Ecoalf, Ecoembes and Fundación Santander Recover 225 Tons of Marine Waste Using Fishing Fleets and Smart Buoys
Summary: Over the past two years, the environmental initiative “Upcycling the Oceans” – led by Fundación Ecoalf together with Ecoembes and supported by Fundación Santander’s “Santander for the Seas” – has removed 225 tonnes of waste from the seabed. The program combines voluntary collection by fishing fleets across 35 ports with education, local waste management and a pilot using Satlink smart buoys too detect and recover floating debris before it reaches protected marine areas.
What happened
Between voluntary fishing-net recoveries and new detection technology pilots, the joint initiative has:
- Recovered 225 tonnes of marine waste from seabeds over two years.
- Involved 35 ports whose trawling fleets voluntarily bring back debris trapped in their nets.
- Conducted more than 90 port visits and 40 educational and awareness events to raise fishing-sector participation and public understanding.
- Tested and validated Satlink smart buoys and current-prediction software in a pilot at torrevieja, Delta del Ebre and Port de la Selva.
How the program works
Upcycling the Oceans operates on two complementary tracks that reduce marine litter and create circular-economy opportunities:
- Fishing fleet recovery - Small and trawling vessels voluntarily bring back the debris they recover in nets.Once ashore, items are classified and processed by authorized local waste managers through Ecoembes’ network.
- Smart-buoy detection & recovery – Fundación Santander’s pilot uses Satlink buoys and predictive-current software to locate floating waste early. Small craft mark or signal items so they can be recovered before reaching sensitive marine protected areas.
Why this matters
Marine litter (often called “basuraleza” in Spanish) harms wildlife, fisheries, tourism and coastal ecosystems. this approach:
- prevents debris from settling in protected habitats.
- Reduces the long-term cost and difficulty of deep-cleaning the seabed.
- Engages fishing communities as active partners rather than passive victims of pollution.
- Generates data and methods that can scale to other ports and regions.
Pilot results: Smart buoys and fisher participation
The Santander for the Seas pilot (Torrevieja, Delta del ebre and Port de la Selva) validated the practical use of Satlink buoys and current-prediction tools. Key outcomes:
- Enabled smaller vessels to signal and mark floating waste without needing to store it onboard.
- Received an “excellent” reception from the fishing sector, according to organizers.
- Helped prioritize rapid recovery to avoid litter entering marine protected areas.
education, outreach and local management
Beyond retrieval, the project emphasizes education and proper waste handling:
- 90+ port visits to understand fleet challenges and improve on-deck procedures.
- 40 awareness sessions aimed at fishers, port staff and communities.
- Local authorized managers classifying and treating collected waste to feed circular-economy streams.
Quick facts (two-year program)
| Metric | Result |
|---|---|
| Waste recovered | 225 tonnes |
| Ports involved | 35 |
| Port visits | 90+ |
| Educational sessions | 40 |
| Pilot ports for smart buoys | Torrevieja, Delta del Ebre, Port de la Selva |
Voices from the field
Organizers emphasize collaboration: Fundación Ecoalf and Ecoembes highlight the role of local fleets and waste managers, while Fundación Santander notes the potential of satellite-enabled buoys and predictive software to stop litter before it reaches critical habitats. Fishers involved reportedly welcomed a solution that lets them help without burdening their limited onboard storage.
What’s next
Organizers plan to continue expanding port participation, scale up smart-buoy deployments where effective, and keep running educational campaigns. The combined model – hands-on recovery by fishers plus early detection using technology – aims to be replicable in other Mediterranean and global fisheries as a cost-effective way to reduce marine litter.
Why readers should care
- Cleaner seas protect seafood quality and coastal economies.
- Local fishing communities benefit when pollution is managed and valued.
- Simple tech like buoys can make prevention faster and cheaper than deep cleanups.
Related keywords for search visibility
Marine litter, basuraleza, Upcycling the oceans, Ecoalf, Ecoembes, Fundación Santander, Santander for the Seas, satlink smart buoys, marine protection, fishing fleet waste recovery, Torrevieja, Delta del Ebre, Port de la Selva.
Source: Infobae – Fundación Ecoalf, Ecoembes y Fundación Santander recogen 225 toneladas de residuos en el mar con boyas inteligentes. read more: https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2025/09/23/fundacion-ecoalf-ecoembes-y-fundacion-santander-recogen-225-toneladas-de-residuos-en-el-mar-con-boyas-inteligentes/