Ports of the Balearic Islands, the Andratx City Council, and other entities have removed nearly four tons of garbage from the seabed in Sant Elm, Mallorca. The figure exceeded initial forecasts and is part of the Sa Dragonera Blava project, whose goal is to preserve the marine ecosystem of the area.
Key underwater technology in waste extraction 🤿
For this intervention, specialized diving equipment and pneumatic lift systems were used, allowing waste to be suctioned without damaging the seabed. Underwater drones were also used to map the most affected areas. The collected data will serve to plan future cleanups and assess the impact of pollution on Posidonia oceanica.
The seabed as humanity's forgotten closet 🗑️
It seems some people think the sea is a public storage room with no bottom. Among the recovered objects there was everything: from fishing gear to what appeared to be a rusty bicycle. With four tons, it's almost enough to open a second-hand market at the port. Sure, admission would be free, but we all already pay the ecological price.