APLM - the Portuguese Marine Litter Association (2014) is a voluntary organization with the objective to preserve and protect the marine environment against pollution by (plastic) litter and microplastics, though prevention and reduction of plastic litter from land and sea based sources.
We are committed to raise society awareness and co-responsibility towards values of sustainable consumption and citizenship regarding environmental protection. We act as a platform for communicating science and dissemination of actions from partner organizations civil society informal groups working with the same objectives - for a sea without litter.
Members of APLM have a strong link to the academia and have been involved in pioneer science and awareness projects about marine litter and micro plastics in Portugal.
APLM develops awareness actions, and environmental education projects for schools, (lectures, interactive activities and clean-ups for several age groups, from little kids to university students; collaborate with private and public institutions and provide technical and scientific advice (in fisheries sector - Project "Fishing for a sea without litter", and beach litter monitoring, plastic bags taxes) and foster partnerships and international cooperation, (feed marine litter data to the European Environmental Agency, the Ocean Conservancy, support Beat the Microbead Campaign in Portugal, and endeavour to create the Partnership of the Portuguese Speaking Countries for Marine Litter having led workshops in East Timor and and Principe Island (So Tom), with the support from the CPLP community.