In an exemplary move towards enhancing marine conservation, the Calabria region has implemented an innovative approach to maintaining the cleanliness of its coastal waters. This summer, for the second consecutive year, the region is deploying six Pelikan System vessels from the Ancona-based Garbage Group to clean the seas along its coastline.
The initiative was announced at the Port Authority Headquarters in Vibo Marina, with key figures such as Salvatore Siviglia, General Director of the Regional Department of Environment, Michelangelo Iannone from Arpacal, regional directors Francesco Costantino and Raffaele Mangiardi, and Giuseppe Oliva, Director of Calabria Verde, presenting the project. The aim of the broader strategy — involving the regional government led by President Roberto Occhiuto and Environment Commissioner Giovanni Calabrese — of which the Pelikan System Marine Cleaning project is part, is to protect the marine ecosystem and improve water quality.
The Pelikan System
The Pelikan System boats are state-of-the-art marine cleaning vessels equipped with advanced technologies, including drones for monitoring and detecting floating debris, underwater ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) to scan the seabed and geo-reference waste, parametric probes to monitor water quality in real-time, and anti-pollution kits to tackle hydrocarbons, foams, and oily substances. These boats have already proven their effectiveness, as demonstrated by last year’s success, making Calabria a model for marine protection in the Mediterranean.
The importance of the “blue economy”
If we want to fully appreciate the significance of Calabria’s efforts, it’s important to take into account the meaning of the blue economy, a concept that encompasses all economic activities related to oceans, seas, and coasts. At its heart is the promotion of economic growth, social inclusion, and the preservation or improvement of livelihoods, while ensuring the environmental sustainability of the oceans and coastal areas. By investing in technologies like the Pelikan System, Calabria is actively protecting the environment and also promoting the blue economy: cleaner seas attract more tourists, who benefit local economies and supports sustainable development.
The global context: similar initiatives
Calabria’s efforts are part of a larger, global movement towards marine conservation and the blue economy, that has been involving many countries around the world. For instance, the Ocean Cleanup Project, founded by Boyan Slat, aims to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch using advanced technologies to collect and recycle ocean plastic. The Seabin Project, on the other hand, involves the installation of floating garbage bins in marinas and ports to collect debris, and ot filter out plastics and other pollutants. The countries around the Baltic Sea, including Sweden and Finland, have been implementing a series of projects that go under the name of Baltic Sea Protection Projects, all aiming at reducing marine pollution through international cooperation and advanced waste management systems.
Each of these international examples, just like Calabria’s Pelikan System, shows a growing recognition of the importance of preserving marine environments for future generations, but also the necessity to keep them clean and safe for people of today, in support of nature, quality of life, and local economies.
