
Biological Research
The Biological Research promoted several researches, works and motivated sponsors, like the Marina Boats. These surveys have been in place since the year 2000 and are older because of the researchers who were linked from the beginning of the partnership, such as Biol. Luiz Ferrúa de Oliveira. The initial motivation was and is the formation of a database on the sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus) that motivated the name of the Project, Projeto Carcharias. Identification of the stocks of sharks that are targeted for fishing, identification of the various species of sharks that their stocks are threatened. To do so, in 2010 the Ethnobiology project was created. This research aims to identify the species of sharks and the fishing patterns of the elasmobranchs captured by the fishing fleet of Passo de Torres. Species are identified and where fishermen are questioned about the various characteristics of each fishery. Analyzing how fishermen view fishing is fundamental for the conservation of elasmobranchs. For, some species, such as the angel-cage, ray-viola and the mangone, are seriously threatened by fishing. From 2008, several researches were carried out related to microorganisms present in the fish and in the vessels. Bacteria present in the fish were identified that had not been registered to the Brazilian coast, only in the poles of the planet. Preventive measures have been created and adapted to the bacteriological contamination of the fish, aiming at the improvement of product quality; antibiotic resistance of the microbiota of fishing vessels contributed in Torres Pass. In partnership with the aforementioned companies, monitoring takes place on Ilha dos Lobos in the last two summers of the existing fauna and how it behaves throughout this period.
The joint efforts of the PRÓ-SQUALUS - PROJETO CARHARIAS with the Fishermen's Colony Z-18 and the Fisheries Secretariat made the fishing community of Passo de Torres the only one in Brazil and in the world. In 2013 it became the first fishing community in the world to execute the practice of finning, that is, it became a Linning Free Zone. In 2014 the Biological Reserve of Solitude Conservation Unit was proposed (see column). The partnership made over the course of the 14 years between Entities tends to become stronger and grow in their performances. To do so, only the increasingly effective participation of the fishing community of Passo de Torres is enough. More information about the PROJETO CARHARIAS, how to participate and how to bring the children, contact the Fisheries Secretariat and the Z-18 Colony.
Education
Historically several actions have been developed for the fishermen and, more recently for their children, a specially constructed project the Oceanus Project. The first action for the fishermen was suggested by the President of the Colony, due to the PEP exam of the Brazilian Navy, was put into practice in 2004. They would be constituted classes of all the disciplines present in the content of Elementary and Middle School for fishermen. Classes inserted in the context and reality of the fisheries and volunteer teachers of the PROJETO CARHARIAS came to teach in the Z-18 Colony. The methodological conception of these classes was presented in Scientific Events and were awarded in 2004 and 2005.
Following, the idea was to build a library, also in the Colony in 2006. In addition to the library, opened to the public, computers were set up where computer and research classes would be practiced, mainly related to meteorological and oceanographic conditions and market for fish. There was a lot of participation from the children of the fishermen who frequented the library. From this moment, the Environmental Education classes began, with one of its idealizers being Mrs. Ana Carvalho Joaquim, current Secretary of Fisheries. The classes began in 2010 and happened for years in the library and bringing results, almost immediately, since from the first classes the parents already brought the solid waste from the sea. The environmental education project for the children of fishermen was called the Oceanus Project.
In August of 2013, the Oceanus Project was recognized as the City Hall of Passo de Torres as an important action for the children of fishermen. Through the partnership with the PRÓ-SQUALUS Foundation, the City Hall of Torres de Torres, the Oceanus Project rescues practical, active and experienced environmental education by children as an efficient tool for sensitization, socialization, information interaction, talent dissemination and learning. This tool helps strengthen family/community relationships, based on children, through differentiated activities, which challenge students to overcome their limits, through projects developed in the Project, focused on the environment. In addition to the classroom activities, the participants have surf boards, helping even more their identification and commitment to the sea. These classes are conducted by professional surfers and in partnership with the Torres Surfing Association (AST). The Oceanus Project has Professor Janaína Wenzel and Professor Walter Nisa-Castro-Neto and Sec Ana Ana Carvalho Joaquim.
Health and Life Quality
The health and quality of life of deep-sea fishers is of fundamental importance in the preservation of marine organisms. Nowadays, they face extremely complex working hours. Among the activities that they carry out throughout the fisheries are the conduction and maneuvers of the vessel, fish trapping, cleaning of the fish, storage of the fish among other activities that are part of the day-to-day activities in the fishing on the high seas. On average, boats remain several days at sea, and each fisherman remains in his activities, like the master, for many hours standing until the whole net is collected. From the studies begun in 2008 on the Conditions of Life and Health of Fishermen, some problems were identified. Among them, the Osteomuscular Disorders Related to Fishing Work and the Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease. For these surveys, unique research devices were made and especially for fishermen. Like the works of Education, these were sent to scientific events and deserving of prizes.
Outcome of the activities of the Oceanus Project, one of the parents who is a fisherman, bringing the waste from the high seas, such as: plastic, papers, food debris and other materials that would return to the sea or be disposed of as refuse food. Photographic credit: Walter Nisa-Castro-Neto. In the Oceanus Project there is the construction of Environmental Education activities for the children from the reality of the parents, from the knowledge of the sea and their hopes. In this class were constructed marine animals, sharks and dolphins. Photographic credit: Ana Carvalho Joaquim. In addition to the classroom activities, the sport, surfing, develops children's aptitude for new motor skills as well as bringing them closer to the sea. These activities are performed by professional and amateur surfers. Photographic credit: Walter Nisa-Castro-Neto. Gathering of networks, when they spend many hours, until 18h, in the same positions. During all weather seasons the fisherman is left without any protection from the sun's rays. And also the reproductive biology and fishing analysis of the hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) in the shipments is investigated. Photographic credit: Fishermen's Colony Z-18. White shark (Carcharodon carcharias) caught on the beach of Gaivotas (SC) in 2004, 5 km from the coast. Research on the knowledge of fishermen will rescue an invaluable source of information about the elasmobranch biodiversity of southern Brazil. Photographic credit: Fishermen's Colony Z-18.

