CSN releases fish into the Paraíba do Sul River and kicks off World Water Day programming

On Thursday morning, CSN released 5,500 juvenile fish into the Paraíba do Sul River, marking the start of World Water Day activities. The initiative, now in its third consecutive year, has released more than 32,500 fish since 2022, reinforcing the company’s commitment to biodiversity recovery and water resource preservation.

The species released were Piabanha (Brycon insignis), Grumatã (Prochilodus vimboides) and Lambari do rabo branco (Bryconamericus tenuis), all native to the Paraíba do Sul River basin and originating from the living gene bank of endangered fish species.

The action was attended by representatives from various partners, such as the Municipal Secretariat for the Environment, the Municipal Secretariat for Education, the Volta Redonda Civil Defense, and INEA.

The municipal secretary for the environment, Jorginho Fuede, highlighted: “Today is a very rewarding day. With the support of the Secretariat for the Environment, we released 5,500 fish into the Paraíba do Sul River. This river provides us with sustenance and quality of life and needs to be preserved. The environment cannot wait any longer. Environmental actions must be taken now. I am grateful for the partnership.”

In addition to the release of fish, CSN’s Environmental Education Program (PEA) includes visits to laboratories, lectures, and environmental actions, with the aim of raising awareness among students, teachers, and employees about the importance of sustainable water management.

Program highlights:

• March 24 (Monday) – Guided tours of the CSN Research Center laboratories, where students will observe the analysis of the quality of water returned to the Paraíba do Sul River after the industrial process. It is important to note that the quality of the returned water is much better than that of the water collected.
• March 26 (Wednesday) – Cleanup effort at Bugio Creek, with poster making and activities about waste and water pollution, in partnership with the Municipal Guard and Fire Department of Volta Redonda.
• March 27 (Thursday) – Visit and planting of seedlings in the Cicuta Forest, reinforcing the importance of preserving vegetation for the quality of water resources. CSN has already planted more than 85,000 seedlings around the forest and will reach the milestone of 110,000 seedlings planted.
• March 28 (Friday) – Lecture and visit to ETPC (Pandiá Calógeras Technical School), where students will learn about CSN’s water treatment processes and conduct practical experiments.
• March 28 (Friday) – 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. – Live “Artificial Intelligence Applied to Water Resource Management in Industry,” with expert Lucas Lima, who will address the impact of technology on water management and preservation.

About the Environmental Education Program

The Environmental Education Program (PEA), created spontaneously by CSN, is run by the CSN Foundation in partnership with the Volta Redonda City Hall. The PEA works to strengthen environmental awareness among students, professionals, and the community through various activities that reinforce responsible water management and encourage sustainable practices.