The Challenge We Face
Beneath the clear blue surface of the Saronic Gulf lies an unseen threat: decades of accumulated marine debris. Everyday items, industrial waste, and discarded equipment have settled onto the seabed, creating hazardous conditions for marine life and habitats:
Plastics
Bags, bottles, fishing lines, and fragmented microplastics choking marine life and ecosystems. Accounting for up to 70% of marine litter, these materials can persist in the marine environment for hundreds of years, breaking down into harmful microplastics that enter the food chain.
Fiberglass
Remnants of boats and surfboards causing physical harm to wildlife and contributing to long-term pollution.
Rubber Tires
Heavy and durable, tires release harmful chemicals into the marine environment, affecting coral reefs and seabed vegetation.
Metallic Debris
Pipes, anchors, machinery, and various metal waste posing threats through corrosion and chemical leaks, impacting water quality and marine biodiversity.
Invisible seabed pollution,
a hidden threat for the Aegean Sea
This invisible pollution forms a hidden crisis, degrading ecosystems, diminishing biodiversity, and negatively impacting local communities dependent on fishing, tourism, and recreation. Studies indicate that Mediterranean seabed debris density can range between 100-1000 items per hectare in coastal areas, with concentrations particularly high near urban centers and recreational boating areas like the Saronic Gulf.
