BVRio teams up with EnClim to expand ‘Fishing for Litter’ project

BVRio has partnered with EnClim, a research and consulting company focused on smart strategies for a future of net zero, in an advisory capacity to help us expand the scope of the project ‘Fishing for Litter‘ in Brazil. 

The project addresses the solid waste problem in the marine environment by offering local fishing colonies an alternative income stream, since artisanal fishing is threatened by the scarcity of fish due to pollution and climate change, in many parts of the world. EnClim will collaborate with BVRio to expand this project to additional fishing communities affected by waste. 

Currently, the project in Brazil is a joint effort between BVRio and local fishing colonies in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, initially funded by the Italian social enterprise Ogyre, and in Maputo and Beira, in Mozambique, funded by the Mozambican Recycling Association (AMOR). These communities have been particularly hit hard by the economic repercussions of pollution and a lack of efficient waste management, hindering their livelihood from fishing. 

Dr. Roberto Ferreira da Cunha, founder of EnClim, commented “This strategy is smart and deserves increased attention, as it blends environmental protection with grassroots community participation, in line with an ambition for a just climate transition to net-zero emissions.”

The blueprint developed by BVRio offers fishing communities the opportunity to receive a stable income, while at the same time not taking them away from their main activity. Within the project in Brazil, fishers are empowered to:

• Lead the charge in collecting solid waste from the Bay and nearby areas twice weekly
• Segregate collected waste, ensuring recyclable materials are returned to the recycling loop
• Handle non-recyclable waste responsibly, adhering strictly to current environmental standards
• Document all their activities in a dedicated digital app. This ensures effective monitoring, timely reporting, and verification, aligning with the stipulations of their financial supporters
• Create invaluable datasets pinpointing the locations and frequencies of solid waste in the Bay, serving as a foundation for designing future public efforts to combat solid waste pollution locally and beyond
• Produce tradable certificates to secure credits for the invaluable environmental services they offer.

In partnership with funders, the project brings together several actions of utmost importance for its success and its potential to be replicated worldwide. It gathers an innovative and promising approach to dealing with the problem of plastic pollution in coastal areas, inspiring fishers actively to engage in cleaning up and restoring the marine environment, leading to increased awareness and engagement of a wider audience, including potential partners and supporters.