Environmental educational activities

The Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC) in Vigo has released two outreach videos that clearly and accessibly explain the impact of plastics and microplastics on marine ecosystems and on our daily lives. These videos describe their causes, distribution, effects, and the main prevention actions.

The videos were produced within the framework of the cross-border BlueWWater project, funded by Interreg Spain–Portugal (POCTEP), which works to improve water quality through the monitoring of microplastics and emerging contaminants, as well as the assessment of the efficiency of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs).

Date: 20/11/2025

Responsible Partner: IEO

Link

CMIA has inaugurated the exhibition “The Endless Journey of Marine Litter and Its Consequences”, a showcase that invites visitors to reflect on the growing impact of plastics and microplastics on aquatic ecosystems and on our daily lives.

The exhibition addresses the issue of marine litter from a global perspective, presenting its causes, distribution and effects. Through three display structures printed on fabric, the public can learn about the most common types of waste found on Portuguese beaches, their origin, existing legislation, and the main prevention initiatives.

This activity is part of the cross-border BlueWWater project, funded by the Interreg Spain–Portugal (POCTEP) programme, which works to improve the quality of riverine, transitional and coastal water bodies through the monitoring of microplastics and emerging contaminants, as well as the assessment of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) efficiency.

Date: 11/11/2025
Responsible Partner: CMIA

Link to the news on the website

On 9 August, in Viana do Castelo, the awareness resources developed under the cross-border BlueWWater project were presented at a session held in the building next to Praça Aristides Sousa Mendes, in Praia Norte. The initiative was promoted by the CMIA of the Viana do Castelo City Council within the Interreg Spain–Portugal (POCTEP) 2021–2027 programme, with the aim of improving water body quality and tackling pollution by microplastics and emerging contaminants.

Among the educational materials presented were the publication “The Endless Journey of Marine Litter: Sources, Emissions and Impacts of Urban Solid Waste”, educational games, an exploratory kit, and publications aimed both at the school community and the general public. All materials are available for consultation and request through the Ambiente CMViana website.

The BlueWWater project, with a duration of three years (2024–2026) and a total budget of €1,357,053, involves 11 Portuguese and Spanish partners, including the Viana do Castelo City Council, which contributes €56,426. Its work includes monitoring microplastics and emerging contaminants in riverine, transitional and coastal waters, as well as studying the efficiency of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), promoting the sustainable use of water resources and supporting the implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive.

Since 2002, Viana do Castelo has participated in the national Marine Litter Monitoring Programme, in collaboration with the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA). The natural area clean-ups promoted by the municipality have included more than 150 actions and around 1,900 participants, with over 2 tonnes of waste collected between June 2016 and May 2025.

The CMIA Unit continues to develop educational activities related to water, waste and sustainability, reflecting the municipality’s commitment to environmental education and the conservation of natural ecosystems.

Date: 09/08/2025
Responsible Partner: CMIA – Viana do Castelo City Council
Link: https://ambiente.cm-viana-castelo.pt/index.php/noticias/detail/viana-do-castelo-apresenta-recursos-de-sensibilizacao-no-ambito-do-projeto-bluewwater

On 28 and 29 November, the XII Iberian Symposium on the Minho River Basin will be held in Tomiño (Spain), an event dedicated to the exchange of scientific and technical knowledge on the management and conservation of this cross-border basin.

Full event information, including the programme and logistical details, is available on the Aquamuseu website. Interested participants can register through the dedicated form.

Date: 28–29/11/2025
Responsible Partner: Aquamuseu – CMVNC
Information: aquamuseu@cm-vncerveira.pt

The Aquamuseu of Vila Nova de Cerveira has presented the book “Natural Guide to the Minho River – Crustaceans and Fish”, a work developed within the framework of the cross-border BlueWWater project. During the event, the importance of scientific knowledge for the conservation of the natural heritage of the Minho River was highlighted.

“Without science, nature remains silent.”

Date: 26/07/2025
Responsible Partner: Aquamuseu – CMVNC
Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/DMkSRwgsJQt/?img_index=1

The young participants of the “Verão em Movimento 2025” holiday camp, promoted by the Municipality of Vila Nova de Cerveira, visited the Aquamuseu do Rio Minho to learn first-hand about the impacts of microplastics on the aquatic environment. In the laboratory, they observed the steps involved in investigating the presence of these contaminants in water and in fish.

The activity “Do We Consume Microplastics?” is part of the environmental awareness actions carried out within the framework of the cross-border BlueWWater project.

