Mediterranean microplastics under magnifying glass: Marina Port Mallorca, part of Expédition Med study

Marina Port de Mallorca is once again involved with one of the most important scientific campaigns in the Mediterranean, the Expédition MED, which recently revealed the results of its VigiePlastic Méditerranée 2024 campaign. 

The expedition, which travelled more than 1,000 nautical miles and set up 46 sampling stations, detected more than two million plastic fragments per square kilometre in areas between Corsica and the island of Capraia (Italy). These figures even surpass the records of the North Pacific and are twice those recorded in 2019. 

The study, carried out on board the scientific sailboat Le Bonita, combined sampling with blanket netting, real-time analysis and collaboration with the French laboratory QUALYSE to analyse the finest fraction of microplastics. The objective was to identify areas of accumulation, learn about their composition, and make progress in environmental prevention and management policies. 

These results are very close to Marina Port de Mallorca's heart, as it actively collaborated in the preparatory phase of the expedition, providing a berth to the association Recyclamer — an entity linked to Expédition MED — so that it could carry out sampling, technological testing, and environmental training in the Port of Palma. This partnership was announced in 2024 and formed part of the marina's passionate commitment to research and conservation of the marine environment. 

The results of the study carried out in waters near Marina Port Mallorca were very encouraging compared to other areas of the Mediterranean. While concentrations of microplastics of up to 4.2 and 2.44 particles per minute respectively were detected in regions such as Corsica and Capraia, the figure was considerably lower around Marina Port Mallorca, which shows a better state of the waters there. However, these figures are a reminder that the presence of microplastics is still a real threat, so we must all remain vigilant and continue working on specific actions to continue enhancing the quality of the marine environment. 

One particular interesting test involved a device known as Turbino, an innovative system designed to vacuum up plastic waste found on the seabed. Marina Port de Mallorca was the first marina where this system was put into operation, underlining its commitment to pioneering technological solutions in the fight against marine pollution. 

One of the key participants of the campaign was Alan D’Alfonso Peral, Founder of Recyclamer, who stated: 

"The Mediterranean is a huge bathtub without a drain. Without collaboration between science, ports and citizens, there will be no real solutions. Initiatives such as those run by Marina Port de Mallorca, which actively supports this type of research, are what really make the difference in the shift towards effective solutions". 

Marina Port de Mallorca highly values the work of entities such as Expédition MED and Recyclamer, undertaking to advocate projects that combine science, direct action and awareness for a cleaner, healthier, and better protected Mediterranean.