Técnico Lisboa and Innoceana Join Forces in Tenerife for Cutting‑Edge Beach Cleanup

On Wednesday, June 4, 2025, the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) of Lisbon teamed up with Innoceana to carry out a beach cleanup at Playa Honda, in the municipality of Arico, as part of the European PLAST4H2 project. The initiative brought together science and environmental action to address the growing problem of marine litter. A group of seven volunteers collected 84 kilograms of waste, of which 70 kg were plastics. Playa Honda is particularly exposed to pollution due to its location facing the Canary Current and the prevailing trade winds, which transport large amounts of floating debris from the Atlantic.

The most abundant items collected were polystyrene seedbeds (1,134 pieces) and unidentifiable plastic fragments, both larger than 2.5 cm (550 pieces) and smaller than 2.5 cm (333 pieces), highlighting the extent of plastic fragmentation in the area. In addition to these, a significant number of fishing-related items such as ropes, nets, and lines were also found, pointing to the impact of marine activities on coastal pollution.

The information gathered will support IST in analyzing how marine litter moves and accumulates around the Canary Islands, helping to improve future prevention and cleanup efforts.

Share post