Creating the largest marine park in Brazil

Located in the far south of Brazil, near the border with Uruguay, the Albardão region is a sanctuary for more than 25 threatened species, including sharks, rays and migratory whales and dolphins. But fishing activities here have caused high mortality rates in the ‘toninha’, a small cetacean, and the economic interests of the fishing and offshore wind industries have repeatedly delayed the designation of a proposed marine protected area (MPA). 

Since late 2024, Blue Marine has provided financial and technical support to SOS Oceano, an alliance that works alongside Brazilian NGOs, including Núcleo de Educação e Monitoramento Ambiental (NEMA).  This alliance builds on 20 years of advocacy by Brazilian NGOs to strengthen the evidence base for an MPA, as well as additional support from Conservation International Brazil and the Blue Nature Alliance.  

In November 2025, SOS Oceano and NEMA launched a public awareness and advocacy campaign that drew significant media coverage around the time of COP30 at Belém in the north of the country. These efforts ultimately reached government and high level decision-makers, including First Lady, Rosângela Lula da Silva. The government then discussed 11 MPAs whose technical processes for creation had already been completed, with Albardão the priority case.  

In March 2026, President Lula signed the designation of the Albardão National Park and the Albardão Environmental Protection Area, a major milestone secured after decades of uncertainty. The designations protect almost 16,000 sq km and create Brazil’s largest marine national park.  

In January 2026, Blue Marine supported a field expedition to Albardão, led by SOS Oceano in partnership with NEMA and Sea Shepherd. A focal point was the critical situation of the toninha, which drew the attention of investigative journalists, increasing media coverage and strengthening the case for the MPA.