OUR STORY
APLM – the Portuguese Marine Litter Association – was born out of the academic community, following the pioneering work led by Professor Paula Sobral and her team of researchers at the regional unit MARE-NOVA, part of the Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE) and NOVA School of Science and Technology. Since 2008, this team has been at the forefront of marine litter research in Portugal.
Their work began with the POIZON project, a groundbreaking study on microplastics funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (2010–2014). This was later complemented by MARLISCO, a European Commission-funded project (2012–2015) under the programme for mobilisation and mutual learning for societal change.
These projects focused on several areas: characterising marine litter along the Portuguese coast, studying the degradation of polymers in the ocean, and understanding the ingestion of plastic particles by marine organisms. They also included public awareness events, environmental education, and partnerships across various sectors of society.
The idea of creating the Portuguese Marine Litter Association grew out of conversations and shared interests with individuals and organisations — all motivated by the desire to expand this work, particularly in collaboration with Portuguese-speaking African countries.
APLM’s founding meeting took place on 25 November 2013 at the Portuguese Environment Agency’s auditorium — an institution that has supported the initiative from the very beginning, along with many other organisations and individuals who expressed their willingness to collaborate.
MISSION
APLM’s mission is to defend, conserve, and preserve the environment in the face of the impacts of marine litter and microplastics on marine, coastal, estuarine, and inland water ecosystems.
OBJECTIVES
APLM aims to raise awareness, foster responsibility, and promote sustainable consumption, citizenship, solidarity, and environmental stewardship. It is also committed to developing educational activities and supporting projects and initiatives that promote ocean literacy.
- SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
a. PTo promote and organise awareness-raising activities on marine litter in Portugal;
b. To participate in regional, national, and international projects focused on environmental education related to marine litter and sustainable development;
c. To cooperate, collaborate, and exchange knowledge with academic institutions, companies, associations, non-governmental organisations, and other public or privateentities, both national and international, to support solutions to environmental problems related to marine litter;
d. To disseminate relevant technical and scientific knowledge and information with the aim of
contributing to public policies on marine litter;e. To promote intercultural activities that value international cooperation in environmental protection, such as meetings, conferences, exhibitions, contests, and other events, as well as training courses, environmental education initiatives, and volunteer actions related to marine litter;
f. To provide support services for the implementation and management of socio-environmental projects, specifically through scientific, technical, and operational support within APLM’s scope of work, when requested by public and private institutions, nationally and internationally, including non-profit organisations;
g. To develop and promote training programmes for teachers, educators, and facilitators, as well as to support leisure activities, holiday camps, and nature-based tourism initiatives;
h. To implement international cooperation and development education activities, including the possibility of execution in Portuguese-speaking countries, fostering the exchange of knowledge, materials, and people;
i. To establish prizes and scholarships aligned with APLM’s mission;
j. To centralise and provide access to information on marine litter and to disseminate the results of APLM’s activities;
k. To promote and publish materials related to the theme of “marine litter”;
l. To provide support for the defence of the interests of its members, where such interests align with APLM’s mission.
MEMBERS OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PAULA SOBRAL
Presidente da Direcção
LÚCIA GUILHERMINO
Vice-Presidente da Direcção
FILIPA BESSA
Secretária da Direção
JOÃO FRIAS
1º Vogal da Direcão
FILIPA LACERDA
Tesoureira da Direcção
GRAÇA MARTINHO
Presidente Assembleia Geral
PATRÍCIA LOURO
1º Secretário da Ass. Geral
JOANA ANTUNES
2º Secretario da Ass. Geral
ISABEL MOURA
Presidente do Cons. Fiscal
SOFIA QUARESMA
Vogal do Conselho Fiscal
DIANA RODRIGUES
Relator do Conselho FiscalAPLM
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Membership Categories and Annual Fees
Student Members: 18 € (with proof of student status*)
Individual Members: 30 €
Institutional Members: 60 €
Youth Members ‐ 5€ (under 17 years old)*
New members: Please send the completed membership form.