The Guardians of the Sea are women from the fishing community of the Sado estuary who collaborate with Ocean Alive to protect the seagrass beds. There are now 18 of them. They play a catalytic role in transforming the behaviour of their peers, which is necessary to eliminate the three threats that the local community poses to this habitat: shellfish waste, anchors and destructive fishing.

Ocean Alive's goal is to benefit the change in behaviour by developing a certification label for good practices, which aims to provide increased income from the sale of this community's fish and shellfish.

Through a training programme, we have created new professions and jobs that value their wisdom and life history and give them a supplementary income.

The fisherwomen are marine guides for the educational programme and marine experiences, awareness-raising agents for the Seafood Without Garbage campaign and monitors of the marine prairies in projects with scientists.