We are the Associação dos Caranguejeiros e Amigos dos Mangues de Magé (ACAMM), a community collective formed by women and men who live along the Suruí River, in the Recôncavo of Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Our community brings together generations of predominantly Black families who have long been rooted in this territory. Our everyday lives are deeply connected to the mangroves, to the rhythms of the tides, and to the waters that carry the river toward the sea. For decades, we have sustained ourselves through artisanal fishing, crab gathering, and the shared care of the mangroves—a place that holds our memories, our work, and our sense of belonging.

The Suruí River has gone through many forms of external pressure linked to Brazil’s shifting economic cycles. It was once crossed by routes transporting gold from Minas Gerais, and later by sugarcane and coffee plantations that reshaped the land and the river. In the early twentieth century, the river was straightened, altering its ecological balance. Even so, our ancestors stayed, resisted, and kept their knowledge, practices, and ties to the mangroves alive. Today, ACAMM continues this long history of care, struggle, and collective organization.

Right now, we face another serious threat: the expansion of petrochemical activities in our region, including the installation of underwater pipelines and interventions in the Suruí riverbed. These projects have caused silting, the destruction of fragile mangrove areas, and a decline in biodiversity, making it harder for us to fish and to sustain our livelihoods. These impacts endanger not only our economy, but our way of life, our cultural practices, and our future in this territory.

It is in this spirit of connection and mutual support that we reach out to Riparian Struggles. We believe in building alliances with other riverine communities around the world—communities who, like us, protect their waters, preserve their histories, and continue to resist. Joining the collective means opening a space for shared learning, solidarity, legal and political strategies, and community-to-community exchange. We know that defending rivers is not something we can do alone: it is a struggle strengthened by shared voices and shared commitments.

With hope and collective determination, we kindly ask to join Riparian Struggles. Together, we believe we can make our struggles stronger and defend our right to remain with our river, to care for it, and to celebrate the lives it sustains.

With gratitude,
Associação dos Caranguejeiros e Amigos dos Mangues de Magé (ACAMM), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil