Nearly Eight Tonnes of Garbage Recovered from the Sea Off the Balearic Islands

Almost eight tonnes of garbage in one month – cleaning up at sea remains hard work

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Sometimes a glance from the harbor pier is enough to realize: the sea carries more than just waves ashore. In September, intervention boats and teams along the Balearic coasts pulled nearly eight tonnes of rubbish from the water. If you do the math, that's about 266 kilograms per day. Not a nice figure when you have a morning coffee on the shore and watch seagulls.

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The largest share was collected around Mallorca – about 4.3 tonnes. That comes as little surprise when you consider the busy coves, ferry connections and currents. Volunteer divers, small fishing boats and harbor cranes were in action. Between 9 and 11 o'clock, when the sun is lower and the water calmer, most recoveries were carried out. I was in Palma one morning at Moll Vell and watched a rubber boat carefully haul ashore a retrieved, rusted railing. Not postcard-worthy, more about steps, sweat and occasional swearing.

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Besides plastic bottles and bags, the teams also found bulky objects: old boats, driftwood, nets and parts that looked like rusted engine parts. Such items reveal not only cosmetic issues. They pose a risk to marine life — birds, turtles, fish. A small net is enough, and a sea turtle can have serious problems.

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The recoveries are coordinated by the port authority. But: This is no job for authorities alone. In Cala Millor I met two local divers who said: \"We do this after work.\" It sounds like a nice sentiment, but it also shows how dependent our coastal cleanliness is on volunteers. Authorities rely on targeted operations and prevention: less waste on land means less trash in the sea.

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What remains to do? First, keep collecting, of course. But also think differently: preventing trash on land, better disposal in marinas, stricter controls on fishing and shipping. And yes — small weekend actions help. Next beach cleanups are already planned in several places. Pack rubber gloves, bring a thermos full of coffee, arrive at the meeting point at 10 a.m., and bring good spirits. It feels oddly satisfying to carry a big bag of stuff to the general waste and know that the water two meters away is clearer.