The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most polluted in the world. Plastic now accounts for 95% of waste on beaches and on the sea surface. The concentration of plastic is four times higher than on the "plastic island" of the North Pacific.
The Blue Panda, a sailboat to "treat" the Mediterranean
To raise awareness of the beauty of the Mediterranean, WWF has dedicated a 25-metre sailboat to protecting this sea. A scientific team will board it to study the state of the sea. The Blue Panda will travel the coasts and stop over in six countries around the Mediterranean: Italy, Morocco, Greece, Tunisia, Turkey and France.
The sanctuary of Pelagos and whales
The Blue Panda will cast off from the port of Toulon in June 2019 for a six-month awareness expedition. The crew will start in the Pelagos sanctuary to research the health and behaviour of whales. This exploration aims to reduce the risk of plastic contamination and collision with local vessels.
Mobilizing citizens against plastic pollution
From July to November, the boat will reach some of the most touristy coastal cities in the Mediterranean, such as Nice, Marseille, Istanbul, Tangier and the town of Argentario. During these stops in these major seaside and tourist cities, the crew will raise awareness and mobilise citizens and municipalities against the threats of plastic and oil pollution.
Preserving the Mediterranean
The Mediterranean is one of WWF's priority areas. The NGO is present in 13 countries in the region to improve fishing, better protect marine fauna and flora and fight against plastic pollution.
Stopovers around the world of Spray
- Pelagos Sanctuary: May 25 to June 25
- Argento: July 3 to 7
- Zakynthos: July 20 to 21
- Kefalonia and Ithaca: 23 to 30 July
- Nice: August 13-16
- Marseille: August 20 to 23
- Istanbul: 11 to 30 September
- Kas Kekova: October 10-11
- Tunis: 27 to 30 October
- Tangier: November 14 to 18
