The Babitonga Bay is the southernmost large representative of a mangrove ecosystem in the subtropical Atlantic (Brazil) and is surrounded by six coastal cities, one million citizens at the largest metropolitan region of Santa Catarina state. The estuary encompasses 75% of the state mangrove areas, hosting critically endangered species of small cetaceans (e.g., porpoises) and marine fishes. In total, there are eight Federal Decrees by the Ministry of Environment designating this ecosystem as of national ecological relevance. On the other hand, this coastal-marine area is intensively used by over 1,700 fishers, two large ports installed and about other six under environmental licensing process and, mining, aquaculture and tourism activities, which do not go along without social conflicts and ecological degradation (Cremer et al., 2006). In 2010, a cargo ship transporting steel sheets for the automotive industry sank in the mouth of Babitonga Bay, spilling 116.5 thousand litters of oil, which then spread to coastal and estuarine waters. The company was fined and the resources are currently being applied by the Public Ministry and Federal Court of Justice to improve the environmental governance of the region. Since 2015, these organizations set a partnership with a local academic institution (University of the Region of Joinville (Univille) and the Sea Memories Collective to promote collaborative knowledge-exchange activities (e.g., through workshops and meetings) with BF-EPA constituents (www.babitongaativa.com).
