Mar Atento Project starts training fishing community to respond to environmental emergencies

Rio de Janeiro – The Mar Atento (Open Sea) Project, an initiative by Shell and Equinor in partnership with Vast Infraestrutura and PRIO, focused on the safety and environmental protection of coastal communities, will begin its training stage on the 13^th in Barra do Furado (Quissamã, RJ). The action aims to train fishermen from the region, which also includes Farol de São Thomé (Campos dos Goytacazes,RJ), to respond possible emergency situations involving oil spills at sea, contributing to the protection of the marine and coastal ecosystems.

“The importance of this training was widely recognized by the fishermen themselves. This engagement strengthens the safety and sustainable development of fishing communities,” says Suely Ortega, Senior Social Performance Consultant at Shell Brazil. The training will be conducted by experts from Environpact and Oceanpact, both of whom have extensive experience in responding to environmental emergencies.

“Preparing local fishermen to respond to environmental emergencies is an essential step in mitigating impacts and ensuring a fast and effective answer in critical situations. We see great importance in working on this project alongside companies in the industry that are also committed to sustainability and preserving the environment. This is the type of action that not only strengthens our ability to protect the marine ecosystem, but also helps us valuing the local community, fostering a safer and more responsible environment,” says Leandro Brandão, PRIO’s Sustainability Manager.

Mar Atento in practice: training stage

The training will be broken down into two modules – theoretical and hands-on – with two classes, totaling 60 participants. In the theoretical part, everyone will learn about oil collection and safety procedures with oiled animals. The practical part will be divided into Shore Protection and Beach Cleaning. In the first topic, fishermen will learn how to deploy containment booms and oil collection techniques with the support of six previously registered boats. The Beach Cleaning class will be trained in the use of specific equipment and in the processes of decontaminating people and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).

All participants will receive a certificate of completion and teaching materials, as well as PPE for applying the knowledge acquired. The participants were selected based on specific criteria, such as local residence and experience in sea fishing, with the purpose of strengthening the link between the community and environmental protection practices.

The Mar Atento project has four stages (I – Planning, II – Engagement, III – Training and IV – Feedback). In August, local fishermen took part in the EXPO Mar Atento, a technical exhibition aimed at raising awareness on safety and sustainability in the oil and gas industry. Upon completion of the project, participating fishermen will be better prepared for a fast response to oil spill incidents and will have their vessels registered as part of environmental response operations.

Mar Atento Project

Since 2017, the project has been carried out in six municipalities in the Campos Basin, three in Espírito Santo, in the cities of Marataízes, Anchieta and Itapemirim, and three in Rio de Janeiro, in the cities of Cabo Frio, São João da Barra and São Francisco do Itabapoana. The initiative has already trained almost 300 fishermen and registered over 90 boats. Mar Atento is a voluntary social project, i.e. it is not part of the environmental licensing obligation related to companies’ offshore activities.

About Shell

For over 110 years in the country, Shell has been an integrated energy company, operating in Upstream, New Natural Gas Market, Trading, Research & Development and the Development of Renewable Energies, with a free market trading business and environmental products, Shell Energy Brasil. Fuel distribution is managed here by the Raízen joint venture, which recently also acquired Shell Brasil’s lubricants business. The company works to meet the growing demand for energy in an economically, environmentally and socially responsible manner, assessing trends and scenarios to respond to the challenge of the energy future.

About Equinor

Equinor is an international energy company committed to creating long-term value in a low-carbon future. With a portfolio covering oil, gas, renewable energies and low-carbon solutions, Equinor is the main operator on the Norwegian continental shelf. In Brazil, an internationally strategic area for the company, the growing portfolio includes assets in oil and gas (O&G) and renewable energies. At O&G, the company has projects under development, including Raia and Bacalhau, and assets in production, such as Peregrino and Roncador. In renewable energy, the company has solar energy assets in operation – the Apodi and Mendubim solar plants, and acquired Rio Energy, the country’s leading onshore renewable energy company, in 2023.

About Vast Infraestrutura

Vast Infraestrutura is a company dedicated to offering infrastructure and logistics solutions for the handling of liquids in Brazil. With consolidated experience in reliable, low-carbon oil transshipment operations at the Port of Açu, Vast wants to go further and become a liquid fuel handling and storage hub for the present and the future. The company is aligned with society’s demands and has the ambition to be a benchmark in sustainability and best practices in the segment in which it operates, always taking care of the environment and the communities in its area of influence, aiming to move energy safely and create an increasingly sustainable future.

Nice to meet you, we are PRIO

We are the largest independent oil and gas company in Brazil, a pioneer in recovering and increasing the useful life of fields in production. Created in 2015, with five production assets in the Campos Basin, we focus on excellence and the pursuit of operational efficiency, prioritizing safety in operations and care about people and preservation of the environment.

Headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, PRIO’s purpose goes beyond O&G: we want to draw the best from our energy to transform Brazil into a more efficient place. In addition, we seek to involve and return this growth to society by encouraging sport, culture, and the education initiatives – that are part of our I Love PRIO sponsorship platform.

For more information:

Shell Brazil Press Office
[email protected]

Edelman
[email protected]

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