(EN)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Moliceiro coffee, at the entrance to Cais do Bico<\/strong>, some customers drink coffee and read the newspaper at the counter. A little further ahead, several fishing boats, such as Petinguinha<\/em>, Lacrau<\/em> or Jo\u00e3o V\u00edtor<\/em>, are lined up at the pier while fishermen tend to their nets. On the bow of the moliceiro Menino da Ria<\/em>, a painted panel reads \u201cele j\u00e1 n\u00e3o d\u00e1 com o buraco<\/strong>\u201d<\/em> captioning an image of a woman exasperatedly watching her fianc\u00e9 trying to insert a key into a lock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A van from CESAM \u2013 Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies<\/strong> at the University of Aveiro (UA) is parked next to a sign pointing to the Moliceiro Boarding Pier. Researcher Ana Sousa takes from the trunk a bag with the fishermen\u2019s suits we\u2019ll be wearing for the next few hours. We put them on, not without some effort, and are now inside a rubber capsule that will protect us from water and mud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We board the Chincha<\/em>, a small motorboat from UA, and Aldiro Pereira, an employee from the Environment Department piloting the vessel toward the lagoon\u2019s interior, asks us a somewhat unsettling question: Gripping the helm, Aldiro Pereira steers the Chincha<\/em> toward a mud island in the lagoon, formed at low tide. After ten minutes we arrive. There, a group of two researchers and a Marine Biology student are busy planting moli\u00e7o<\/em> \u2013 taking small samples of these seagrasses from areas where they are abundant and transplanting them into more barren zones, burying them in the sludge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you\u2019re going to fall\u2026\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Still on the boat, raising her voice above the engine noise, Ana Sousa explains that this activity is part of the A-AAGORA<\/strong> and REWRITE<\/strong> projects, which aim at \u201crestoring the Ria de Aveiro.\u201d The presence of moli\u00e7o<\/em> in the lagoon, she points out, brings several benefits to the ecosystem \u2013 it provides habitat for invertebrate species like clams, serves as a nursery for fish reproduction, and even contributes to mitigating climate change by helping to capture carbon. This restoration effort began in 2019, under another UA project, with good results already visible: growing patches of seagrass are now found in more areas of the lagoon. This time, we are crossing the lagoon along the Laranjo canal, departing from Cais do Bico, in Murtosa, under a lead-colored sky with occasional drizzle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When we reach our destination, researcher Pedro Coelho and student Mariana Pinto are kneeling in a large muddy expanse where each step leaves the imprint of their boot soles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before disembarking, Ana Sousa had given us some advice on the precarious exercise of walking on mud: Another trick, she says, is to keep moving whenever possible \u2013 if you stay standing in one spot, your legs sink almost to your knees. The deeper you sink, the harder it is to pull your feet out of the muck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On that vast plain of water and mud, each of the three UA members, with both knees pressed into the ground, uses a small cylinder driven into the soil up to its rim, then lifted with hands underneath, now filled with moli\u00e7o<\/em>. These plugs are placed in trays that, once full, are dragged on a sled-like board to the spots where the seagrass will be replanted \u2013 where it is expected to spread naturally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Up to this point we simply observe, ask questions, and try to keep our balance to avoid humiliation. Then Pedro Coelho challenges us to try it ourselves: they hand me a cylinder, which I drive into the mud, pull up, and place on the tray; I glance at my hands and no longer see skin, only the soft dark mud of the lagoon; then I carry some of these samples to the recipient areas \u2013 as Ana Sousa calls them \u2013 about a hundred meters from the collection sites. Meanwhile, Aldiro Pereira sticks cane stakes into the ground to mark the newly planted areas. It\u2019s slow, laborious, difficult, dirty work. We don\u2019t stay until the end. We bid farewell to Ana, Pedro, and Mariana, skipping handshakes. The three remain devoted to the moli\u00e7o<\/em> while we return to the Chincha<\/em>, following Aldiro\u2019s lead. At 68, he brings us back to Cais do