Almost 19 tonnes of marine debris have been removed from Malta’s seabed since 2020 through an annual clean-up initiative led by the Malta Airport Foundation in collaboration with the Atlam and Calypso sub-aqua clubs.

The latest clean-ups, held this summer in Marsaskala and Isla, brought together nearly 40 volunteers who collected a combined 2.9 tonnes of waste. Among the debris recovered were several tyres, around 85 kilos of rope, discarded fishing nets, plastic items and large pieces of metal.

The clean-ups also unearthed some more unusual finds, including a peppered cheeselet still in its wrapper, a cat statuette and a keyboard.

According to a seasoned diver who regularly participates in the initiative, areas popular with swimmers generally contain relatively little debris, reflecting growing awareness around the importance of keeping the sea clean. Port areas, however, continue to contain significant amounts of waste accumulated over decades.

Since the partnership began in 2020, the seabed clean-ups have become an annual initiative supporting the protection of Malta’s marine habitats and underwater heritage.

The work forms part of the Malta Airport Foundation’s wider efforts to safeguard the islands’ marine environment. These include sponsoring two Seabins to help collect marine litter, producing underwater documentaries highlighting Malta’s marine environment and wrecks, and supporting Heritage Malta’s work on the Xlendi deep-water archaeological park.

Together, these initiatives aim to keep Malta’s seas cleaner while helping preserve the marine life and underwater heritage that form an important part of the islands’ identity.

Let’s aim for a cleaner Malta!