Itajaí event unites athletes and scientists for ocean preservation

Athletes and researchers gathered at the Instituto Itajaí Sustentável (INIS) in Itajaí for the “Braçadas Sustentáveis pelo Futuro da Água” event. The initiative brought together practitioners of open water swimming, surfing, canoeing, and diving to collaborate with environmental scientists on marine defense.

The meeting aligned with the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030). Discussions focused on three main pillars: water quality and sanitation, coastal climate impacts such as erosion and extreme weather, and the management of plastic waste and consumption habits.

Data presented during the event highlighted a warning from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), noting that approximately 11 million tons of plastic enter the oceans annually, accounting for at least 85% of global marine debris.