We removed 400 pounds of solid waste from our oceans

From the Dry Forest to the Ocean: The Ripple Effects of Protecting Palo Santo. 

Our effort to protect the dry forest, home of Palo Santo, continues to grow.

Together with OceanFreaks, the Municipality of Manta took on the challenge of carrying out an underwater cleaning in an area of the beach, La Tiñosa, as part of our educational program #LlévateTuBasura. As many of you are aware, we are looking to raise awareness about the huge problem garbage is.

Our meeting point was the La Poza sector, the clock showed 6 in the morning, the sun had not yet finished rising and the cold was invading our bodies, but this was not a reason for not doing our activity, we were all excited to enter the water and begin to clean our seas.

Two boats arrived, we divided 7 divers and about 10 volunteers. While we navigate we equip ourselves by placing all the appropriate implements to be able to enter the ocean and be able to carry out the activity in the best way.

Suits, oxygen tank, scissors and more were the tools we used to proceed with the underwater cleaning and to be able to extract the debris found in the most optimal way.

When we made our first dive we were able to find a lot of solid waste such as mesh, nets, ropes that were forgotten in the ocean.

In JUST 2 hours of diving we were able to remove around 400 pounds of solid waste from the seabed. This amount of solid waste is a huge victory in the fight against ocean pollution and shows that with determination and dedication, we can make a big difference.

Litter in the ocean is a serious problem that affects not only marine life, but also water quality, dry forest development, and the environment in general.

During the extraction of garbage, we realized that among the nets and meshes there were marine fauna, such as sea cucumbers, crabs and octopuses, we had to act with caution to be able to remove them and return them to the sea.

Our route ended in the La Poza sector, where hygiene personnel from the municipality of Manta were waiting for us with a dump truck to be able to remove the garbage obtained during the cleaning, and take it to its corresponding place.

Let's remember that in our last minga of 2022 held in Santa Marianita we collected 150 pounds of nets, ropes and meshes found in the shoreline of the beach. This type of material takes about 600 years to be biodegradable. It's time to become aware, when you go fishing #LlévateTuBasura.