Clean Sea LIFE engaged marine lovers and professionals in an effort to preserve the health and beauty of the Mediterranean sea. The project inspired positive change in 170,000 Italian citizens and stakeholders: together we removed 112 tons of marine litter. CSL encouraged co-responsibility and collaboration, created and disseminated better waste management practices and influenced local and national legislations to reduce and prevent littering. The project was co-funded by the LIFE programme.
National
Italy
{Empty}
It addresses urban-rural linkages
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Yes
LIFE programme
No
Yes
2021-01-31
As a representative of an organisation
Name of the organisation(s): Asinara National Park Type of organisation: Public authority (European/national/regional/local) First name of representative: Vittorio Last name of representative: Gazale Gender: Male Nationality: Italy Function: Director Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Via Ponte Romano 81 Town: Porto Torres (SS) Postal code: 07046 Country: Italy Direct Tel:+39 079 503388 E-mail:gazale@asinara.org Website:https://www.parcoasinara.org
URL:http://www.cleansealife.it Social media handle and associated hashtag(s): @cleansealife #cleansealife #cacciaaldischetto #ciccachallenge #spazzamare #bandaburrasca #tuttiinsiemeperunmarepulito
Clean Sea LIFE (CSL) engaged marine lovers and professionals in Italy in a joint effort to preserve the biodiversity and beauty of the Mediterranean sea, raising awareness on marine litter (ML) and inspiring changes in citizens’ and stakeholders’ attitudes.
In four years the project removed 112 tons of waste - mostly underwater, where it is generally unreachable; it involved 170,000 citizens, built bridges between stakeholders and authorities, and influenced legislation to reduce and prevent marine litter. Over 685 operators and 20,000 people signed the project’s “Pledge to the Sea”. CSL also offered extensive training and capacity building, organised information and awareness-raising campaigns, with a media coverage that reached 34 million people.
The key of Clean Sea LIFE’s success is the community that grew around the project and passionately embraced its initiatives. A movement of citizens - students and teachers, local communities, coastal operators, beach-goers, divers, boaters, professional and recreational fishermen, Olympic athletes and public figures - that have a clearer understanding of its impact, have adopted more sustainable lifestyles and are engaged in regular clean-ups to preserve the health and beauty of the oceans.
Clean Sea LIFE also provided authorities with evidence-based reports, increasing the knowledge base on ML around Italian shores, and supported the integration of European Directives to reduce ML in national and local legislations, with field-tested recommendations co-created with the stakeholders.
Clean Sea LIFE (LIFE15 GIE/IT/000999), a flagship project of the LIFE programme and winner of the 2022 LIFE Awards for Environment and the LIFE Citizen’s Prize, was implemented in Italy between 2016 and 2021 by the Asinara National Park with Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Fondazione Cetacea Onlus, Legambiente Onlus, MedSharks and Centro Velico Caprera.
marine litter
public awareness
governance
Mediterranean Sea
fishing for litter
The aim of Clean Sea LIFE was to help restore ocean and human health by reducing the threat posed by marine litter; supporting the application of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and EU Biodiversity policy, and to assist authorities in achieving Good Environmental Status in Italy.
More specific objectives were to empower citizens to become part of the solution, by raising awareness; to remove existing litter and prevent further littering; to promote Fishing For Litter; to provide guidelines for the management of ML; to increase knowledge exchange and the uptake of best practices.
Key achievements:
Increased awareness: Outreach activities shaped a better understanding of the issue, developed guidance and promoted a hands-on approach to reduce the pressure of ML, reaching over 34 million people. 170,000 people were involved in activities, 685 stakeholders and 20,000 people took the Project’s Pledge.
Reduced habitat degradation and impact of ML on biodiversity: 1,000 clean-up operations resulted in over 112 tons of ML collected - including 92 t and 600 lost fishing gears from the seabed.
Increased Policy-Governance-Enforcement on marine litter: CSL contributed to the national Fishing For Litter law and the ban of microplastics in cosmetics; it inspired six local authorities to ban the massive release of balloons and others to increase waste management activities. CSL promoted a citizen-science initiative that helped set up the first marine littering trial ever held in Italy.
Increased knowledge of the threat: Scientific monitoring and citizen science helped draft a map of ML build-up along the Italian coastline.
Public recognition: Clean Sea LIFE received the LIFE Award for Environment and LIFE Citizens' Prize at the LIFE Awards in 2022. The Italian Ministry of Environment presented the CSL microbeads campaign at the G7; Pope Francis praised the project’s Fishing For Litter initiative and invited its fishermen to a private audience.
Besides being a threat to biodiversity, ML has obvious impacts on the aesthetic value and recreational use of coastal areas, discouraging tourists and leading to loss of revenues for related services, or significant costs incurred for cleaning to keep areas attractive. The marine environment also provides society with values such as spiritual development and well-being, with a positive impact on societal wellbeing. Indeed, a healthier marine environment supports healthier people: science shows the restorative value that would normally be gained from a visit to the seashore is lost when coastal environments are polluted with ML.
