Life Below Water - Portugal

LIFE BELOW WATER

Rodrigo González Carlos Limón Paula OrellanaMarcos Barragán

Melilla, Spain

MICROPLASTICS

Microplastics have been found in Melilla, on the beach of Las Horcas Coloradas.- The number of these has been increasing in recent years. -Marine animals can ingest these microplastics ending up in humans through the food chain. - That can be dangerous because they often contain chemicals, which can be harmful to animals and people.

Microplastics

Banning single-use plastics. - Examples: bags, cutlery, glasses, cotton buds.

The promotion of recycling and reuse is a useful remedy to limit the amount of plastic consumed.

The reduction of plastic production. - Examples: banning plastic bags or replacing them with biodegradable materials.

Solutions

• Cosmetics and synthetic clothing
• Plastic bags
• Drinking water, tea bags, beer
• Table salt, shellfish
• Rain, air, sea breeze
• Many of these products readily enter the environment in wastes.

- Microplastics are plastic pieces that measure less than five millimetres across. - Microplastics have been found in:

What are microplastics?

Carbon footprint in ports

Melilla's Port

The Mediterranean Sea is particularly vulnerable to ship-associated impacts due to a high number of shipping routes. Recently, a 77% increase was recorded in the volume of ship cargo loaded and unloaded in Mediterranean ports.

One of the significant environmental threats in ports in recent years has been carbon dioxide emissions generated by different activities carried out in ports. In the maritime industry, this topic is getting more controversial.

in the mediterranean sea

CO2 EMISSIONS

In order to tackle this problem, the NEREIDAS project aims to: - Develop a standardization tool for the implementation of preventive and compensatory measures for environmental impacts related to transport and port activities. - Provide adequate solutions to minimize CO2 emissions, biodiversity reduction and external costs in Mediterranean ports, like Melilla's Port, while at the same time minimizing the potential environmental impact of new infrastructure.

the nereidas PROJECT

Since Melilla is located on the Mediterranean coast, it can serve as a useful case study for the entire Mediterranean region as the quality of the water, temperature, salinity, sea currents and biodiversity are similar to other Mediterranean ports. If successful, the results of the action will lead to a more environmentally sustainable port. On the other hand, it will pave the way for new investments in port infrastructure, focused on improving the carbon footprint of this type of facilities and their effect on the flora and fauna.

Melilla

biodiversity

Melilla climate is specifically a Mediterranean subtype with a dry and hot summer. A high number of hours of sunshine and by the scarcity and irregularity of rainfall characteristic of the Mediterranean basin.Melilla has a great variety of flora and fauna. The seabed of Melilla has populations of Posidonia oceanica, as well as a notable community of algae in the most illuminated sector. In terms of fauna, most of the species are in danger. For example, the sea cicada, also known as the royal Norway lobster. Its main problem is that it is considered a delicacy in some gastronomic circles. The Mediterranean monk seal which is one of the rarest in existence. It is in serious danger of extinction.

• Protect our beaches from waste
• Don't purchase items that exploit marine life.
• Support organizations working to protect the ocean
• Use fewer plastic products.
• Make safe, sustainable seafood choices.
• Mind your carbon footprint and reduce energy consumption.

Things we can do:

OVERFISHING and aquifer contamination

Baby whale caught in Melilla.

Overfishing is a current problem in Melilla's coast, as we can see in "the walls of death" case, where huge nets with a size of up to 30km are used to fish near our shore. This form of fishing is very harmful for marine biodiversity because not only does it exploit fishing, but it also endangers other protected animals such as dolphins, sharks and even whales.

OVERFISHING

This issue, luckily, is not as present in Melilla as it is in some other coastal cities like Almería, which is famous for its huge number of greenhouses near the beach that are irrigated by aquifers. What is happening is that salty and contaminated water from the sea is getting into those aquifers, causing a lower quality of the crops in the area and that's why locals are very concerned.

aquifer contamination

• Sustainable fishing reforms
• Declaring marine protected areas
• International fishing regulations
• Overfishing education
• Desalination and water reuse

solutions

tHANK YOU!OBRIGADO!KIITOS!DIOLCH!MERCI!¡GRACIAS!