On 26 September, marking World Maritime Day, CEAM organised a beach clean-up between Toco Beach and the Garajau Partial Nature Reserve. This initiative was made possible thanks to the valuable support of numerous organisations and volunteers, including: VMT Madeira, Direção Regional do Ambiente e Mar, Madeiran Volunteer Firefighters Humanitarian Association, Funchal Maritime Police Forensic Diving Group, Captaincy of the Port of Funchal, Escola dos Louros, Associação Regional de Canoagem da Madeira, BELO’s Spot, Instituto das Florestas e Conservação da Natureza (RAM), Oceans Love Sailing, Go Local Madeira Private Tours, Frente MarFunchal, E.M., Portuguese Scientific Diving Association, Madeirense Association for Marine Conservation, Santiago Beach Bar, Câmara Municipal do Funchal, Wamãe – Public Anthropology, and Atlantic Dive Center.
Together, we collected approximately 270 kg of waste, contributing to the protection and preservation of both cultural and natural heritage. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all participating organisations—this initiative would not have been possible without your support.
The following day, on 27 September, celebrated as World Tourism Day, an underwater clean-up took place in front of São Tiago Fort beach. This activity involved divers and freediving enthusiasts who removed waste from the seabed, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts below the waterline.
In total, these coordinated actions brought together around 50 volunteers and led to the removal of nearly 400 kg of waste, demonstrating the strong impact of community engagement in environmental protection. Beyond the immediate results, the activities significantly raised awareness about the preservation of the cultural and natural heritage of aquatic environments.
The ecoRoute project continues to foster collaboration between local stakeholders, organisations, and citizens, promoting ocean literacy and encouraging active participation in safeguarding marine environments. Building on the success of these initiatives, further actions are expected in the future, with even greater community involvement.
