and boating, as well as the quality of life of coastal communities.
Title sponsor: Fort Atacadista. Organised by: Mundo Mar Consulting, ACATMAR and Acquanauta Floripa. Official support for the Talks Month: Blue Fox Marina, Marina Atlântida, Mano's Comunicação Visual, Iate Clube Veleiros da Ilha and Blue Nautical Hub Brasil. Official institutional support: Florianópolis City Hall, Santa Catarina Port Authority, SOAMAR Florianópolis, Santa Catarina Fire Brigade, Santa Catarina Environmental Military Police, ICMBio, SEMAE Santa Catarina and the Blue Flag Programme.
By: Redação Mundo Mar
Photo: Foto: Divulgação / Limpeza dos Mares
