Improper disposal of anthropogenic materials into the oceans has long been identified as a global problem that deeply affects the marine environment. Inadequate practices at all levels of the society (producers, users and disposers) are responsible for the increased accumulation of litter in our oceans. People affect the entire life cycle of a product via purchasing, use and discard choices. Therefore, influencing people’s behavior by raising public awareness is vital for reducing the amount of waste reaching the marine environment.
To be successful in such activities, it is necessary to reach as many stakeholders as possible, from school children and teenagers up to governments, and from sailors and fishermen to tourists. Knowledge is recognised to be the key for conscious day-to-day choices. In the Azores, the number of educational and awareness activities related to marine litter have increased significantly over the past 7 years.
Our research permit the development of different outreach activities with local schools and the general public throughout the archipelago. The collaboration between members of OMA and researchers from the Institute of Marine Research (IMAR) during the activities was essential to make the scientific developments and research milestones reached in Azorlit comprehensible and accessible to the general public.
OUTREACH ACTIVITIES WITH SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES
Tremendous efforts and commitment have been dedicated to develop educational actions focused on marine litter with local schools ranging all ages in close colaboration with OMA.
Since 2016 we receive students during some of our laboratory tasks, different groups of local students sporadically visited the laboratory and learned about our research on marine litter. Through a series of small lectures and laboratory tasks, students learned how to sort and identify plastic particles. Information on the quantities and composition of the litter found during the beach and inside seabirds were shared and explained in order to foster curiosity and teach that improper waste disposal can contribute to the presence of plastic microparticles on sandy beaches and severely affect the marine environment.
The rescue of an inflatable marine mammal trapped on lost fishing gear.
The rescue of an inflatable marine mammal trapped on lost fishing gear.
REPORTS OF OUR WORK ON NEWSPAPERS AND TV
UNDERWATER CLEAN UPS
ORAL PRESENTATIONS/OTHER
During the progress of the project, the beach surveys and laboratorial tasks allowed the team to talk, expose and share with people some information regarding marine litter in the Azores. Thus, we received several politicians at the IMAR-DOP facilities since we started our research.
