Last weekend, more than 150 volunteers gathered around ASPTT Nice Côte d’Azur to clean the seabed and quays of the Port of Nice. In just one morning, two tonnes of waste were removed from the water, highlighting the scale of local marine pollution.
At the Port of Nice, citizen engagement took on the feel of a collective worksite. ASPTT Nice Côte d’Azur, supported by the associations Bleu Gorgone, ANAO, and Les Pointus de la Mouette, led a large clean-up operation spanning from pier A to pier F. Nearly 150 people, both children and adults, gathered early in the morning to remove waste accumulated on the seabed and along the quays.
The outcome was heavy—quite literally. Two tonnes of assorted waste were pulled from the water. Divers and freedivers recovered a moped, three shared bicycles, a scooter, several smartphones, tarpaulins, and a large number of glass bottles. A haul that clearly illustrates the ongoing lack of respect for the marine environment.
For Loïc Troquer, a freediving instructor at ASPTT, the initiative goes far beyond a simple clean-up:
“As freedivers, we are the first to see and unfortunately witness all this waste, all the plastic pollution and other debris. So I think it’s up to us to act—we are the first who must take action. This operation is just a grain of sand in the desert, but if everyone contributes a little and adopts simple habits, we can still preserve our seabed.”
Raising Awareness Among the Youngest
On the quays, the youngest participants also rolled up their sleeves. Children from the ASPTT swimming section took part in a plogging route, a practice combining jogging and litter collection. Accompanied by their parents, they picked up waste discarded along the port, while the sailing section ensured the safety of the divers in the water.
“I’m here today to help keep the city of Nice clean,” explained Noam, a young swimmer from ASPTT. “We found a can that was just thrown away recently… Honestly, you wonder how people can throw their waste into the sea.”
Associations and Citizens United for the Sea
The day also highlighted strong cooperation between local associations. ASPTT teamed up with experienced environmental groups. Bleu Gorgone, ANAO, and Les Pointus de la Mouette provided logistical support, helped with recovery operations, and assisted in sorting the waste.
For Michèle Maurel, Events and Environment Manager at the Port of Nice, this collaboration is essential:
“Without associations, nothing would happen. It’s thanks to ANAO, Bleu Gorgone, Les Pointus de la Mouette and ASPTT—with its freediving, sailing and swimming sections—that we can organize this kind of day. The primary goal is environmental, and raising awareness is essential. Every participant, every passer-by who stops to watch and talk with us contributes to this awareness.”
Once collected, the waste was sorted on site: metal, plastic, glass, boating equipment—each category was displayed to show the wide variety of objects discarded into the port. Most of the waste, too damaged or contaminated to be recycled, was sent to a secure disposal container.
A Long-Term Commitment
For ASPTT Nice Côte d’Azur, the action does not end here. Another clean-up operation is already planned for next year, at the same time of year. The association aims to make these initiatives a long-term commitment in order to sustainably raise awareness among residents about the protection of Nice’s marine environment.
This collective effort reflects a strong attachment to the sea and to one of the city’s most emblematic locations. Such initiatives serve as a reminder that protecting the coastline ultimately depends on the daily responsibility of each and every one of us.
