Esplora Interactive Science Centre was selected under REMEDIES Open Call 1 with Island Guardians: For a Plastic-Free Med, a project designed to inspire young people, schools, families, and local communities to take action against marine plastic pollution. Running from February to September 2024, with its final public event taking place in October 2024, Island Guardians focused on reducing single-use plastics, encouraging active citizenship, and creating accessible educational and advocacy resources.
The project developed a dedicated website, a clean-up and resource repository, two educational resource packs for children and teenagers, five videos featuring local “heroes” in the fight against plastic pollution, and four storybooks for young children. These materials were designed to be freely accessible and easy to use by schools, teachers, parents, youth groups, libraries, and community organisations. The initiative also used storytelling, practical learning, and science communication to make marine plastic pollution more tangible for younger audiences and to support long-term behavioural change.
Island Guardians combined education with direct action through clean-up activities organised with Żibel. A beach clean-up at Bugibba Bay gathered 69 volunteers, who collected 78 kg of plastic litter and 573.5 kg of other waste. A second seabed and shore clean-up at South Quay Ċirkewwa and Paradise Bay involved 47 volunteer divers and snorkelers and removed 919 kg of mixed waste, including 173 kg of plastic litter. Together, the clean-ups collected 1,492.5 kg of mixed waste, including 251 kg of plastic.
The project also commissioned a recycled art installation from local artist Joseph Barbara, created with plastic waste recovered during the clean-ups. The installation, titled “Bebbux” (Snail), was unveiled during the project’s concluding event and exhibited at Esplora, helping transform collected waste into a public-facing symbol of reflection, responsibility, and care for the marine environment. The Open Day at Esplora also brought schoolchildren into contact with the project resources, storytelling activities, interactive stands, and REMEDIES representatives.
Island Guardians built synergies with the University of Malta’s Oceanography Malta Research Group and Andromeda project on microplastics, Żibel, Raniero’s Adventures, Sharklab Malta, Nature Trust/FEE Malta, and the Ċirkewwa Marine Park. The project was also presented during the European Commission’s Green Week, to a European Commission delegation visiting the science centre, and to wider networks including ProBleu and Clera-One. Its support to Project Xibka and ghost-net recovery work in Malta contributed to the removal of ghost nets and cages from Maltese waters, while the project’s overall approach was recognised with a Special Mention from the Society4Med Award by BlueMissionMed.