CSL addressed the cultural causes of ML (e.g. insufficient understanding among the public of the consequences of its actions) with targeted awareness-raising programmes for citizens, public and private stakeholders. Awareness on the impact of ML was very limited in Italy in 2016. CSL had to shape public understanding of the issue, develop guidance and promote a practical approach to reduce the pressure of ML.
Communication made consistent use of visual art and imagery to attract attention, evoke emotions and motivate behaviour change. Carefully designed interventions helped foster a ‘marine mind-set’, which itself encouraged people to adopt increasingly pro-marine behaviour. CSL made ML on our shores visible and related it to people’s lives; provided guidelines on what to do, condensed in the CSL Pledge; and showed and celebrated inspirational examples, activities and practical solutions of local heroes and communities. CSL’s social survey showed a significant increase in interest and awareness on ML by the end of the project, with an increase of people and fishermen taking part in clean-ups or awareness-raising activities, and committed to more sustainable lifestyles.
CSL reached out to marine groups but also to society at large, trying to involve everyone regardless of age, race, level of education or gender.
In 4 years, CSL organised 2,000 clean-ups and dissemination events across Italy. To build stronger local communities around the challenge of ML, CSL collaborated with community leaders and other free public-oriented services, such as schools, libraries and museums, and helped connect organisations that were operating in isolation. To promote good environmental status in the future it reached 5,000 children, and trained 267 educators to continue raising awareness. Activities in lower income areas provided free cultural opportunities and involved local communities in the restoration of degraded beaches, increasing attachment, responsibility and well-being from a healthier coastline.
CSL used a variety of tools to improve equality of access, e.g. language accessible to those with lower literacy levels, materials and information available on a combination of digital (https://cleansealife.it/cosa-fare/, https://tinyurl.com/CSLPPTEng) and non-digital channels (brochures, posters, exhibits).
CSL included fishermen - a category seldom associated with marine conservation - in the common fight against marine litter. Media exposure increased social appreciation, highlighting how fishermen contributed to the protection of the sea for the benefit of the whole community (please see https://youtu.be/IIKcoYwatQA and a booklet on FFL https://tinyurl.com/PopeFFLBook).
The project also involved a cooperative of asylum-seekers in the crafting of one of its gadgets - a cigarette butt holder made of bamboo, accompanied by a note explaining the role and status of the person who made it. Some 35,000 of these items were distributed on Italian beaches, reducing smoking-related waste and highlighting the EU’s integration efforts to a large number of people.
Key to the success of Clean Sea LIFE, which won the 2022 LIFE Citizen’s Prize, is the community that grew around the project.
The project involved thousands of citizens: an exhibit attracted over 100,000 people in 28 locations, and 111 conferences were held in a variety of places to reach citizens of all walks of life: from local clubs to Universities, museums to beauty shops, holiday clubs to libraries, military vessels to film festivals, a TEDx conference to the Union for the Mediterranean meeting. Targeted hands-on activities, such as clean-ups or theme-based campaigns, offered a common task for local communities, promoted opportunities for social interaction as well as physical activity. Participants remarked how participating in beach clean-ups not only enriched their understanding of the issue, but instilled a sense of purpose, built a sense of ‘collective efficacy’ (especially citizen scientists who helped identify and prosecute the source of major plastic pollution http://cleansealife.it/index.php/dischetti-2/) and provided a powerful memory of personal growth.
To develop this movement and inspire positive change in an increasing number of people, CSL also connected with citizens online with engaging social media posts, some of which reached up to half a million people each. To reinforce the bond with the project, increase participation and the sense of community, Clean Sea LIFE constantly maintained a conversation with the public, encouraging dialogue on key issues and responding to questions and requests for support. It shared interviews and videos of project’s ambassadors on social media, as well as the creative solutions adopted by ‘local heroes’ (e.g. https://tinyurl.com/CSLsacchetti, https://www.facebook.com/CleanSeaLIFE/videos_by and https://www.facebook.com/CleanSeaLIFE/photos_albums). CSL also shared these best practices with the local and national press, to highlight local solutions that could be replicated or upscaled elsewhere.
Recreational tourism and fishing activities are among the main sources of ML in the Mediterranean sea. CSL engaged with marine stakeholders at all stages of the project, as they are key players often unaware of their impact, and with a direct motivation to address ML.
