Discarded fishing nets are one of the most dangerous forms of plastic pollution, continuing to harm marine life, while traditional caiçara communities face declining resources and lack sustainable livelihoods or a positive end-of-life solution for the nets

Marulho is a regenerative initiative that weaves environmental restoration with cultural resilience. We collect discarded fishing nets from the ocean and coastline — turning a deadly source of plastic pollution and ghost fishing into raw material for handcrafted, high-quality products. This process is done in collaboration with caiçara communities — traditional coastal peoples of Brazil whose heritage blends Indigenous, African, and European roots, and whose way of life is deeply intertwined with the rhythms of the sea. Our approach is circular, creative, and community-centered. The nets we recover are cleaned, sorted, and transformed into new materials through a combination of artisanal techniques and local innovation. All that work is done in an island in southern Brazil, an UNESCO World Heritage Site for Nature and Culture. The result is a line of eco-conscious products — including bags, chairs, and sandals — that are co-designed and co-produced with local artisans and fishers. Every product tells a story: of recovery, of transformation, and of a people who are reclaiming their role as protectors of the sea. We’ve built Marulho as a platform for caiçara voices, values, and visions. Our production model is designed to train and empower community members across all stages of the value chain — from collecting and preparing nets, to designing and fabricating products, to sharing their work through storytelling and sales. In doing so, we’re not only creating sustainable income opportunities, but also revaluing ancestral knowledge, fostering intergenerational learning, and restoring pride in local identities. So far, Marulho has reused over 8 tons of discarded fishing nets through its own operations, and enabled the recycling of an additional 15 tons through partner collaborations. These efforts directly combat ghost fishing — a silent but devastating threat to marine biodiversity — while preventing more plastic from entering the ocean. At the same time, we’ve generated over $100,000 USD in direct revenue for local community members, proving that environmental recovery and economic justice can go hand in hand.