Coast Is Clear Marks Five Years With Major Coastal Clean-Up Across Malta

Environmental initiative Coast Is Clear has marked its fifth anniversary with another large-scale clean-up effort across three protected coastal bays in Malta. Together with volunteers from the Salvo Grima Group, the team removed 31 bags of marine plastic, nine jerry cans and a massive 22-metre shipping rope from Ġnejna, Fomm ir-Riħ and Mellieħa. The anniversary also provided an opportunity to reflect on the project’s impact over the last five years. Since its launch, Coast Is Clear has organised more than 320 clean-up initiatives, removed over 140,000kg of waste from Malta’s seabed, coastlines and parks, planted nearly 2,000 trees and mobilised around 4,500 volunteers. The initiative has also expanded beyond Malta, organising environmental campaigns at Mount Everest Base Camp and, more recently, in the Maldives. Founder Mark Galea Pace said one of the highlights of the journey remains receiving an award from Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of efforts to promote environmental awareness. “May God give me strength to keep going for five more years,” he said. Would you take part in a coastal clean-up? Images: Coast Is Clear Foundation •