Mês do Mar 2025: Scouts mobilise for ocean protection across Portugal
Throughout November 2025, Scouts across Portugal once again came together to celebrate Mês do Mar (Month of the Sea), a national initiative dedicated to protecting the ocean and raising awareness about marine litter. Running from 2 to 30 November, this year’s edition marked the 7th anniversary of the initiative and reinforced its central mission: to engage young people and local communities in caring for the sea and coastal ecosystems.
Launched by Corpo Nacional de Escutas, in partnership with the Oceano Azul Foundation and the Lisbon Oceanarium, Mês do Mar continues to grow as a powerful movement for environmental action. In 2025 alone, more than 2,200 Scouts took part in 77 clean-up actions across the country, collecting an impressive 7.2 tonnes of marine litter and cleaning 80 kilometres of beaches and riversides.
Ação Bandeira 2025: A national moment for the ocean
Aço Bandeira (Flagship Action) was the highlight of the campaign this year, held in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, on 15 November 2025. This major national mobilisation, endorsed by the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), brought together 770 participants, including Scouts and Guides committed to ocean conservation.
Although adverse weather conditions prevented the planned full-day coastal clean-up, the organisation demonstrated resilience and adaptability. Activities were relocated to the Diocesan Seminar of Viana do Castelo, where participants engaged in 17 thematic workshops led by a wide range of partners.
The workshops covered topics such as blue literacy, marine biodiversity, sustainability, circular economy, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and strategies to combat marine litter. These learning moments strengthened environmental awareness and inspired participants to continue taking action in their communities.
Later in the afternoon, as weather conditions improved, a small group of participants returned to the beach and successfully collected 32 kg of litter in just 45 minutes, turning challenges into opportunities for action.
Since its launch in 2019, Mês do Mar has become a landmark environmental initiative within Portuguese Scouting. Over the past seven years, it has mobilised more than 15,000 Scouts and resulted in the collection of over 70 tonnes of litter nationwide.