The Keepers of the Sea are women of the Sado river’s fishing community who work with Ocean Alive to protect seagrass meadows. As of today, there are 18 Keepers of the Sea. They have an important role catalyzing behaviour changes in their peers of the fishing community. These changes are necessary to eliminate 3 identified threats to seagrass meadows that are associated with the fishing community’s behaviours: litter from shellfishing activities, the docking of anchors on the seagrass meadows and destructive fishing. 

We aim to reward this behaviour change with a best practice certification label that encourages the public to buy fish and shellfish from this fishing community, so that the behaviour change can translate into increased income. 

Additionally, our Keepers of the Sea participate in all of Ocean Alive’s activities.

Through our capacity-building program, we created new occupational and professional roles tailored to these women’s expertise and life experiences, providing them with a source of complimentary income

These fisherwomen are the sea guides of our education program, awareness-raising agents of the Shellfishing WITHOUT Litter campaign and monitors of the seagrass meadows in scientific projects.