Friday 26th June 2020 was a special day at the Blue Flag awarded Hondoq ir-Rummien beach in Gozo, Malta. Different activities were organised by Nature Trust – FEE Malta to raise awareness about water and beach pollution.
The day started with volunteers cleaning up the beach - handpicking cigarette butts and small pieces of plastic from the sand and between the pebbles.
In the meantime, a group of divers made an underwater clean-up of the area.
The cleanup was followed by a presentation from the Gozo College Middle School Eco-Schools team about their GLOBE project to the two Ministers in attendance, the Minister of Gozo Clint Camilleri and the Minister of the Environment Aaron Farrugia. The students started the project from the same beach last November by collecting plastic litter and subsequently collecting data on the effects of plastic litter on sea water temperature and pH value.
Back in January, a turtle had been rescued by the Wildlife Rescue Team from the town of Marsalforn, another beach north of the island, after being spotted entangled in fishing debris, and was cared for by Nature Trust Malta. The turtle, named Jenna, was tagged and released in good health back into the sea on the day of the beach cleanup, much to the pleasure of all the students and adults present.
You can access the video of the turtle going back into the sea here.
Images copyright: Anita Muscat/Nature Trust - FEE Malta