Caminho Marinho

Therefore, our mission is to develop research, extension and teaching on sea turtles to promote their conservation; Valuing ecological, economic and social aspects, inspiring the sustainable and ecosystemic use of the environment.

When we think of an ecosystem-based  approach, we need a geographical reference, so that we can reach the limits of relationships between sea turtles and biological diversity, economic and cultural activities.

At the mouth of the "Patos" Lagoon (32 ° 09'38 "S and 52 ° 05'54" W), two breakwaters ("Molhes da Barra") protect the channel bar that gives access to the estuarine environment from wave action and natural silting. With the exception of Torres, limit between Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina States, the Rio Grande breakwaters are the only large rock structures along the entire coast of Rio Grande do Sul and play a fundamental role in the ecology of several species, Since these structures provide protection and structure for Fixation of communities, as well as possible burrows. With initial construction in 1911, the east and west breakwaters were 4,220 and 3,160 m long, but were expanded in the last decade by 800 and 1000 m, respectively. In addition to the ecological importance, jetties are also economically important, both the source of artisanal fishing resources and for tourism in the region, with the traditional sail-powered wagons that take visitors on an 'inland' way through railroad tracks.

This region is also important for sea turtles, which have already been recorded inside the estuary of Patos Lagoon and the coast adjacent to the "Molhes da Barra", with the summer and the surroundings of the breakwaters being the most abundant place of these animals. This presence suggests a potential aggregation of juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas), which motivated the Caminho Marinho to initiate the population monitoring of these important brazilian sea turtles.

Monitoring activities include: Sighting sea turtles from a fixed point (Molhes da Barra); Intentional sea turtle capture in-water, biometrics, biological sampling and marking (tagging) of sea turtles; sighting and intentional capture on the estuary of Patos Lagoon; and

Monitoring of amateur and artisanal fisheries.