The “Cação é Tubarão” Campaign, led by Sea Shepherd Brazil, works to reduce and ultimately eliminate the consumption, commercialization, and fishing of sharks and rays in Brazil. The initiative addresses a structural issue of misinformation, where threatened species are commonly marketed under the generic term “cação,” obscuring their true identity and conservation status. Through legal advocacy, policy engagement, field investigations, scientific research, and strategic communication campaigns, the program drives meaningful change in public policy, raises societal awareness, and strengthens protection mechanisms for sharks. These species are vital to maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems and ensuring the long-term health of the world’s oceans.
Instituto Amazônia 4.0 is a non-governmental, non-profit organization based in Manaus, state of Amazonas, dedicated to developing a framework of solutions based on science, technology, and innovation to leverage the economic potential of Amazonian socio-biodiversity. The Institute’s main programs include the Amazon Creative Labs (LCA), which combines traditional knowledge with science and Industry 4.0.
The project promotes environmental conservation and the dissemination of ocean culture by raising awareness through communication and environmental education, developing scientific research, and organizing events and direct actions. It literally dives into the fight against ocean waste, bringing to the surface not only waste collected but also information that can help identify the source of this material, enabling to seek solutions to tackle the root of the problem. It works locally to contribute to solving a global issue through education, dreaming that one day, all education will be environment.
The Rio Islands Project is an initiative dedicated to marine conservation on the coast of Rio de Janeiro, covering the territories of the Cagarras Islands Natural Monument to the Grumari region, with an area of 57 thousand hectares. Since 2011, it has promoted scientific research to provide technical data that helps protect the fauna and flora of these ecosystems, in addition to carrying out environmental education actions and engagement actions with local communities. In 2021, it was responsible for the nomination and serves as Champion of the Cagarras Islands and Surrounding Waters Hope Spot, recognized by Mission Blue. Through continuous monitoring and studies on biodiversity, the project strives to raise awareness in society about the importance of marine protected areas in Rio de Janeiro, encouraging the sustainable use of resources. Its advocacy strategy consists of influencing public policies and legislation for establishing and strengthening of marine protected areas; building a municipal agenda to combat pollution in the sea; and fostering communication to engage stakeholders and civil society in ocean conservation agendas.
Greenpeace Brasil is a non-governmental organization focused on combating deforestation and illegal gold mining in the Amazon, while promoting initiatives led by Indigenous peoples and local communities that integrate sustainable development and environmental conservation. The organization also advocates for the protection of marine and coastal areas against oil exploration along the Amazon coast and the expansion of deep-sea mining activities.
The Igarapé Institute is an independent think-and-do tank that designs and delivers evidence-based solutions, strengthens public policies, and scales effective practices in security, nature, and climate while fostering collaboration and positive impact from the local to the global levels.
Founded in 2009, the non-governmental organization Mission Blue® has created a support network for the protection of more than 160 Hope Spots® in the oceans, covering over 58 million square kilometers. It invests in science, digital and social media tools, policies and infrastructure to designate and support these marine protected areas. It also empowers communities around the world to take action to promote ocean protection.
Through its Hope Spot network, Mission Blue is helping catalyze the protection of at least 30% of the ocean by 2030—an essential step toward a far more ambitious goal: safeguarding the high seas. These vast, shared waters make up nearly half of the planet’s surface and 64% of the ocean, and their protection is critical to the health of the global ocean system that sustains all life.
Alcatrazes Archipelago Hope Spot The initiative seeks to consolidate the Alcatrazes Archipelago—internationally recognized as a Hope Spot in 2024—as a model of resilience and conservation in the South Atlantic. Located in a strategic ecological transition zone, the archipelago hosts exceptional marine biodiversity and serves as a critical refuge for numerous species. Our mission is to promote the conservation of the archipelago through actions that contribute to the health of reef ecosystems and the effectiveness of its marine protected areas. To achieve this, we integrate environmental education activities and management support with long-term monitoring and research programs spanning from individual species to entire ecosystems.
Fernando de Noronha Hope Spot Locations designated as Hope Spots are recognized as areas of major importance for marine life protection. The Fernando de Noronha archipelago was recently designated (2025) by Mission Blue as a region of high biodiversity relevance, with global recognition for its conservation efforts. The Hope Spot Noronha initiative is planned to promote positive socio-environmental changes for this oceanic island, encouraging educational activities, dialogue with the community and stakeholders involved in local tourism, and cooperation on national and international efforts to encourage the expansion of marine protected areas. Considering the high level of tourism growth in Fernando de Noronha, this role is necessary to care for the natural and historical values of this important region.
WWF-Brazil, a non-governmental organization, supports efforts to establish, expand, and strengthen Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Abrolhos region, contributing to the consolidation of the existing network of conservation units. This work is essential to enhancing the resilience of marine biodiversity in the face of climate change and to advancing Brazil’s progress toward meeting global conservation targets. The initiative also strengthens local leadership by increasing engagement in participatory processes related to marine and coastal protection.
