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Bahia Marina Environmental Education to raise the awareness of the communities in its area of influence Known as any object which is in the coastal and marine regions, the marine litter is a sad statistics in the beaches of Bahia state. According to the monitoring of the NGO Global Garbage, in about 20 walks though the coast, realized in the last four years, 6,576 packages from 75 countries were found in the coast of Bahia. Aware of its socio-environmental role, Bahia Marina engaged in this alert to Bahia’s society, with advertising campaigns and the creation of Programa Permanente de Educação Ambiental (Permanent Program of Environmental Education). |
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Consistent with the Gustavo Freire de Carvalho, member of the Scientific Commission of Global Garbage, the All Saints' Bay presents the second highest number of items in submerged marine litter. “The most common objects found in the marine region are metal, fishery residues, wood de and the biggest villain: plastic. There are cases of curious pieces of rubbish, such as refrigerators, car hoods, panties and gas canisters”, informs Carvalho. Life in risk Among the problems generated by the accumulation of marine litter, such as the waters contamination and the negative impact for tourism, one of the most serious refers to the health of marine species. Studies of Global Garbage inform that the residues found are deeply associated with the intentional disposal, with the fishing residues and with the accidental losses. “That evidences a complete disregard on the part of the population that visit, work and inhabit these places”, warns Gustavo Freire. For the biologist and master’s student in Sea Sciences Laise Gomes, mammals, birds, turtles and fish, for example, are constantly affected by the sea pollution problem. “Many of them ingest solid residues thinking they are food, or suffer any type of physical trauma which prevent them of feeding or moving, which takes them to death”, she emphasizes. Risks reduction In order to help restraining this problem and raising the population’s awareness, Bahia Marina released, this year, an advertising campaign displayed in the main avenues of Salvador. The concept of “not allowing the bottom of the sea to become a trash can” was exposed in outdoors that cause impact due to the use of litter pieces, such as old tires and plastic bags. The main purpose of the action was to alert against the litter disposal in the All Saints’ Bay and, at the same time, to raise people’s awareness about the need of preserving the natural wealth. The action proceeded with the litter removal by a Limpurb truck. According to the commercial manager of Bahia Marina, Silvia Ferreira, the organization created the Permanent Program of Environmental Education with the expectation of promoting the consciousness-raising of Bahia Marina’s area of influence workers, about 1,200 people. “We want to present and discuss basic concepts on ecology and environmental balance and inviter the public to take part in the actions necessary to the promotion and maintenance of a good environmental quality in the area of Bahia Marina”, she explains. Milena Brasil – ABC Midia Comunicação.
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