1817,9 kilos of garbage were collected by volunteers in Ria de Alvor, Praia da Rocha, Praia da Angrinha, Praia Grande de Pêra, Praia da Galé and Praia de Santa Eulália, the islet of Ria Formosa and Rio Guadiana, in Alcoutim.
Challenged by the Oceano Azul Foundation and by the Lisbon Oceanarium, volunteers from the National Scouts Corps (CNE) and the Portuguese Guides Association (AGP) collected 16,5 tonnes of marine litter, during the month of November, in riverside areas throughout the country.
This mega operation had more than 3650 participants, from 100 different groups and companies, in 105 actions across the country.
These marine litter cleaning actions took place during the month of November, as part of the commemoration of the “Month of the Sea”, covering 108 kilometers of coastline and riverside areas in 17 districts of the country, including the Algarve, as well as the archipelagos of Madeira and of the Azores. At the online interactive map, you can consult the results of each of the actions.
Cigarette butts, plastic bottles and cotton swabs were the most commonly found objects, followed by tires, hunting cartridges and coffee capsules. A plastic bottle and a yoghurt cup with validity of 1997 and 1998, respectively, stand out.
This national action aimed at the national mobilization of the CNE and AGP and served to sensitize the scout community to the issue of marine litter and to promote a more sustainable behavior.
“We wanted to invest in training and mobilizing the country's largest associations of young people and children, whose influence on civil society will be decisive for a more active and participative environmental citizenship,” said Diogo Geraldes, from the Department of Education at Oceanário de Lisboa.
“There is no longer any doubt that marine litter is one of the main threats to marine biodiversity and human beings and that ocean conservation is everyone's responsibility. It's an urgent topic. Therefore, we continue to promote knowledge about the ocean and to make children and young people aware of the current crisis we are going through”, concludes the official.
The Oceano Azul Foundation and the Oceanário de Lisboa promoted this national mobilization, providing materials such as reusable gloves, scales and bags. During the cleaning actions, the Oceanário's marine educators carried out the “Marine Plasticology” program with the objective of sensitizing the participants to the theme of marine litter and to the importance of their involvement in this project.
Alvor estuary
30 novembro
Organization
1st Portimão Company
Support
Portuguese Environment Agency – ARH Algarve
Result
30 participants
850 meters
36 kg
Stone beach
23 novembro
Organization
Grouping 1398 - Our Lady of Amparo
Result
58 participants
1200 meters
101,7 kg
Angrinha beach
16 novembro
Organization
Grouping 413 - Ferragudo
Result
53 participants
335 meters
751 kg
Praia Grande de Pêra – Praia da Gale
and Santa Eulalia Beach
23 novembro
Organization
Grouping 714 - Albufeira
Result
72 participants
2200 meters
444,3 kg
Ria Formosa - Ilhote
2 novembro
Organization
Grouping 1324 - Cathedral of Faro
Result
13 participants
350 meters
460 kg
Guadiana river
16 novembro
Organization
Grouping 1107 - Alcoutim
Result
14 participants
435 meters
24,9 kg
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