Instituto Biota leads marine conservation efforts in Alagoas

The Instituto Biota de Conservação has been conducting marine fauna monitoring and research in Alagoas, Brazil, since 2009. The non-governmental organization focuses on protecting coastal ecosystems, monitoring species such as sea turtles, birds, and aquatic mammals.

A central component of their work is the BiotaMar Project, launched in 2016 within the Costa dos Corais Environmental Protection Area, which is Brazil’s largest marine conservation unit. Supported by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) and the SOS Mata Atlântica Foundation, the project has addressed nearly 9,000 marine animal occurrences and engaged over 1,200 people in coastal communities through citizen science initiatives.

Additionally, the organization manages the Mangue Vivo Project, which uses drones to monitor over 300 hectares of mangroves across 14 areas between Maceió and Barra de Santo Antônio. This surveillance provides geospatial data to assist environmental agencies in combating deforestation and pollution. The institute also produces scientific research on topics including microplastic pollution and turtle genetics to support public policy.