117 Kilos of Marine Litter Removed in Porto Santo

The Regional Directorate for the Environment and Sea (DRAM) promoted a marine litter cleaning action at Porto do Pedregal, on the island of Porto Santo. The intervention took place in a remote and difficult-to-access area, identified by a significant accumulation of waste, and involved the mobilization of 25 personnel from various public entities and security forces, resulting in the collection of 117 kilos of marine litter.

This was reportedly the sixth action carried out at that location since 2024, reflecting ongoing monitoring and intervention work in an environmentally sensitive area. It brought together members of the Army, the Portuguese Air Force, the GNR, the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation (IFCN), the Porto Santo Municipal Council, and ARM – Águas e Resíduos da Madeira. DRAM highlights that the regularity of these operations in remote areas is essential to mitigate the impact of pollution and prevent the degradation of coastal ecosystems.

The Regional Secretary for the Environment, Eduardo Jesus, praised the inter-institutional cooperation and underlined the importance of the project’s integration into the European Free LitterAT project, co-funded by FEDER through the Interreg Atlantic Area Programme. The Secretary stated that these projects strengthen the Region’s intervention capacity and consolidate environmental policies based on international cooperation, with a new intervention already planned for Porto do Pedregal to continue the regular cleaning work in that critical area.

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