Less marine litter, but Limpiaventura’s coastal commitment stays the same

Limpiaventura closed 2025 with more than 20 tonnes of waste removed from Fuerteventura’s coastline, the result of thirty clean‑up operations around the island. The association is approaching its eleventh year, runs educational workshops, and the support of spontaneous volunteers and companies gives strength to an organization that continues its work without any financial aid from the administration.

Limpiaventura wrapped up 2025 with:

• 30 clean‑up operations (batidas)
• 18 beach cleanings
• 36 environmental workshops
• 20 280 kg of waste removed from the Majorero shoreline

These figures show a steady rhythm of work, sustained by a stable volunteer structure.

Gerardo Yánez, the association’s activities coordinator, spoke with Fuerteventura Digital to review a remarkable year, as Limpiaventura celebrated its ten‑year anniversary.

The Final Clean‑up of 2025

The last operation of the year took place in Cofete, on Sunday 28 December, at the iconic Roque del Moro. Although the landscape is famed for its beauty, the beach is constantly littered by marine debris that drifts in along its 13 km of open coastline. For this final clean‑up, volunteers focused on the area surrounding the Roque del Moro.

During the operation, volunteers were joined by spontaneous visitors.

“When we arrived there was a couple of English tourists already cleaning, and they stayed to help until the end,” Yánez recounted. He added that people not only litter but also often lend a hand, and it is common for beachgoers to join the effort when they see volunteers at work.

Marine Litter and Its Link to Migration

The group’s perception of the problem has not changed from previous years.

“Trash keeps arriving, especially plastics. The most typical items are diesel cans, bottles, fishing gear and ropes,” Yánez explained.

Around 25‑30 % of the waste comes from recreational use of the coast—beer cans, leftover bottles, and fishing‑related items such as canned‑food tins and plastic bags.

In 2025, the arrival of migrants to the Canary Islands fell by more than 60 %, a social reality that also shows up in Limpiaventura’s activity. The four tonnes less of waste collected compared with 2024 are linked to the decline in migration.

“Rafts and small boats weigh a lot. We used to collect three a month and now only one every three months,” Yánez said, noting that the last such intervention was the removal of a zodiac at the Faro de La Entallada in March.

He also highlighted a hidden aspect: authorities report migrant arrivals only when people are rescued at sea, not when they reach the shore. Unintercepted vessels end up on the beach, and Limpiaventura’s work bears witness to that.

Workshops, Participation, and Support from Volunteers and Companies

Limpiaventura’s work goes beyond beach cleaning. Every Friday in Bristol, the group runs awareness workshops with students from Alina Kunz’s academy, the association’s president.

Each month about one hundred people take part in the clean‑ups, supported by a core of twenty regular volunteers and a total of 300‑400 different participants over the year.

“We also greatly appreciate the involvement of people coming from Europe, whether in clean‑ups, donations, or buying merchandise,” Yánez said. “A German visitor left us a €400 donation.”

The association collaborates with Clean Ocean Project through the Playa Palets initiative. Clean Ocean Project manufactures wooden containers where the public deposits marine waste; Limpiaventura then collects them. There are 32 pallet‑style containers placed along the east coast—from Montaña Roja to Jacomar—and the municipality also gathers them on the north coast, from La Oliva to Corralejo and El Cotillo.

Ten Years Without Institutional Financial Support

Reflecting on the year, Yánez noted:

“We have a good number of volunteers, although an extra hand is always welcome.”

The 2025 balance coincides with a decade of volunteer work. A highlight was the renewal of the association’s vehicle—a Toyota Hilux—funded by a fundraising drive led by the La Oliva town council and about twenty local companies.

Nevertheless, the association’s finances remain fragile.

“We have not received any grant or financial aid from any administration. Let’s hope they get motivated someday…” Yánez suggested.

Limpiaventura’s monthly operating cost is roughly €300, covering vehicle expenses, insurance, accounting services, and garage fees.

Now entering its eleventh year, Limpiaventura keeps its goal intact: continue removing waste from the Majorero coast and remind the public that pressure on the shoreline persists, even when the numbers appear to improve.

How to Support Limpiaventura

For those who wish to help, Limpiaventura invites you to follow them on social media, where they post updates on activities and ways to contribute.

“We have a bank account number and a PayPal‑like service for donations.”

For more information, visit Limpiaventura’s social channels or contact the association directly.