Marina Port de Mallorca continues to reinforce its dedication to marine sustainability by actively supporting one of the Mediterranean’s environmental research initiatives. The marina hosted the scientific sailboat of Expédition MED, part of the VigiePlastic Méditerranée 2024 campaign, which revealed microplastic concentrations in certain Mediterranean zones.
The 2024 campaign, spearheaded by Expédition MED and supported by Recyclamer, covered over 1,000 nautical miles with 46 sampling stations between Corsica and Capraia, Italy.
Researchers detected more than two million microplastic fragments per square-kilometre in parts of the Corsica Channel. The figure represents a two-fold increase compared to 2019 data and surpasses previous records, including those in the North Pacific.
Marina Port de Mallorca contributed to the campaign by offering a berth to the sailboat Recyclamer, allowing for sampling, technical testing and environmental training at the Port of Palma. The marina’s ongoing support of marine science reflects its commitment to ocean health and innovative pollution control.
The study aboard the Le Bonita combined blanket netting with real-time assessments and laboratory analysis using QUALYSE to examine the finest fraction of plastic particles. The aim was to map accumulation zones and influence policy on pollution mitigation.
Waters near the Marina Port de Mallorca showed lower levels of microplastics compared to hotspots in Corsica and Capraia, which is a positive sign of the local marine environment’s relatively healthy state. However, the overall findings remain a call to action.
A particular innovation introduced during the campaign was the Turbino, a seabed vacuum developed to collect plastic waste below the surface.
Alan D’Alfonso Peral, founder of Recyclamer and a campaign participant, highlighted the value of collective action: “The Mediterranean is a huge bathtub without a drain. Without collaboration between science, ports and citizens, there will be no real solutions. Initiatives such as those run by Marina Port de Mallorca, which actively support this type of research, are what really make the difference in the shift towards effective solutions.”
The collaboration shows the importance of combining science, innovation and community engagement in the ongoing effort to protect the Mediterranean from plastic pollution.
