They are pushing their bodies to the limit to help protect the Mediterranean Sea!

As we write this, ten individuals are working hard to train their bodies to endure challenging long distance swims in the name of marine regeneration. By the time you read this, we encourage you to get online and check our how it is going for each of their three initiatives and, if you are able to, consider supporting their causes!

360 SNORKEL CHALLENGE TO RAISE AWARENESS OF PLASTIC POLLUTION AND SUPPORT LOCAL CHARITIES

One incredible duo, Peter Langan and Timothy Galgey, have set out to snorkel 550km of Majorcan coastline during the month of July to raise awareness of plastic pollution and support local charities Yachting Gives Back and Save The Med Foundation. They post regular video updates on their Facebook page “Mallorca 360 Snorkel Challenge” sharing their daily experiences and providing updates. Donations to support their initiative can be made via https://gofund.me/589e2080.

22 KM UNINTERRUPTED GROUP SWIM FOR MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

Meanwhile, seven swimmers and friends are preparing to become the first people in history to swim around the island of Cabrera, a 22km uninterrupted group swim which is expected to take 8h in total. Their aim is to raise awareness about the importance of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) for restoring biodiversity and raise 20.000€ for Save The Med’s project to create a network of science based MPAs around the Balearic Islands.

Being one of the main tourist destinations in Europe, the Balearic Islands attracts millions of visitors each year, swelling an already growing local population. Despite being home to some of the most abundant marine environments in the Mediterranean Sea, the impact that expanding demographics and human related activities such as overfishing, overconsumption and pollution have on the marine environment is severe and has put fragile marine species and ecosystems in danger of decay.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are crucial for the restoration of depleted fish stocks and the  regeneration of marine habitats and biological diversity. They provide protection for fragile species allowing them to grow, reproduce and recover from overfishing as well as other stress factors such as warming oceans. They are in fact some of the most efficient natural carbon sinks, absorbing significantly more CO2 from the atmosphere than forests, and function as buffers for climate change. The increased abundance of fish in MPAs may provide a spill-over effect  to nearby areas that benefits local fisheries and if that was not enough, protected areas provide livelihood for those who directly and indirectly depend on nature tourism, offer valuable opportunities for scientific and educational purposes and provide recreational spaces, enhancing our health and wellbeing.

Save The Med’s scientific expeditions apply cutting edge science that provides information and tools to support MPA management bodies in the efficient design, management and surveillance of MPAs. Learn more about how we do it at savethemed.org – Our projects.

In times where the planet is facing irreversible threats properly designed and managed Marine Protected Areas are the best tool we have to regenerate marine habitats and biological diversity and these swimmers are determined to contribute their part! Find out more and support them via ihelp.org. Search for the challenge “Nadando por Cabrera – Swimming for Cabrera”

16 KM SOLO SWIM FOR SHARK CONSERVATION

And last but definitely not least, in August, solo swimmer Caroline Livesey will undertake a 16km open water swim, crossing from the island of Cabrera back to Mallorca to raise funds for the new shark conservation project called “Little sharks – Stellaris Acion.”

This collaborative project is a joint effort between the Balearic Government, Save The Med Foundation, Marilles Foundation, Palma Aquarium Foundation, Petites Illes del Mediterrani, Mallorca Preservation Fund, Centre de visitants del Parque Nacional de Cabrera and local fishermen which focuses on the nursehound (Scyliorhinus stellaris), a small shark species which is protected in the marine reserves of the Balearic Islands.

This long term project, with a minimum duration of three years, aims to help the Balearic nursehound population to recover through the breeding of nursehound sharks in a controlled, artificial environment and the subsequent release of the offspring in different areas of the Balearic Sea, in combination with an environmental education programme to educate about the threats to and ecological importance of sharks in the Balearic sea and to involve the Balearic fishing sector in the the conservation of the species.

Follow Carolines journey on YouTube: The Brick Sessions and support her efforts by donating via migranodearena.org – “Cabrera Crossing, Swim for Project Stellaris”

Read more articles for Mallorca Lifestyle