In pursuit of its vision of a sustainable marine ecosystem, Enaleia implements various actions to prevent and address overfishing and plastic pollution of the marine environment, through the mobilisation of fishing communities. In this context, Enaleia has designed and implements the Mediterranean Cleanup project, which involves cleaning plastic litter from the seabed and collecting used fishing equipment, which is then to be integrated into the circular economy through recycling or upcycling. The ultimate aim of this action is to empower and environmentally educate professional fishermen, as well as to recycle and transform marine litter into new usable products.

With the support of the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation and the Neraida Floating Museum, the project was implemented in 2021 in Crete, with the participation of professional fishermen from Heraklion, Chania and Agios Nikolaos. 2021 was a milestone year, as the Project was officially recognised at an institutional level by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, while the co-founder and director of Enaleia, Mr Lefteris Arapakis, was awarded the honorary title of Ambassador for the Mediterranean Coast by the United Nations Environment Programme/Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP).

Τhe Mediterranean Cleanup – Crete in numbers:

• 3 fishing ports
• 6 fishing vessels
• 36 professional fishermen
• 11,820 kg of marine plastic litter and used fishing nets from the seabed