With the 7th Continent association, habits are changing in the face of maritime pollution from plastic waste

Une famille de touristes a visité Sète autrement ce lundi en s’arrêtant au stand de 7e Continent. Midi Libre – KELMAN MARTI

Ces lundi 29 et mardi 30 juillet, l’association 7e Continent organise ateliers et animations, quai d’Alger, pour sensibiliser à la pollution maritime.

After raising awareness among schoolchildren in Sète and those in Gruissan, Port-la-Nouvelle, Canet-en-Roussillon, Saint-Cyprien and Port-Vendres about maritime pollution, 7e Continent made the reverse journey, this time addressing the general public. On Monday and Tuesday, the association moored its schooner at the Quai d'Alger and brought out the marquees to welcome the people of Sète. Despite the high temperatures, the public, of all ages, is there.

"A desire to get involved"

"The results of our educational tour “Protecting the Ocean, it's learned”, which aims to raise awareness among the population about the impact of plastic waste in the oceans, are very positive", analyzes Gauthier Séveno, head of 7th grade activities Continent.

“We have noticed during our stopovers that people are willing to get involved and commit to preventing marine pollution. They understand the consequences that microplastics can have on biodiversity and water quality. We are on the right track“, he adds before recalling that the Mediterranean Sea is the most polluted in the world and that 80% of plastic waste in the oceans comes from land.

During his explanations, several young volunteers from Science Po Toulouse take care of running the various workshops with the families who arrive: presentation under the microscope of samples of microparticles from the North Pacific and North Atlantic gyres, games to find out how long it takes for waste to decompose…

A concrete impact

To his little games, Gaël gives his all for the good cause. "I learned that packaging should be thrown in the right bins", the 6-year-old child says timidly. At his side, Carmen, his mother, is pleased to see him "understand the consequences of plastic pollution" and to have, she too, "learned things".

"We're going to change some of our habits. I realize that I already have good habits, but that I can do more. These workshops make me think about my way of consuming”, continues the one who had marked the date on her calendar to take her child there.