Children took centre stage in “In Search of an Invisible Threat”, a plastic and microplastic awareness and collection action successfully held in Monemvasia on 24 September 2026. The initiative combined coastal and underwater cleanups with outdoor learning, giving young participants an opportunity to contribute directly to protecting their local marine environment.
Equipped with gloves, litter pickers and collection bags, the children worked together to collect waste along the shoreline. Educational games and creative activities complemented the cleanup, encouraging them to explore marine pollution through observation, teamwork and play, with particular attention to the less visible threat of microplastics.
Divers also retrieved litter from the seabed, bringing ashore tyres and other discarded items that revealed the extent of pollution beneath the surface. Following the collection, the children learned about the different types and categories of marine litter and how to classify and record the collected items. This practical exercise introduced them to the importance of documenting pollution, connecting cleanup activities with the collection of useful environmental information.
Organised by NECCA’s Southern Peloponnese Protected Areas Management Unit, the action formed part of the project on management measures for marine caves, rocky reefs and Posidonia seagrass meadows in Natura 2000 marine areas, implemented by ECOSUSTAIN.
The children’s active participation made the day a valuable opportunity to connect environmental learning with practical action. We thank everyone who contributed to the initiative and helped turn awareness into a shared effort for a cleaner coast and sea.