Bico, where we strip off our life vests and rubber suits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (PT)<\/p>\n\n\n\n No Caf\u00e9 Moliceiro, \u00e0 entrada do Cais do Bico, alguns clientes bebem caf\u00e9 e leem o jornal ao balc\u00e3o. Um pouco \u00e0 frente, v\u00e1rios barcos de pesca, como o Petinguinha<\/strong>, o Lacrau<\/strong> ou o Jo\u00e3o V\u00edtor<\/strong>, est\u00e3o alinhados no cais enquanto os pescadores tratam das redes de pesca. Na proa do moliceiro \u201cMenino da Ria<\/strong>\u201d l\u00ea-se no painel \u201cele j\u00e1 n\u00e3o d\u00e1 com o buraco<\/strong>\u201d, legenda de uma imagem em que uma mulher exasperada olha para o noivo que tenta introduzir uma chave na fechadura.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Uma carrinha do CESAM \u2013 Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar<\/strong>, da Universidade de Aveiro (UA)<\/strong>, est\u00e1 estacionada junto a uma placa que aponta para o Cais de Embarque de Moliceiros<\/strong>. A investigadora Ana Sousa<\/strong> retira da mala um saco com os fatos de pescador que envergaremos nas pr\u00f3ximas horas. Vestimo-los, n\u00e3o sem algum esfor\u00e7o, e estamos agora no interior de uma c\u00e1psula de borracha que nos proteger\u00e1 da \u00e1gua e da lama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Subimos a bordo do \u201cChincha<\/strong>\u201d, um pequeno barco a motor da UA, e Aldiro Pereira<\/strong>, funcion\u00e1rio do Departamento de Ambiente que pilota a embarca\u00e7\u00e3o rumo ao interior da ria, lan\u00e7a-nos uma pergunta que nos deixa algo inquietos: Agarrado ao leme, Aldiro Pereira conduz o \u201cChincha\u201d para uma ilha de lama no interior da ria, formada pela mar\u00e9 vaza<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Agarrado ao leme, Aldiro Pereira conduz o \u201cChincha\u201d para uma ilha de lama no interior da ria, formada pela mar\u00e9 vaza. Chegamos ao fim de dez minutos. \u00c9 l\u00e1 que um grupo de dois investigadores e uma estudante de Biologia Marinha Aplicada se dedicam \u00e0 planta\u00e7\u00e3o de moli\u00e7o<\/strong> \u2013 retiram pequenas amostras destas ervas marinhas de locais onde s\u00e3o abundantes e transplantam-nas para outros mais \u00e1ridos, enterrando-as no lodo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00abSe for para cair…\u00bb<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A exist\u00eancia de moli\u00e7o na ria comporta v\u00e1rios benef\u00edcios a este ecossistema<\/strong>, assinala a investigadora \u2013 serve de habitat a diversas esp\u00e9cies de invertebrados<\/strong>, como a am\u00eaijoa, e de ber\u00e7\u00e1rio no processo de reprodu\u00e7\u00e3o dos peixes<\/strong>; e tem ainda uma fun\u00e7\u00e3o de mitiga\u00e7\u00e3o das altera\u00e7\u00f5es clim\u00e1ticas<\/strong>, ajudando ao sequestro de carbono<\/strong>. Esta opera\u00e7\u00e3o de restauro teve in\u00edcio em 2019<\/strong>, \u00e0 luz de outro projeto da UA, com bons resultados que s\u00e3o j\u00e1 vis\u00edveis<\/strong>, havendo manchas cada vez maiores destas ervas em mais locais da laguna. Desta vez, percorremos a ria pelo canal do Laranjo<\/strong>, a partir do Cais do Bico, na Murtosa<\/strong>, debaixo de um c\u00e9u cor de chumbo, de onde caem chuviscos espor\u00e1dicos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Quando atingimos o nosso destino, o investigador Pedro Coelho<\/strong> e a estudante Mariana Pinto<\/strong> est\u00e3o ajoelhados numa grande superf\u00edcie lamacenta onde, a cada passo, ficam impressas as marcas das solas das botas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ana Sousa<\/strong>, antes do desembarque, dera-nos alguns conselhos sobre o prec\u00e1rio exerc\u00edcio de caminhar na lama: Outro dos truques, diz, \u00e9 mantermo-nos em movimento sempre que poss\u00edvel<\/strong> \u2013 se permanecermos de p\u00e9 no mesmo s\u00edtio, vemos as nossas pernas enterrarem-se quase at\u00e9 aos joelhos. Quanto mais cent\u00edmetros estiverem soterradas, mais dif\u00edcil \u00e9 depois al\u00e7ar os p\u00e9s das profundezas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Naquela imensa plan\u00edcie, misto de \u00e1gua e lama, cada um dos tr\u00eas membros da UA, com ambos os joelhos cravados no solo, est\u00e1 munido de um pequeno cilindro que \u00e9 enterrado at\u00e9 ao rebordo superior e que depois, com as m\u00e3os dispostas por baixo, \u00e9 i\u00e7ado j\u00e1 com o interior forrado de moli\u00e7o. Estes discos s\u00e3o colocados nuns tabuleiros que, depois de cheios, s\u00e3o transportados, com a ajuda de uma placa que funciona como tren\u00f3, para os s\u00edtios onde as ervas ser\u00e3o replantadas \u2013 