Although 65% of the world population lives on the coast, only 0.1% of the resources currently raised for nature conservation is invested in the sea and the coast. That’s why projects like Silmar are so important. This initiative, established by Fundación Mar, measures water quality using underwater control stations looked after by teams of volunteers and diving centres. By controlling species that are sensitive to changes in their environment due to pollution, human presence, fishing and climate change, Silmar can detect warning signs so that measures can be taken before it’s too late.
The project already has a network of 20 stations along the Catalan and Balearic coasts. They include one sponsored by Diagonal Mar. Due to the fact that we feel responsible for looking after our environment, we opened our own Silmar station in 2018. It was the first in the beach area of Barcelona. It represents our commitment to sustainability, to creating a society that shows more respect for something that continues to give us so much: our sea.
The organisation behind the project, Fundación Mar, is a non-profit dedicated to raising awareness of the biosphere and how to improve and protect the marine environment and the coast. It is responsible for several projects that benefit the Mediterranean Sea and its biodiversity.