Albufeira celebrated International Coastal Cleanup Day (September 18) with a beach and underwater cleanup initiative that collected around two tonnes of rubbish.
Around 109 volunteers from several associations and entities in Albufeira took part, with 1.5 tonnes of rubbish being collected on land and another 650 kilos being removed by divers from the bottom of the sea.
On land, the operation covered Praia da Rocha Baixinha Leste, as well as the Porto de Abrigo de Albufeira breakwaters.
Meanwhile, the underwater cleanup involved nine boats and 37 volunteers and spanned the areas of Pedra do Alto, Pedra de Santa Eulália, Arrifes de Fora and Pedra da Oura.
Among those helping out were fishermen, firefighters, members of local associations, representatives from Albufeira Marina and local boat tour companies.
“It is believed that every year between five and 12 million tonnes of plastic end up in the ocean, killing over one million sea birds and over 100,000 turtles, seals and whales as well as a large number of fish. Let’s preserve the planet and fight the contamination of oceans,” said Albufeira Council in a statement to the press.
