The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology stated in Horta that "between 10 and 12 million tonnes of plastic end up in the oceans every year," defending that "it is everyone's responsibility to prevent this from happening."
 
"The Government of the Azores has carried out a series of initiatives to avoid and mitigate this problem," said Gui Menezes. In this regard, he highlighted the creation of the Action Plan for Marine Litter (PALMA). It "contains several monitoring and awareness measures, involving various entities and partnerships."
 
Gui Menezes spoke on the sidelines of a visit to the "Plasticus Maritimus" exhibition. The government official noted that this work is "an interesting way" to raise the awareness of people for the need to recycle waste, to avoid using plastics and to be more responsible towards the environment."
 
In the week that marks the World Maritime Day, Gui Menezes called for "the problem of litter in the oceans that affects marine ecosystems." The government official highlighted "several scientific monitoring projects" carried out by the University of the Azores, namely LIXAZ; the latter "monitors the waste" found on the coastal areas of Azorean islands and "studies its impact on marine organisms."
 
For example, the government official mentioned that, last year, the programme "analysed 30 sea turtles, of which 80% contained plastic in their bodies." In this context, he added that 149 birds rescued under the SOS Cory's Shearwater 2015 campaign were found with plastics in the organism, an average of five fragments per animal.
 
According to the Regional Secretary, these values "evidence the problem we have in hand and the impact that plastics have on marine ecosystems."
 
Promoted by the Azores Sea Observatory, the "Plasticus Maritimus" exhibition by marine biologist Ana Pêgo may be visited until Saturday at the Bank of Artists in Horta.