Some of Malta and Gozo’s most remote coastal corners got an unexpected lift last Friday, thanks to a dedicated volunteer and his four-legged companion, Gorg. The duo ventured out on a solo mission to clean stretches of shoreline that are as breathtaking as they are difficult to reach.
From the rugged edge of Qala Point in Gozo to secluded areas along Malta’s western coast, these wild sites are rich with marine life - crabs scuttling between rocks, fish weaving through shallow waters, and coral clinging quietly to the seabed. Yet the same currents that sustain these habitats often deliver a grim burden: plastic fragments, abandoned ropes, tangled fishing lines, and debris drifting in from passing vessels.
In one determined sweep, the volunteer, part of the Coast is Clear NGO’s ongoing efforts, managed to collect 14 bulging bags of rubbish and haul away a 22-metre plastic pipe lodged in the shoreline. It’s a meaningful achievement, especially considering these places cannot be reached by foot or vehicle, leaving organisations like Coast is Clear among the few able to care for them.
With just one person, one dog, and plenty of determination, even the most neglected beaches can be given new life.
Would you take on a solo coastal clean-up?