Environmental Awareness

Marine pollution reaches the sea from land as well as from vessels: untreated or partially treated wastewater, surface runoff after rain, fuel and oil residues, and waste left on beaches or dropped in streets that drain to the coast. Because the Mediterranean exchanges water slowly, inputs accumulate.

Plastic items break into progressively smaller fragments rather than decomposing, and are documented throughout Mediterranean waters and sediments. Single-use items, fragments of packaging and lost fishing gear are among the most commonly recorded categories of marine litter.

The shoreline is where most human contact with the sea occurs, and it is also where habitats are most easily damaged. Trampling, anchoring on sensitive seabeds, construction and concentrated recreational use all alter coastal habitats, sometimes permanently.

• Take all waste away from beaches and coastal sites, including small fragments.
• Anchor on sand or in designated areas rather than on vegetated seabed.
• Observe marine life without handling, feeding or collecting it.
• Use shore facilities and moorings where they exist.
• Choose operators and activities that state and follow environmental practices.
• Report visible pollution or damage to the relevant national authority.

Awareness work is effective when it is specific and repeated. The Foundation's aim in this area is to provide clear explanations that people can act on directly, and to support community activity where it arises.