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On the first truly sunny Saturday by the sea of the season, more than 250 volunteers gathered for “Puliamo La Sella!” at one of the most popular stretches of coastline in Cagliari, where the Posidonia sea grass washed ashore continues to remind us of both the value and fragility of coastal ecosystems. 

One ton of waste was removed from beaches, rocks, and seabeds during the land and sea clean-up organized by the MEDSEA Foundation, together with a wide network of sports associations, citizens, volunteers, and many families with children committed to protecting the sea and coastline. 

Plastic waste, debris, batteries, tires, fishing nets, and even boat remains were among the items collected this year. Unfortunately, the areas between the first stops of Poetto beach and the surrounding sea still continue to accumulate abandoned and dispersed waste, posing a constant threat to marine biodiversity. 

This year, the clean-up event dedicated to Cagliari’s beloved coastline, hosted at the headquarters of the Windsurfing Club Cagliari, introduced an important new development. 

The 2026 edition of Puliamo La Sella! officially marked the beginning of a three-year partnership between the MEDSEA Foundation, the Sardinian Coastal Conservation Agency, the Municipality of Cagliari – Department for Environmental Protection, and the Windsurfing Club Cagliari. The collaboration aims to join forces in raising public awareness and engaging local communities on the issue of marine pollution reduction, starting from the Poetto coastline. 

The initiative is part of the PlasticFreeMed campaign promoted by MEDSEA Foundation, which this year launches a thematic journey focused on three key concepts: reduce, reuse, recycle. 

“Reduce”: from consumption to awareness 

The theme of “reduce” was explored in the lead-up to Puliamo La Sella! through several online and in-person activities. 

Volunteers were invited to reflect on something specific they wanted to reduce in their daily lives, contributing their thoughts to a collective board during the event. 

The discussion also reached local schools through the “Riduci!” educational workshop involving fifth-grade students from UP School, together with environmental science expert Maria Pala and eco-designer Alessandro Torrisi, as well as students from the IV A class of the Isili Science High School and the III B class of Alberti High School in Cagliari. 

“This year we wanted to encourage reflection on the impact of our lifestyles and excessive consumption,” explained Piera Pala, MEDSEA President. “Much of the waste ending up in the sea comes from everyday excess and disposable items used for just a few minutes but destined to remain in the environment for decades.” 

“The Foundation works on circular economy initiatives ranging from cross-border Interreg projects such as PLASTRON to local collaborations with companies involved in recovering waste from marine production activities. But the real challenge is cultural and starts from a simple principle: less is better. Reducing consumption and waste is the first step.” 

“Only by building shared awareness can we transform every citizen into a guardian of their own territory,” added Rosanna Laconi, Regional Councillor for Environmental Protection, “through concrete actions that strengthen the relationship between communities and the environment.” 

The ultimate goal, she explained, is “to protect our sea, which represents identity, biodiversity, and the future,” while reaching the European target of protecting 30% of Sardinia’s marine areas by 2030. Currently, protected marine areas cover approximately 20% of the region’s waters. 

“Protecting the sea also means safeguarding marine wildlife, from rescue centers along the coastline to monitoring and conservation activities dedicated to Caretta caretta sea turtles.” 

“Our support for Puliamo La Sella! is part of a broader commitment to raising awareness along Sardinia’s coasts and reducing the pressures threatening coastal ecosystems,” stated Maria Elena Dessì, director of the Coastal Conservation Agency. “Only by involving local communities — increasing knowledge of marine habitats and species through clean-up activities, but also reinterpreting these themes through creativity and emotion — can we achieve our shared goal: caring for and proudly representing Sardinia’s extraordinary coastal natural heritage.” 

Luisa Giua Marassi, Councilor for Urban Ecology, Environment, and Public Parks, added: “Over the past year, the Municipality has built a collaborative network between associations and local organizations to coordinate clean-up and awareness activities, convinced that protecting the sea and coastline requires continuous shared work with the community.” 

“About a month ago, along the Poetto waterfront, we promoted the initiative ‘Plastic? No thanks’: another step in a path this administration intends to pursue with determination, gradually eliminating single-use plastic from seafront areas and city parks.” 

“Reducing means rethinking everyday habits that we often take for granted, but which have a direct impact on the environment we live in.” 

“For those who live the sea — the place where we practice our passions, from sailing to windsurfing — taking care of it comes naturally,” added Gianluigi Costante, President of Windsurfing Club Cagliari. “We have always supported Puliamo La Sella! and from this year we are proud to take an active role in organizing the event. We have long promoted a culture of reuse, because reducing waste at its source is the most effective way to lessen our environmental impact, even before recycling. In this sense, the Windsurfing Club is a true open-air laboratory: a place where we experience every day the value of simplicity, learning that often very little is needed to feel good and enjoy the sea more consciously.” 

Among the sports associations and local organizations participating in Saturday’s clean-up activities, both on land and at sea, were: Athlon and Athlon 2.9, Beach Tribù, Blue Tribüne Apnea, Break Point Surf School, Family Beach Tennis & Padel Cagliari, Farmacia Politica, Giovani delle ACLI Cagliari, GS Aquila Cagliari, Il Terzo Leone Sea Tour, L’Aurora Ristorante & Beach Bar, Lega Navale Cagliari, Olé Kayak, Recyclerie, S’Avanzada Climbing Cagliari, South Coast Surf School, and Tutt’in SUP.