Coral reefs cover less than 0.1% of the ocean, yet they sustain 25% of all marine species and underpin the food security, livelihoods, and coastal protection of around 850 million people worldwide. Their loss would trigger cascading impacts for both nature and communities worldwide. Initiated in 2018, the Coral Reef Rescue Initiative (CRRI) brings together a global coalition to safeguard seven coral reef regions identified for their exceptional resilience to the climate crisis. These regions span Indonesia, the Philippines, Cuba, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Madagascar, and Tanzania, and represent critical strongholds for the future of coral reefs on our planet.
Deep-sea mining poses a major threat to the oceans. It is estimated that it could destroy fragile habitats, release toxic chemicals, create noise and light pollution, compromise scientific discoveries and destabilize ocean ecosystems. All of this would have a direct impact on people’s livelihoods and food sources, such as fisheries, but also on the oceans’ ability to mitigate the impacts of climate change. To ensure that deep-sea mining is not allowed, the international non-governmental organization WWF is leading a call for a global moratorium to allow the environmental, social and economic risks to be studied and understood, and all alternatives to deep sea minerals, including a circular economy, have been explored.
The existence of dolphins is an important indicator of the health of the seas and rivers in which they live, since they are the lifeblood of major economies involving hundreds of millions of people. In particular, where populations of freshwater dolphins are thriving, river systems are likely to be flourishing. The reality, however, is that river dolphins are at risk, as there are only six species in the world today and all of them are endangered or critically endangered. In the Araguaia-Tocantins basin in Brazil, the Araguaia dolphin (Inia araguaiaensis) is one of the remaining species of freshwater dolphins in the Amazon. The non-governmental organization WWF Brazil believes that there are only 1,200 to 1,500 individuals of this species left on the planet, which would put it at serious risk. In order to conserve this critically endangered species. WWF Brazil is building an active network of experts and stakeholders to ensure its conservation, while collecting scientific evidence to have the Araguaia dolphin recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) as a new species. This recognition would promote specific conservation measures for the long-term survival of this iconic species.
The Protecting Southern Hemisphere Oceans project is focused on securing a Marine Protected Area (MPA) on the Antarctic Peninsula and safeguarding vital whale migration routes—known as Blue Corridors—across the Southern Hemisphere. These corridors are essential for the survival of great whales, which play a critical role in maintaining ocean health and biodiversity. As whales migrate, they help cycle nutrients, support the productivity of marine ecosystems, benefiting both marine life and people.
The project supports the designation of a network of Southern Ocean MPAs and advocates for strengthened ecosystem-based fisheries management through the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) by 2030. A key element is creating a new digital platform to scale regional conservation efforts, inform policy, and unify advocacy across seascapes, particularly informing the design of a new conservation strategy for the Southwest Atlantic.
This work is led through WWF’s global Protecting Whales & Dolphins Initiative, catalyzing collaborative action to reduce threats and promote marine connectivity worldwide.
For the marine 30x30 target, efforts will focus on strengthening policy influence and advocacy in Portugal, with particular emphasis on improving the quality of the target and its legal framework, as well as advancing the resumption of the National Network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which is currently stalled. In parallel, active participation will be ensured in WWF’s strategic meetings and initiatives, including the Global Marine 30x30 Initiative led by WWF International, as well as the European Marine 30x30 working group coordinated by the European Policy Office (EPO) in Brussels. This effort will be further supported by the development of the WWF Portugal 30x30 Portal, which will feature an interactive map of MPAs in Portugal, providing georeferenced data and detailed information on the protection and management frameworks of each area. Communication and outreach will also be prioritized through the dissemination and promotion of key results, particularly across social media channels, alongside the production of a factsheet and the official launch of the Portal, ensuring clear, accessible, and impactful communication.
Within the scope of the Tejo Dolphin Observatory, the objective is to ensure the continuity of this initiative by securing the effective management of the environmental volunteer program. This work includes the training and coordination of a team of properly trained volunteers for the marine observation of cetaceans, as well as the rigorous scientific recording of collected data, thereby contributing to the knowledge and monitoring of these species in the Tejo estuary.
Voice of the Oceans is a global impact initiative rooted in the Schurmann Family’s deep connection with the sea and their commitment to the future of the planet, with the support of the United Nations Environment Programme. Guided by principles of environmental awareness, innovation, and collective action, the initiative connects science, education, art, and storytelling to enhance understanding of the oceans and drive meaningful change.
Through global expeditions, scientific projects, and immersive experiences, Voice of the Oceans translates data and lived experiences into accessible and relevant content, bringing individuals, companies, and institutions together around a shared purpose: protecting the ocean and, in doing so, safeguarding life on Earth.
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