Brazil Senate Holds First Dedicated Session on Ocean Protection

On 8 March, Brazil’s National Congress convened a solemn Senate session devoted solely to the ocean agenda, marking the first such occasion. Scientists, jurists, government officials and civil‑society representatives discussed the urgent need to preserve marine and coastal ecosystems, emphasizing the ocean’s role in climate stability, the economy and biodiversity.

Speakers highlighted that effective ocean protection requires coordinated science, governance and innovation. The director‑general of the National Institute for Ocean Research (INPO) presented Brazil’s Digital Twin of the Atlantic South, a joint effort with Mercator‑Ocean International to integrate satellite, buoy, ship and sensor data for near‑real‑time monitoring and policy support. The session also noted the entry into force of the UN High‑Seas Treaty, which establishes rules for conserving areas beyond national jurisdiction and creating marine protected zones.

Participants called for stronger international cooperation, noting that no single nation can safeguard the ocean alone, and underscored the importance of implementing and monitoring global agreements to address climate‑driven pressures such as extreme events, warming and acidification.