By the end of the project 685 stakeholders (including 131 fishing operators, 152 diving centres and 7 training agencies, 40 recreational fishing clubs, 72 Yacht Clubs and marinas, 62 beach operators, 45 associations, 40 schools, 136 teachers) took the Clean Sea LIFE ‘Pledge to the sea’. Stakeholders became ambassadors and multipliers of the message as diving, yacht clubs, fishermen and beach bars involved their customers in awareness and over 500 clean-up operations. Best management practices were also drafted with stakeholders and disseminated to operators, authorities and the public (e.g. a beach bar avoiding 7,000 plastic bottles https://youtu.be/a9_zMzx680E).
CSL assisted stakeholders navigate around the lack of clear ML management measures and fostered cooperation with authorities. This proved particularly useful in Fishing For Litter activities (please see ‘innovation’) and in the underwater clean-up which involved 40 diving centres and as many local offices of the Coast Guard and local authorities.
This participatory approach strengthened relationships and made actors feel more involved, ensuring that many activities continued after the project’s end [e.g. the underwater clean up with the Italian Coast Guard and diving centres in 2021 (https://tinyurl.com/UWcleanup21) and 2022 (https://tinyurl.com/UWcleanup22)]
CSL also reached out to local, regional, national and international authorities (e.g.Ministry for the Environment, Italian and European Parliaments, municipalities and Regions), providing data and co-crated management solutions, promoting policies to reduce marine litter and helping create tailored awareness-raising materials (https://tinyurl.com/CSLRegioneLazio).
Marine Litter is a global, multi-faceted and cross-sectoral environmental problem. Given its magnitude, CSL adopted an interdisciplinary approach to assess the causes, effects, possible responses, management measures, policies and regulations of ML in Italy, incorporating perspectives from a variety of fields and key stakeholders. Indeed this approach was adopted since the design phase, with the creation of a diverse and interdisciplinary consortium that could provide a range of insights and competences, and included a national park (Asinara), a research institution (CoNISMa), NGOs (Fondazione Cetacea, Legambiente, MedSharks), and a nautical partner (CVC).
Insights from sociology, psychology, media, communication and management studies were brought together to improve understanding of the interplay between natural science evidence and the implementation of effective social responses. As an example, CSL involved biologists and naturalists to monitor the situation in Italy and understand the impact of ML, and the economic sectors and specific activities that were the cause of the issue; oceanographers tracked sources of a major plastic spill pollution; chemists assessed the amount of microplastics in cosmetics. It involved economic stakeholders to identify the drivers of ML and impact of more sustainable choices; sociologists to understand and monitor public awareness, values and attitudes; communication experts and visual artists to effectively engage the public; public managers to investigate and overcome the gaps in ML management measures; and policymakers, to understand policy issues and possible solutions to reduce ML.
Most importantly, CSL harnessed the knowledge and experience of local stakeholders, showing society at large how locally identified practical solutions can inspire sustainable actions elsewhere, especially when supported by national and international higher-level policies and regulatory frameworks.
The main direct environmental benefits of the Clean Sea LIFE project are the removal of 112 tons of ML from Italian seas; the litter-reducing laws and enforcement actions it inspired, and the increased engagement of 170,000 people and 685 marine stakeholders in more sustainable lifestyles, ensuring a reduction in littering in Italian waters in the future.
Beach and underwater clean-ups were carried out in high biodiversity areas, MPAs and critical areas for protected and endangered species including marine turtles, Kentish plover and elasmobranchs. Particularly significant was the largest underwater clean-up campaign ever organised in Italy, with hundreds of fishermen, military and civilian divers removing 92 tons of waste and 600 lost fishing gear from the seafloor. This has since developed into an annual event, enabling an increasing amount of the most remote and difficult-to-remove waste to be collected.
The Mediterranean sea is one of the world's 25 hotspots of biodiversity for species diversity and endemism. The impact on biodiversity of reduced amounts of ML is expected to be significant, as ML is recognised as a major threats to marine ecosystems, with entanglement, ingestion, suffocation among the most direct threats to marine wildlife (https://tinyurl.com/CSLimpactWildlife), as well as being a source of microplastic, a means of transfer for contaminants along the food chain, and spread of invasive species.
In terms of increased awareness, CSL reached 34 million people and directly involved 170,000 citizens, who engaged in more sustainable lifestyles and better waste management; CSL also distributed 38,000 cigarette butt holders, reducing smoking waste on beaches, and promoted the use of reusable water flasks. CSL contributed to local national and EU policy and legislation reducing littering, assisted authorities investigate and prosecute the authors of a major plastic spill, and contributed to identify major sources of ML and the areas most affected.
Fishing For Litter (FFL) is a powerful tool to reduce ML; however this practice is hindered by gaps in the legal framework, resulting in fishermen routinely throwing back to sea the litter collected in fishing nets. To overcome these issues, CSL adopted a new, cross-sectoral approach that proved very effective. CSL's innovative approach was to provide stakeholders with the opportunity and motivation to develop a feasible management process for ML, with an inclusive approach that allowed both to tailor the process to each local context, and to test a draft bill in real time, providing indications to a national and international level.
