The Mediterranean Sea, a crucial marine hub, contains over 10% of the world's marine biodiversity despite covering merely 1% of the ocean's surface. Yet, it faces severe threats from pollution, with approximately 80% of marine litter stemming from land sources. This pollution, predominantly plastic, poses significant risks to marine life, such as cetaceans, which are vulnerable to harm or death due to entanglement or ingestion of debris.
In Monaco, a recent initiative underscored the persistent pollution challenges in local waters. Volunteers at Larvotto Beach, organized by the Association Monégasque pour la Protection de la Nature (AMPN), the Club d’Exploration Sous-Marine de Monaco (CESMM), and the Société Monégasque d’Assainissement (SMA), collected 95 kilos of waste during a clean-up operation, of which 93 kilos were underwater debris. Despite being a non-smoking area, an alarming number of 554 cigarette butts were among the refuse, along with harmful materials like metal, PVC, and discarded rope, which threaten marine ecosystems.
The effort, though showing some progress with a reduced amount of waste compared to previous years, highlights the ongoing challenges of coastal and marine conservation in Monaco. The AMPN praised the collaboration between volunteers, local authorities, and environmental groups, emphasizing the necessity for ongoing public awareness and pollution prevention to safeguard the Mediterranean's diverse and vibrant marine life.
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