The event was organized under the leadership of Alanya Municipality with the participation of Alanya City Council, the Mediterranean Environmental Platform, local SUP businesses, Blue Flag tourism facilities and residents.
During the cleanup, participants paddled out to sea on SUP boards. In cooperation with the Mediterranean Environmental Platform, special fabric was attached to hand nets to help observe microplastics in the seawater and remove as much of the material as possible.
Alanya Deputy Mayor Haydar Uyar, Alanya City Council President Nurhan Özcan, Mediterranean Environmental Platform President and co-founder Sera Öner, municipal officials and representatives of six SUP businesses also attended the event.
Uyar: “We all have a responsibility”
Deputy Mayor Haydar Uyar said the main purpose of the event was to raise public awareness about protecting the Mediterranean ecosystem.
Uyar said Alanya Municipality had commissioned scientific studies into microplastic pollution along the city’s coastline. According to Uyar, analysis of collected samples showed that a large share of the pollution originated from imported plastics.
He added that following the studies, sanctions were imposed on the relevant businesses by the ministry, and stressed that protecting the sea requires responsibility from all sections of society.
