While efforts are regularly undertaken by government entities, NGOs and citizen groups to prevent plastic litter and to clean up beaches and coastal areas, combating marine pollution in a holistic way remains challenging.

Actions can be fragmented or inefficiently duplicated, and local information and know-how can be siloed due to a lack of dissemination or networking.

Esplora, Malta’s only interactive science centre, intends to tackle these hurdles by means of the project Island Guardians – for a Plastic-Free Med.

This six-month project, running from February to August 2024 and funded by the Remedies Open Call within the framework of the EU Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters, seeks to create and offer resources that can be easily accessed by any person or entity seeking to carry out a community-based initiative or action addressing marine pollution.

In addition, through educational resources, events and awareness-raising campaigns, the project implements a long-term strategy to reduce the use of plastic and diminish the volume of plastic litter in our seas and coastal areas.