Portugal brings together divers from all over the world on 27 May for record underwater clean-ups | edp.com

After last year's successful campaign, EDP once again supports the underwater clean-up initiative on the Sesimbra coast, in Portugal, scheduled for 27th May. Promoted by the non-profit organization Oceanum Liberandum, the initiative aims to mobilize hundreds of divers from all over the world for another extended underwater cleaning action, similar to what happened in the 2022 edition – in that intervention, it was possible to remove more than 3.5 tonnes of rubbish from the sea, including hundreds of plastic and glass bottles, fishing traps, tyres, aluminium cans, among many other waste that endanger the marine ecosystem.

This year, the objective is to involve even more volunteers and national and international entities and to surpass the participation of the 1st edition. After beating the Guinness record in September last year – with 597 divers in 12 hours – the organization now aims to achieve the title of the largest underwater clean-up in the world in 24 hours or less.

Any certified diver can take part in this underwater clean-up, simply by registering at one of the partner’s dive centres. You can find all the contacts on the Oceanum Liberandum website or in person at the dive centres. Enrolment is free of charge. Equipment hire is also possible on the day of the event, free of charge – but, given the associated logistics, divers are requested to bring their own equipment. If not possible, they should indicate the need for equipment when contacting the dive centres.

The event will start at 8 am on 27th May. Each diver will register at the dive centre where he registered. He should be in the harbour area one hour before his departure time, assigned by the dive centre. Participants will then be transported from the harbour to the dive area, in several waves throughout the day – each dive will have a maximum duration of 40 minutes. A judge from the Guinness World Records organization will be present at the event to monitor and validate the number of divers.

All participants will also receive a t-shirt allusive to the event. Besides the divers who will be involved in the underwater clean-up, the organization also intends to mobilize volunteers who will help in the separation and accounting of the waste collected - all they must do is indicate their availability to be land-based volunteers through the association's email.

Week focused on the ocean

Besides the immediate objective of collecting sea waste, this initiative also has the purpose of reinforcing the importance of actions to protect marine life and to alert to the urgency of combating climate change. After the collection, the organization intends to give a new life to this waste, trying that most of it will be reused in the creation of clothing, furniture, or art pieces – for such, the involvement of more organizations that will contribute to give a second life to these items is foreseen.

The campaign organized by Oceanum Liberandum involves other initiatives throughout that week, with several activities planned with schools, precisely to involve young people in good practices to defend marine ecosystems. On 26th May, a conference dedicated to the theme of waste and protection of the oceans is planned. Among the speakers planned, the participation of Ricardo Serrão Santos, former Minister of the Sea, Francisco Guerreiro, MEP for the Greens/EFA, Emanuel Gonçalves, from the Blue Ocean Foundation, and Andreas Noe, environmental activist also known as Trash Traveler, stand out.

EDP joins this initiative motivated by its commitment to climate action and initiatives that help protecting the oceans. It is in this direction that it heads much of its efforts, with plans to invest 1.5 billion euros in renewable projects in the ocean by 2025, with emphasis on offshore wind energy. An investment that reflects a clear focus on the sustainability of this vital resource to ensure an energy transition that combats climate change.

Oceanum Liberandum – which promotes this initiative in partnership with Sesimbra City Council and with the support of all the diving centres in Sesimbra and others from north to south of the country and several entities, including EDP, Fundação Oceano Azul and Seiko and some of the main diving organisations in the world, SSI and PADI – thus fulfils its mission to alert to the problems facing the oceans and raise awareness of the urgency of protecting marine life. With this initiative on the coast of Sesimbra, the association not only aims to unite hundreds of people in a sporting practice, sustainable and for an environmental cause, but also to demonstrate that this waste can have a second life beyond the landfill as destination.

UNDERWATER CLEANUP IN SESIMBRA

• When - May 27th, Saturday, from 8:00 am
• Where - Sesimbra, Marine Park Prof. Luiz Saldanha - Porto de Abrigo
• Inscriptions - in the diving centres - contacts in:
• www.oceanumliberandum.pt/Inscricoes-2023
• Cost - Free
• To know more: Oceanum Liberandum - www.oceanumliberandum.pt/Limpeza-subaquatica-2023