Led by the Schurmann Family, which has been sailing the seas for 40 years and has already traveled three times around the world, Voice of The Oceans operates by sea and land with the mission of raising awareness in society about the invasion and pollution of waste – including plastic and micro plastics – in the ocean, mobilizing people, companies and governments to change habits. The initiative, which includes an expedition with global support from the UN Environment Program – UNEP, also aims to seek and reveal solutions capable of reversing this scenario. After sailing along almost the entire Brazilian coast (from Santa Catarina to Pará), the Caribbean region, much of the east coast of the United States, Mexico, the Panama Canal and French Polynesia, the crew of the sustainable sailboat Kat completed the first stage of the expedition upon arrival in New Zealand. In just over two years, Voice of The Oceans has witnessed the presence of plastic and micro plastic in around 100 destinations in more than 10 countries in South, Central and North America and Oceania. At the same time, it has also been sailing through waters of hope, finding in every place it goes, hundreds of people and initiatives committed to reversing the worrying and serious invasion of waste, which suffocates the Oceans, responsible for more than 50% of the planet’s oxygen.

In 2024, Voice of The Oceans begins the second phase of its journey with the sustainable sailboat Kat following its international route: New Zealand will be the starting point for navigation through the Pacific (ending Oceania), Indian (Asia and Africa) and Atlantic oceans (Africa and South America), returning to Brazil and thus completing a trip around the world. At the same time, a second vessel returns to the Brazilian coast, revisiting some environmental projects, but also discovering and revealing others that are important for environmental conservation. This next stage continues to be guided by the invasion of plastic waste, observing its effects on the loss of biodiversity and damage to human health. But it also pays attention to the consequences of the climate crisis, such as coral bleaching and the movement of climate refugees. Sailboat crews and shore staff continue to develop actions based on the five pillars of Art, Science, Education, Expedition/Communication and Innovation, expanding the great wave of transformation.

Voice of the Oceans is an initiative from Brazil to the world, created and led by those who literally live at sea and, since the 1990s, have been witnessing on site the growing invasion of waste, mainly single-use plastics, into the oceans. In other words, the Schurmann Family has been proving with its expeditions what alarming statistics indicate: by 2040, the seas should receive between 23 and 37 million tons of plastic waste per year, points out the report “From Pollution to the Solution: A Global Analysis of Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution”, from the UN Environment Program – UNEP. The challenge is great, but this game is not yet lost. The hundreds of inspiring stories found so far by Voice of The Oceans reinforce that it is possible to reverse this scenario, counting on the mobilization and commitment of all sectors of society. It is even worth remembering another more recent study by UNEP itself: according to “Shutting off the tap: how the world can end plastic pollution and create a circular economy”, this plastic pollution, which has been choking the oceans, can be reduced by 80 % by the same year 2040, if countries and companies make profound changes in policies and the market using existing technologies.

Known by the Brazilian and international public for its expeditions, productions for TV, cinema and social networks, the Schurmann Family brings its history and credibility to Voice of The Oceans, to drive this wave of transformation, expanding the reach of the environmental cause beyond the circles more restricted to activists or scientists, for example, reaching and mobilizing society as a whole.