Rising Problems Under Sea: Pollution Hurting the Mediterranean
What has been cleaned up so far is just a very small portion compared to the vast piles of garbage, measured in tens of thousands of tons, that fill the Mediterranean Sea. This ongoing pollution poses a serious threat to marine life and coastal communities Under sea.
Along the shores of Alonissos, a Greek island in the eastern Aegean Sea, a group of volunteers is working hard to clear the ocean floor. They carefully collect old plastic bottles, a damaged tire, and a rusty anchor chain from beneath the water.
This cleanup effort, backed by the European Union, helps keep the sea environment healthy for fish and other marine creatures. Their work shows how small actions can make a big difference for the ocean’s future Under sea.
Alonissos is famous for its stunning clear waters and the large marine park that protects its wildlife. The rubbish found near this island is only a small drop in the huge ocean of trash, measured in tens of thousands of tons, that pollutes the Mediterranean Sea every year. Tackling this problem is important to keep the sea clean and safe for all its creatures Under sea.
Back in the early 1990s, a special park was created near Alonissos to protect the rare Monk seal, one of the few left in the world. This area is also home to hundreds of fish species, plus dolphins and sea turtles that find safety in its waters Under sea.
Theodora Francis, 31, who helped with the two-day cleaning project, said the park has made people living nearby and tourists more aware of how serious the problem of sea pollution really is.
During their search, Francis and the team explored several locations to spot any waste. They found most places were clean, but a few still had trash scattered around. The area with the most litter was the busy port of Votsi, where many fishing boats and tourists gather. Cleaning up these spots is important to protect the local environment Under sea.
United Actions Bringing Change to Undersea Cleanup
Greece is taking strong steps to save the plants and animals living along its shores. As part of this effort, the country will create two more marine parks in the western Aegean and Ionian Seas. This move is included in a larger package of 21 projects, supported by nearly 780 million euros (about $887.5 million) in funding, aimed at protecting the environment for future generations.
Greece is working hard to better care for its seas. It plans to protect nearly 30% of its waters by 2030 and has informed the European Union about its approach to managing fishing, tourism, and offshore energy in these areas. These steps are aimed at keeping the marine environment healthy and sustainable.
Changing the world starts with each of us, said George Sarelakos, 46, president of Aegean Rebreath, the group behind the cleanup effort. He believes strongly that when people take responsibility, real progress happens, and that’s what their organization is working to inspire.
Protecting the ocean is more important than ever, and Francis believes Alonissos offers a great example of how this can be done. She hopes its success will inspire others to follow its lead in caring for the seas. The lessons learned here could help safeguard marine life in many other places.
Taking care of the environment is key to protecting our islands. If more islands showed the same care as Alonissos, we would see many healthy and thriving coastal areas. This kind of commitment could make a big difference for the whole region.
