Marina Port Andratx and Puerto Andratx Sailing Club recently welcomed sea school students aged eight to twelve for an environmental education and awareness event highlighting the impact of plastic waste on the marine environment.
The session was led by Alan d’Alfonso, Founder of Recyclamer, a non-profit foundation created to raise awareness of the impact of plastic pollution on the world’s oceans and promote initiatives to help reduce it.
During the theory session, the young sailors gained first-hand insight into the impact of plastic pollution on marine life. They learnt how countless marine species become entangled in plastic waste, such as discarded fishing nets and plastic bags, or ingest these materials after mistaking them for food. They were also told that this problem extends beyond marine ecosystems, with many of these microplastics eventually entering the food chain and affecting people as well.
Following the classroom session, the young sailors took part in a live demo of the Geneseas waste collection robot, a cutting-edge device developed by Alan d’Alfonso to remove floating debris from the water. The robot can be controlled remotely or via a mobile app and is designed to capture plastic waste floating on the water’s surface before it drifts out to sea or sinks to the seabed.
One by one, the young sailors took turns operating the robot, attempting to collect a plastic bottle floating on the water. Through this hands-on experience, they discovered that removing waste once it has reached the sea is much more difficult than it appears.
Ultimately, the activity reinforced the idea that the most effective way to combat marine pollution is to prevent plastic waste from reaching the natural environment. It also underlined the importance of adopting responsible everyday habits, such as recycling properly, not littering, reducing the use of single-use plastics and opting for more sustainable alternatives.
After a day of enthusiastic participation, the young sailors headed home having enjoyed an engaging, interactive and educational experience that stressed the importance of respecting and protecting the marine environment, inspiring a new generation committed to safeguarding the world’s oceans.
