Barcelona raises its voice for Mediterranean whales with art in defense of the sea

Barcelona (EFEverde).- An art installation using waste on Barceloneta beach, led by OceanCare and The Trash Traveler, raises awareness about deadly collisions between ships and whales in the Mediterranean and calls for maritime speed limits.

Under the slogan "Art meets marine conservation," the eco-art initiative seeks to highlight the serious impact of collisions between ships and whales in the Mediterranean.

Waste collected on the beach was transformed into a large-scale art installation with the help of volunteers and groups such as Anél.Lides, Movimiento83, Retorna, and Ecologistas en Acción, and a message: demand mandatory speed limits for boats in critical areas for marine wildlife, such as the Cetacean Migration Corridor.

This action, carried out at the end of May, is part of the European Ocean Waste Art Tour , an international OceanCare campaign in the run-up to the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference , where six key demands for marine protection are being put forward.

Speed ​​reduction

The Barcelona meeting focused on speed reduction as the only viable measure to avoid collisions, as highlighted by scientific studies and resolutions from organizations such as ACCOBAMS, the IWC, and the Bonn Convention on Biological Diversity (CMS).

Three days earlier, on May 21, two young sperm whales were found dead in Canary Islands waters after being struck by a ship, highlighting the urgency of the problem.

“Speed ​​kills. But we can also choose to reduce it and save lives,” OceanCare noted, emphasizing that reducing vessel speeds by 10% to 20% can reduce collisions by up to 78% , in addition to reducing underwater noise and polluting emissions.

The organizers emphasize that the event was made possible thanks to the collaborative work of artists, NGOs, and citizens, demonstrating that art can also be science, awareness, and action.