e onde se espera que disseminem por si pr\u00f3prias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At\u00e9 ali limitamo-nos a observar o trabalho, a fazer perguntas e a tentar poupar-nos a vexames mantendo o equil\u00edbrio. \u00c9 ent\u00e3o que Pedro Coelho<\/strong> nos desafia a experimentar: passam-me um cilindro para as m\u00e3os, que enterro, desenterro e deposito no tabuleiro; olho para as minhas m\u00e3os e n\u00e3o vejo a pele, coberta da lama escura e macia da ria; depois transporto alguns destes recipientes para as zonas recetoras, como Ana Sousa<\/strong> lhes chama, a uns cem metros das \u00e1reas de recolha. Aldiro Pereira<\/strong> espeta algumas estacas de cana para demarcar as \u00e1reas que v\u00e3o sendo plantadas. \u00c9 um trabalho lento, moroso, dif\u00edcil e sujo. N\u00f3s n\u00e3o ficamos at\u00e9 ao fim. Despedimo-nos de Ana, Pedro e Mariana, prescindindo dos apertos de m\u00e3o. Os tr\u00eas mant\u00eam-se dedicados ao moli\u00e7o enquanto n\u00f3s regressamos ao \u201cChincha\u201d, seguindo no encal\u00e7o de Aldiro. Este homem de 68 anos devolve-nos ao Cais do Bico<\/strong>, onde despimos os coletes e os fatos de borracha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" (EN) In Moliceiro coffee, at the entrance to Cais do Bico, some customers drink coffee and read the newspaper at the counter. A little further ahead, several fishing boats, such as Petinguinha, Lacrau or Jo\u00e3o V\u00edtor, are lined up at the pier while fishermen tend to their nets. 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\u201cDo you know what you\u2019re getting yourselves into?\u201d
We admit we don\u2019t really. But in truth, we should have guessed they weren\u2019t taking us to some pristine paradise. In an email received the day before, UA had warned: \u201cParticipants are advised to bring good spirits, casual clothing that can get dirty, and fishing boots.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about informing, raising awareness, and involving citizens in the protection of our region\u2019s natural heritage,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important for the lagoon\u2019s biodiversity,\u201d she summarizes, explaining that the decline of moli\u00e7o<\/em>, which had been very steep in recent decades, has gradually been curbed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you fall, fall forward, onto your knees,\u201d she recommended.
I quickly learned the usefulness of this advice \u2013 had I fallen flat on my back, the embarrassment would have been greater and getting up again much harder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI demand my name on the project credits,\u201d I joke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe stay as long as the tide allows,\u201d says the researcher. \u201cIt can last up to four hours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\u00abvoc\u00eas sabem no que se v\u00e3o meter?\u00bb<\/strong>
N\u00e3o sabemos bem, assumimos. Mas, na verdade, j\u00e1 dev\u00edamos desconfiar que n\u00e3o nos levariam para um para\u00edso de limpeza. Num e-mail recebido na v\u00e9spera, a UA pedia: \u00abaos participantes, aconselha-se boa disposi\u00e7\u00e3o, roupa casual que se possa sujar e botas de pesca\u00bb.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Esta atividade, explica Ana Sousa ainda no barco, projetando a voz por cima do estr\u00e9pito do motor, \u00e9 uma iniciativa dos projetos A-AAGORA<\/strong> e REWRITE<\/strong>, que visa \u00abo restauro da Ria de Aveiro\u00bb<\/strong>.
\u00abTrata-se de informar, sensibilizar e envolver os cidad\u00e3os na prote\u00e7\u00e3o do patrim\u00f3nio natural da nossa regi\u00e3o\u00bb,<\/strong> diz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00ab\u00c9 importante para a biodiversidade da ria\u00bb,<\/strong> resume, explicando que o decl\u00ednio do moli\u00e7o, muito acentuado nas \u00faltimas d\u00e9cadas, tem vindo a ser paulatinamente travado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00abSe for para cair, caiam para a frente, de joelhos\u00bb,<\/strong> recomendara.
Pude provar, num passo em falso, a utilidade desta recomenda\u00e7\u00e3o \u2013 se me tivesse estatelado de costas, a vergonha teria sido maior e o regresso \u00e0 posi\u00e7\u00e3o vertical teria sido mais penoso.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00abExijo o meu nome na ficha t\u00e9cnica do projeto\u00bb,<\/strong> aviso a rir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00abFicamos o tempo da mar\u00e9\u00bb,<\/strong> diz a investigadora. \u00abPode chegar \u00e0s quatro horas\u00bb.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n