Carole Hewer/Alamy
Do you know that most commonly used plastics do not mineralize — or go away — in the ocean, and instead break down into smaller and smaller pieces called microplastics?
One of the goals of a key European policy initiative known as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive is to address the problem of microplastics in the ocean. It requests EU member states to implement measures that would reduce marine litter, and assess the health of the marine environment to reach or maintain “Good Environmental Status” by 2020 at the latest.
What does Malta, a small island country in the Mediterranean Sea, do to help? The island has some of the best diving in Europe, and it is also home to some of the most dedicated AWARE divers and ocean-conservation activists. Malta’s dive community has taken on the challenge of addressing the global issues Project AWARE is focusing on: marine debris, and sharks and rays in peril.
The staff at Orange Shark — H2O Divers, a Project AWARE 100% AWARE partner, decided to take action.
“We are cleaning the dive sites around Malta, Gozo and Comino every dive, every time,” says Steve Watkinson, resorts manager. Every diver is given a mesh bag to take with him or her on the guided dives. After the dive, free Internet access and use of laptops is provided at the dedicated Project AWARE/Scuba Earth media hub located in the Orange Shark — H2O Divers facility, where divers can log onto the Dive Against Debris page to submit the data collected from their Dive Against Debris. Orange Shark — H2O Divers’ Dive Against Debris surveys not only help educate the dive community about its responsibilities toward our environment — by promoting the concept of citizen science — but, more important, they contribute data to underscore the true extent of this devastating global issue.
Bubbles Dive Centre in Marsalforn, on the island of Gozo, is also a 100% AWARE partner and conducts regular Dive Against Debris surveys.
Donna and David Hayler-Montague, co-owners of Bubbles Dive Centre, are passionate about reducing marine litter. “In their briefings, our instructors explain the importance of removing debris from the sea and how to remove it properly — and they encourage our customers to do the same,” says Donna Hayler-Montague. “We record what has been collected, and on a monthly basis, we display the results. We also hold an annual dive-for-debris event. We invite divers to take part for free, whether they are customers or not, and local businesses sponsor the event by providing water, paying for air fills, etc.”
The couple wanted to make a difference when they opened their business. “We gain so much pleasure from the sea that we wanted to give something back to protect it — being a Project AWARE 100% AWARE partner is a great way to do this.”
For more info, visit h2odivers.com, diving-gozo.com and projectaware.org.
Want more on ocean conservation?
Check out Warning: An Ocean Full of Plastic.
Want to learn more about plastic's effects in the ocean? Read Conservation: Plastic, Plastic Everywhere.
Take better shots during a dive with these Marine Conservation Photography Tips.
