The organization **SEO/BirdLife** is developing an innovative project to analyze the **impact of marine litter** in coastal and marine areas of the **Biosphere Reserves of Gran Canaria**, Lanzarote, the Chinijo Archipelago, La Palma, and El Hierro.
Under the name of **RBMar**, the initiative aims to **generate knowledge and raise awareness** about the waste reaching these areas of **great ecological value**, **declared by UNESCO**.
The project is funded by the **Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan**, within the **NextGenerationEU** instrument, with the goal of generating a **detailed and updated vision** of pollution in these ecosystems and contributing to the development of **management actions and public policies for their conservation**.
## The origin of marine litter
The coasts of the Canary Islands receive **waste from various sources**, often from places as distant as **Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Greenland**. This is due to the interaction of different **ocean currents**, such as the **Labrador Current, the Gulf Stream, and the cold Canary Current**.
However, most marine litter **originates from land**, highlighting the **urgent need to improve solid waste management** in urban areas.
Plastic is the **most abundant material**, although **cigarette butts** are the most common item, reflecting the need for **more effective measures for waste treatment in cities**. This pollution, combined with the **impact of climate change**, poses a significant threat to **human health, the environment, and biodiversity**.
## Tracking and analysis of waste
The RBMar team is developing a **monitoring protocol** to detect, measure, and characterize marine litter in the Canary Islands.
The process involves conducting **100-meter transects** on various beaches selected by **technical criteria**, where objects between **0.5 mm and 2.5 mm** are inspected.
Assessments are carried out in **every season**, and the analysis corresponding to **spring** is currently underway. This work is carried out by specialists in **biology, geography, and environmental sciences**, who collect data that is later analyzed by the **Marine Sciences Technological Center (Cetecima)**, located in **Gran Canaria**.
On the other hand, the **Canary Islands Oceanic Platform** studies the behavior of **marine currents**, allowing the determination of **waste movement patterns** and the design of mitigation strategies.
## Direct intervention actions
In addition to beach monitoring, RBMar has launched **clean-up operations in port bottoms**, led by **specialized divers in underwater work**.
These actions require **complex logistics**, as the waste found includes **fishing nets, batteries, tires, heavy metal residues, and even cars**.
The objective of these procedures is not only to **improve environmental conditions**, but also to **expand knowledge about submerged waste**, an aspect that has been little studied until now.
## Collaborative beach clean-ups
The project includes **clean-up campaigns on various islands**, with a community-focused approach involving **local organizations with a background in environmental conservation**.
RBMar works with the **Papacría collective in Lanzarote**, specialized in **territorial stewardship** and made up of **Canarian artists**. In Gran Canaria, they collaborate with **Ocean4Life**, an NGO focused on ocean protection and environmental education.
In La Palma, work is carried out with the **Biocultural La Foresta Association**, a neighborhood group committed to habitat and rural culture. In El Hierro, the initiative is carried out with the **Fronsub Diving Club**, which organizes clean-ups in seabeds and beaches.
Moreover, **snorkeling activities with volunteers** will be organized, allowing citizens to get directly involved in the **restoration of marine ecosystems**.
**Awareness-raising meetings with local groups** will also be organized, **promoting environmental education** and citizen commitment in the fight against marine pollution.