To address the state of fragmented competences and different interpretations, CSL tested FFL under various scenarios: in 4 different Regions, each with its specific waste management scheme, and in ports under different governance. Here, CSL brought together local authorities and stakeholders (e.g. fishermen, municipalities, Port Authority, the Coast Guard, waste management companies) to draft shared and agreed guidelines. CSL also acted as a catalyst that mobilised additional funds, creating the opportunity for bigger scale projects. In the end, CSL involved a total of 128 fishing vessels, the largest fleet ever mobilised in Italy, landing 80 tons of marine litter.
At the end, a concerted approach to manage ML emerged, which was field-tested and refined in following years. This successful approach allowed local authorities and fishing communities to overcome the issues and continue FFL after the end of CSL, while the set of management solutions were included in both regional and national legislations. A selection of videos on FFL can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/FFLvideoPlaylist
CSL also made use of citizen science to investigate the spill of millions of carrier disks from a water treatment plant, identify the perpetrators and set up the first marine littering trial ever held in Italy.
The Clean Sea LIFE project approach to ML was to inspire a movement of citizens with the capability, drive and opportunity to act for the health of the Oceans. As recreational, tourism and fishing are among the main sources of ML in the area, CSL engaged key players involved with the sea both for recreation (beach-goers, yachtsmen, anglers, divers) and as a profession (fishermen, military, MPAs, marinas, coastal operators) as well as the general public, teachers and educators.
CSL had a multi-level, participative approach, seeking to remove knowledge barriers and build bridges between citizens, stakeholders and authorities. Creating a sense of community was key to keep momentum during and after the project’s end. Constant feedback on questions and challenges allowed stakeholders to become better stewards and public influencers. CSL publicly recognized their efforts through media and social media, highlighting individual change as part of a wider societal change. Guidelines and toolkits helped stakeholders and authorities at all levels deal with ML.
CSL communication, always supported by engaging images, was tailored to each target group and promoted simple and positive messages and solutions, moving the conversation from alarm to action. The project’s Code of Conduct inspired a change in attitude, encouraging active participation and, in general, rethinking our relationship with plastics, essential materials in our daily life that should however be used more consciously.
CSL strategy to increase policy and governance of ML was to provide authorities with evidence-based reports on emerging issues, and to support local authorities with media relations to gain social recognition. CSL media relation strategy was based on creating original news content and reports, supported by good-quality images, and increasing the media's understanding of the issue by providing reports, context and information.
ML is a transboundary issue affecting all seas in the world, albeit with local differences for each ocean basin. CSL strategy of creating a movement with a ‘Blue Mindset’, involving key marine stakeholders and target groups in concrete and awareness raising activities, can therefore be easily replicated especially in Mediterranean Member States, as they all share similar societies and stakeholders where the concrete solutions put forward by CSL could be easily adopted.
In fact, CSL was conceived with the aim of replicating and transferring results, to maintain momentum and ensure that ML steadily declines after the end of the project: it strived to create new relationships throughout the project and worked to create networks of local actors capable of carrying on activities, as they are in fact doing.
Toolkits, as well as solutions and practical tips to reduce pathways of ML, developed by and with local communities and stakeholders, are still publicly available for download on the project’s website: www.cleansealife.it. They include reports, policy briefs, webinars, guidelines, tips for operators and citizens and all materials developed to support training, capacity building, information and awareness-raising campaigns (e.g. a webinar for teachers https://youtu.be/KJsq4gxBkhc, best practices for beach operators https://tinyurl.com/CSLbeachOp, etc).
Marine litter - any item discarded, abandoned or lost at sea - is recognized as one of the major threats to marine ecosystems worldwide, posing an increasingly serious threat to the environment, economy and health. Entanglement, ingestion and suffocation are among the most direct threats to marine wildlife. This is particularly true in the Mediterranean Sea, one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, due to its nature of a semi-enclosed sea, with pressures coming from tourism, urban concentration in coastal areas, intensive agriculture, overfishing and shipping.
From anchovies to whales, from turtles to birds, hundreds of Mediterranean marine species are affected by this kind of pollution, often with fatal outcomes. Microplastics are of particular concern as they absorb and concentrate dissolved pollutants and, due to their small size, are easily ingested by organisms large and small, with consequences that are poorly known.
In the Mediterranean, ML mostly originates from land: from illegal landfills or poorly managed municipal waste, it is often carried downstream by rivers or inefficient sewage treatment plants. Professional fishing and shipping are both significant sources, with derelict or discarded fishing gear posing a specific challenge, as it may continue to fish for years. Another major source of ML in the Mediterranean Sea are recreational and tourist activities: which is precisely why CSL focussed on ‘sea users’, inspiring a movement of citizens, stakeholders and communities dedicated on a local and national scale to preserving the health and beauty of the Oceans.
