Larvotto clean-up pulls 30kg of waste from protected waters
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
Volunteers collected 30 kilogrammes of rubbish and 530 cigarette butts in a single hour at Larvotto's marine reserve.
The Association Monégasque pour la Protection de la Nature organised a clean-up operation in the Larvotto protected marine area, one of the few sandy stretches along Monaco's rocky coastline and a popular swimming spot throughout the warmer months. In just one hour, volunteers pulled 30 kilogrammes of waste from the water and shoreline, including 530 cigarette butts.
The scale of the haul points to a persistent problem despite regular municipal cleaning along the beach and promenade. Cigarette butts remain particularly stubborn, breaking down slowly in seawater and posing a known risk to marine life in a reserve that shelters seagrass beds and juvenile fish populations close to the shore.
For residents who swim or walk along Larvotto year-round, the figures are a reminder that the protected status of the area does not shield it from everyday litter carried in by beachgoers or washed down from the surrounding streets. AMPN has previously run similar operations across Monaco's coastline, and the group's findings are likely to feed into wider discussions about beach management and smoking restrictions on public sand as the Principality continues to position its marine areas as a conservation priority.