Date: 18/07/2025
Responsible Partner: Aquamuseu – CMVNC
Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/DMQkgPysMjQ/?img_index=2

Over the past few days, several cleanup actions were carried out along the banks of the Miño River, accompanied by laboratory activities focused on the environmental issues associated with microplastics. These activities involved schools from the Caminha and Vila Nova de Cerveira school clusters, as well as the Parque das Nações school (Lisbon).

These actions are part of the cross-border BlueWWater project, which focuses on raising awareness and conserving aquatic environments in the face of emerging contaminants.

Date: 19/05/2025
Responsible Partner: Aquamuseu – CMVNC
Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ1LzzHswQg/?img_index=5

A series of educational leaflets has been developed, focusing on five key topics related to water and waste: “Waste, where are you going?”, “Marine litter”, “Natural water cycle”, “Urban water cycle (DWTPs and WWTPs)”, and “Impacts on humans and biodiversity”. These materials form part of the environmental awareness activities of the BlueWWater project and are aimed at both educational centres and the general public.

Responsible Partner: CMIA

On World Science Day, the Aquamuseu do Minho / Municipality of VN Cerveira promoted a scientific bird ringing activity followed by a clean-up action in an area adjacent to the S. Gonçalo stream (Minho river). It was a day to raise awareness of the ecological problems caused by plastics through the “Plastics in Nature” exhibition held as part of the BlueWater project.

Date 24/11/24

Responsible Partner: Aquamuseu-CMVNC

In the framework of the BlueWWater project, our partners Teresa Neuparth and Miguel Santos do CIIMAR (EDEC Group), participated on Sunday 22 September in the CIIMAR Open Day (opendayCIIMAR) in view of the approaching European Researchers’ Night.  There they showed the importance of environmental assessment and the study of the mechanisms of toxicity of pollutants of emerging concern and endocrine disruptors in the aquatic environment.

Date 24/11/24

Responsible Partner: CIIMAR

In the scope of the BlueWWater project, an ecobarrier was placed on the banks of S. Gonçalo to retain floating plastics and with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of waste management, given that the main source of plastic pollution is terrestrial. Activity carried out on the occasion of the celebration of World Rivers Day and Interreg Cooperation Day.

Date 28/09/24

Responsible Partner: Aquamuseu-CMVNC

Enlace a noticia no Instagram do Aquamuseu

Clean-up activity carried out by the Centro de Monitorizaçao e interpretação Ambiental (CMIA) of Viana do Castelo (CMVDC) with Eurostyle Systems on the banks of the Limia River with the aim of collecting waste transported by the river after a spill and with direct impact on the aquatic environment. It was supported by the Junta de Freguesia de Darque e Serviços Municipalizados de Viana do Castelo and was carried out on the occasion of World Rivers Day and Interreg Cooperation Day.

Date 21/09/24

Responsible Partner: CMIA-CMVDC

Link to CMIA news

Video produced by the Aquamuseu do rio Minho de Vilanova de Cerveira (CMVNC) showing the life cycle of plastic in the aquatic environment and raising awareness about the reduction of single-use packaging and the impact of plastic on the environment. It also warns of the importance of changing attitudes individually and collectively.

Activity: Video “The Life cicle of Plastic”

Date: 24/07/24

Responsible Partner: Aquamuseu-CMVNC

Link: video

Experimental activity carried out by the Aquamuseu do rio Minho de Vilanova de Cerveira (CMVNC) with 12-year-old students from the V. N. de Cerveira School Group to explore the problems associated with microplastics in nature. They became familiar with the scientific methodologies used in the laboratory to investigate the presence of microplastics in water and fish.

Activity: Do we consume microplastics?

Date: 17/05/24

Responsible partner: Aquamuseu-CMVNC

Clean-up  activity carried out by the Aquamuseu do rio Minho de Vilanova de Cerveira (CMVNC) on the banks of the Minho river to collect waste, contribute to minimizing the impact of the terrestrial environment and prevent it from reaching the aquatic environment.

Date: 13/04/24

Responsible partner: Aquamuseu-CMVNC

Dissemination activity carried out by the IEO-CSIC with secondary school students at the Angel de la Guarda School to raise awareness of the pollution caused by plastic and emerging pollutants in the marine environment.

Presentation: “Plastics and other contaminants of emerging concern in the marine environment’.

Date: 02/04/24

Responsible Partner: IEO-CSIC

Interactive game to raise awareness about pollution caused by microplastics and the presence of contaminants of emerging concern in the aquatic environment

Date: 02/04/24

Responsible partner: IEO-CSIC

Download: Game in Spanish, Game in portuguese