Benitachell beaches are now spick and span
TODAY the coves and seabed of Benitachell are more pleasing to the eye. Last Saturday, September 21, around twenty volunteers helped to clean the bays of Cala Moraig and Cala dels Testos. The initiative, which has been carried out for several years, aims to help protect the seabed and preserve the quality of the waters and beaches. It is always held after the summer season, when large amounts of rubbish accumulate on the beaches and in the sea.
The volunteers, who were supported by the IROX, SVS and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, met at 09.30 in Cala del Moraig car park. There, two groups were formed, one for the beach and one for the sea. Volunteers were presented with a free cap with the message ‘Som de cala neta i viva’, meaning ‘We are from clean and alive beaches’.
The choppy sea and poor visibility in the water made the tasks a bit difficult, although that did not prevent a large amount of waste from being extracted, thanks to the participation of all volunteers. Together, the volunteers managed to gather various rubbish bags full of all kinds of waste, among which were plastic containers, cans and hygiene products. They also extracted several wooden pallets, a fridge, shoes, caps and diving goggles. Several parasols that the recent storm swallowed into the sea were also retrieved.
The most unpleasant and unexpected part of the clean-up was the discovery of graffiti on one of the rocks of the ravine that descends to Cala dels Testos. The councillor for the environment, Jorge Pascual, and all participants agreed to condemn such acts of vandalism which have spoilt a beautiful area.
Following the cleaning session, Pascual thanked the involvement of all companies, associations and individuals in the activity that 'gives an example of the concern and sense of responsibility that Benitachell has for one of the main potentials we have, which is our coast'.