This mega operation had over 3,650 participants from 100 different groups and companies taking part in 105 actions across the country.
The marine debris cleaning actions took place during the month of November, as part of the commemoration of “Month of the Sea”, covering 108km of coast and riverside areas in 17 districts of the country, as well as the archipelagos of Madeira and the Azores.
Cigarette butts, plastic bottles and cotton swabs were the most commonly found objects, followed by tires, hunting cartridges and coffee capsules. Noteworthy is a plastic bottle and a glass of yogurt with validity from 1997 and 1998, respectively.
This national action aimed at the national mobilisation of the CNE and the AGP and served to sensitise the scouting community to the issue of marine litter and to promote more sustainable behaviour. “We wanted to focus on training and mobilising the largest youth and children’s associations in the country, whose influence on civil society will be crucial for a more active and participative environmental citizenship,” said Diogo Geraldes, from the Lisbon Oceanarium Education Department.
“There is no doubt that marine litter is a major threat to marine biodiversity and humans and that ocean conservation is everyone’s responsibility. It is an urgent topic. Therefore, we continue to promote knowledge about the ocean and make children and young people aware of the current crisis,” concluded the official.
The Blue Ocean Foundation and the Lisbon Oceanarium promoted this national mobilisation, providing materials such as reusable gloves, scales and bags. During the clean-up actions, marine educators from the Oceanarium conducted the “Marine Plasticology” programme to educate participants on the topic of marine litter and the importance of their involvement in this project.