A joint coastal and underwater cleanup operation at Monaco’s Larvotto Protected Marine Area has recovered over 30 kilogrammes of rubbish, serving as a visual reminder of the ongoing pressure human waste exerts on local marine ecosystems.

Organised on Saturday 3rd October by the Monegasque Association for the Protection of Nature (AMPN), the annual initiative brought together 35 divers and 15 shore-based volunteers, supported by the Monaco Underwater Exploration Club (CESMM) and the Monegasque Sanitation Company (SMA).

In total, volunteers cleared 30.8kg of waste across the coastline and seabed, with 28.5kg retrieved directly from underwater.

What volunteers found on land and sea

Beneath the surface, divers primarily recovered glass bottles, metal objects, plastics, ropes, and discarded construction debris.

On the shoreline, persistent littering remains a challenge. Volunteers gathered 530 cigarette butts, a figure comparable to previous years, despite Larvotto Beach being a designated non-smoking zone with daily cleaning services.

Regional conservation impact

The initiative follows a similar cleanup in 2025 at Monaco’s Educational Marine Area, reinforcing that waste continues to enter protected waters despite strict local regulations.

Founded in 1976 at the request of Prince Rainier III, the AMPN manages Monaco’s protected marine areas, conducting critical research on fish populations and Posidonia seagrass while pioneering conservation initiatives like 3D-printed artificial reefs. 

For local marine managers, the recurring waste highlights the fact that long-term protection of the Principality’s waters ultimately relies on preventing litter at the source across the wider Mediterranean.

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Coastal and underwater cleanup at Monaco’s Larvotto Protected Marine Area. Main photo credit: AMPN