As is customary every year, the berthside teams of Marina Port de Mallorca and Marina Palma Cuarantena and their specialised divers head deep into the waters of the Port of Palma to extract a shocking variety of waste, from everyday objects to bulkier items such as refuse containers.
This action, in addition to keeping the waters clean, sets out to raise awareness of the importance of caring for our marine environment by stopping pollution that affects the biodiversity found in the Mediterranean.
The underwater clean-up takes place in several phases. First of all, the divers visually inspect the seabed to identify and mark the items to be extracted. After this, the waste is collected using hoisting and flotation techniques. The choice of the most appropriate technique depends on the characteristics of the item and the environmental conditions. Once extracted, the waste is transferred to dry land and dumped in specific containers for later management.
On this occasion, about three hundred kilos were extracted during the clean-up at Marina Palma Cuarentena, while around eight hundred kilos were removed at Marina Port de Mallorca.
Ranging from tyres and batteries to shopping trolleys and bikes, the waste extracted is a sign of human irresponsibility and the need to protect our seas.
According to Leonardo Cabrera, Head of the Diving Team, "we've been doing clean-ups for more than ten years now and we still can't quite believe the amount of waste we find on the seabed. It's still vital to dive down at least once a year to prevent the build-up of these pollutants that are harmful for the water and for marine flora and fauna".
These actions carried out by Marina Palma Cuarentena and Marina Port de Mallorca are a sign of their bona fide interest, their commitment and their responsibility in terms of the environment, which is why they're recognised with Blue Flag, ISO 14001, EMAS, and Carbon Footprint Registry certification.
