Rio de Janeiro bays cleared of 46 tons of trash by fishermen
Fishermen and crab gatherers removed over 46 tons of waste from Guanabara and Sepetiba Bays in Rio de Janeiro between June 2024 and July 2025. The initiative was carried out through Operation LimpaOca, led by the NGO Guardiões do Mar (Guardians of the Sea), in partnership with Transpetro, a subsidiary of Petrobras.
The operation is part of the From Mangrove to Sea project and will continue until September this year. So far, 13 hectares have been cleaned—four in Guanabara and nine in Sepetiba.
In Guanabara Bay, the work is being done on the so-called “Garbage Island,” located about 20 kilometers from the mangroves of the Guapimirim Environmental Protection Area (APA), in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro.
The island is so named because it is home to a large concentration of plastics, tires, sofas, and other debris. To date, 42,886 kilograms of refuse have been removed. Eighty-four fishermen and crab gatherers from three communities around the bay participated in the cleanup.
In Sepetiba Bay, the cleanup takes place on Ilha da Madeira, also in the metropolitan region. A total of 3,177 kilograms of garbage have been collected, with the participation of 21 caiçaras—traditional coastal communities in Brazil.
The operation also provides additional income for fishermen and crab gatherers during the closed season for uçá crabs, from October to December, when catching the crustaceans is prohibited. This activity is one of the main sources of income for fishing communities. Participants in the cleanup receive a grant funded by Transpetro.
“By removing this waste from the mangroves, we are helping the environment perform its ecosystem services more efficiently, promoting socio-biodiversity. And by employing fishermen and crab gatherers, we are also contributing to the socio-economy,” said Rodrigo Gaião, operational manager of the From Mangrove to Sea project.
The most common materials found in the operation were:
- Plastic: 38,347 kg
- Textiles: 3,277 kg
- Rubber: 1,977 kg
- Glass: 1,264 kg
- Wood: 662 kg
- Fishing equipment: 21 kg
- Metal: 4 kg
Operation LimpaOca
The mangrove cleanup in Guanabara Bay was conceived in 2001 by crab gatherer Adílio Campos, from Itaoca Island, and has since become an ongoing initiative of the NGO Guardiões do Mar (Guardians of the Sea).
According to the NGO’s president, Pedro Belga, the cleanup ensures greater safety for fishermen and crab gatherers in the mangroves by removing hazardous materials such as iron, syringes, glass, and other sharp objects that can cause serious accidents.
“Far beyond collecting trash, knowledge is shared and good practices are promoted within this community, which understands firsthand that the mangrove, besides its environmental importance, is their main source of income. No mangrove, no fish,” said Belga.
Rafael dos Santos, president of the Magé Crab Gatherers Association (ACCAM), also points out that the cleanup efforts positively impact community-based tourism.
“It’s very important when the mangrove is in a condition to welcome visitors interested in observing species like the uçá crab. This cleanup carried out by Guardiões do Mar not only removes large debris, but also microtrash, reaching deep into the mangrove. That’s essential to highlight the situation, the respect we have [for nature], and the great relevance of this ecosystem,” said the president.
