A beach clean-up at Cevlik Beach in Hatay, Turkey, showed just how urgent action is.
On 5 September, ten representatives of the Municipality of Samandağ collected a large amount of litter from a coastline that had not been cleaned before, revealing the real scale of pollution along the shore.
This activity was part of the Ghost Net Hunter project, an initiative tackling the growing problem of ghost nets in the eastern Mediterranean’s İskenderun Bay. Supported through the #SeaClear2.0 Associated Regions grant, the project combines local engagement with innovative technology.
Underwater robots and sonar systems will be used to map and recover abandoned fishing nets from the seafloor, helping protect marine life and restore the marine environment.
From the beach to the seabed, action is underway.