Environmental action held on Mljet Island

Island of Eternal Youth, also called Ogigija by legendary Greek poet Homer, is today known as Croatian Island Mljet. Legend says Mljet used to be a heavenly asylum for Odysseus, who was imprisoned there by Calypso nymph. Even today, it’s famed as one of the most beautiful Croatian islands.

However, Mljet’s underwater area can’t handle the enormous amounts of waste which has been affecting Mljet National Park for years. Management of the National Park, along with Croatian Navy Veterans, diving clubs Nautilus and Aquatica and Mljet Utility Company decided to do something about it. Every year, they organize an environmental action of cleaning the underwater.

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event was held in August. On the first day of action, Lastovska, Lokva and Srednja bays were cleaned. Next day, it was bays of Blaca, Gonoturska and Soline. And on the final day, diving club Dubrovnik joined the action, as the underwater area of Prozurska Luka got its turn. By visual estimate, bays of the southern parts of National park were polluted with waste brought by strong currents of Southern Adriatic. This is a problem for many islands, as their southern bays keep getting polluted more often. Within three days, over 600 sacks of miscellaneous waste was taken out of the sea.

Regardless of the waste origin, the amount of it clearly stresses out the importance of this problem. Therefore, these actions are commendable, as they also affect the general awareness of the public, and the importance of nature conservation.