Laje Viva Institute - Divers take a stand

The Laje Viva Institute was born from the indignation of a group of divers towards illegal fishing that, unfortunately, is a reality in the Laje de Santos Marine State Park. Divers spotted fishing vessels at the park and became indignant and irate with this practice, leading them to take action. From this point on, a few divers decided to meet and start to take action having a clear objective: "Protect Laje de Santos from fishing and hunting". On July 1st, 1993, these divers founded the Laje Viva Institute, a non-profit organization with the objective of implementing actions to guarantee the preservation and protection of the Laje de Santos Marine State Park (PEMLS).

Objectives

The Institute, while being an environmentalist organization, has as its main purpose and objective of implementing its own actions and to develop third party actions in association with government institutions to guarantee the preservation and protection of the Laje de Santos Marine State Park. Including stopping fishing, in any way or form, within the boundaries of the park, being it pole fishing, net fishing, sea hunting or any other form of fishing; Promoting and Encouraging monitoring against any and all illegal activities within the boundaries of the park, documenting such activities and identifying responsible parties and submitting these facts to the knowledge of the proper authorities responsible for taking action in order to punish such activities; Promoting environmental education with the objective of preventing any illegal activity that might occur within the boundaries of the park; Developing projects and field studies in scientific form, mainly through: * Studying the endemic biodiversity, both bentonic and pelagic, identifying and cataloging species and its populations; * Periodical assessment of individual populations and groups of each species, identifying declining species and recuperating their populations; * Studying the pelagic fauna, identifying its origins, destinies and their relations with Laje de Santos; * Studies regarding the behavior of humans visiting the park, with the purpose of providing them with information and clarification on how to minimize the impact that they might have on the park; * Participation in projects and initiatives, both public and private that target contact with the public, marketing the institute, and other activities with social objectives.

Claudio Paschoa