Stop Pollution! A pellet spill spreads along the galician coast

Since December 2023, the Galician coast has been affected by a spill of polypropylene pellets, after several containers fell into the sea from the ship Toconao. The most affected areas include Riveira and other Galician towns, extending even to Asturias and Cantabria. To remove these pellets, volunteer groups are organized and coordinated through WhatsApp, carrying out clean-ups with specific tools.

In recent weeks, since mid-December, news has gradually emerged about a spill of pellets on the Galician coast. Since December 13, 2023, large quantities of small white balls similar to plastic have begun to be found on Galician beaches. They are not just balls, but bags filled with them, lightweight yet containing thousands of them. The color of hailstones and the size of a lentil, the first person to find them was a neighbor from Corrubedo, in Riveira (A Coruña).

The merchant vessel Toconao, flying the Liberian flag, was carrying containers of goods, among which were products from Bedeko Europa, a Polish pellet producer. About 43 nautical miles west of Viana do Castelo, the lawyer for the shipping company Maersk acknowledges that around 6 containers fell into the sea for reasons still unknown. According to the latest information, the containers would contain about 1050 bags with 26,250 kilograms of plastic balls.

Referred to as pellets or péllets, they should not be confused with those small cylinders of combustible material for stoves. In this case, they are polypropylene balls, a versatile material for the production of plastic and fibers. They have a soft texture and an odor reminiscent of gasoline. At first glance, they are not toxic to humans, but this spill may affect marine wildlife, in addition to polluting the Galician beaches. And not only in Galicia, the most affected region, but they are already being found in Asturias and Cantabria. This spill in Galicia, although not as tragic as that of the tanker "Prestige," is yet another episode of pollution in Galicia.

Areas affected by the pellet spill on the Galician coast

The "ground zero" of the spill is located north of the Galician Rías Baixas, on the coasts of Riveira, between the rías of Muros-Noia and Arousa. However, the affected areas are expanding, as they are already being found along the entire Galician coastline. This "white tide" of plastic is reaching regions such as Asturias and Cantabria: in the latter, they have been found in San Vicente de la Barquera.

Pellets on Penencia Beach, in Ferrol.

More than 30 Galician municipalities are being affected, although unevenly, from Nigrán, in the southwest of Galicia, to Ribadeo, in the northwest. We have witnessed the spill in the area of Ferrol, where we have found pellets on beaches such as Penencia, Doniños, El Vilar, and A Fragata. Following the trail left by the rising and falling tides, generally marked by lines of seaweed, we have found many of these plastics.

How to volunteer to remove the pellets from the Galician coast?

The spill is recent, barely a month has passed, and although packages and pellets are already being collected, more are expected in the coming days. Spontaneous groups of volunteers are beginning to organize through WhatsApp to go clean beaches. However, some believe it is better to organize en masse when they start arriving in larger quantities, to optimize efforts.

For those who want to lend a hand now, we inform you of the upcoming gatherings at different beaches:

• Tuesday, January 9:
  
  • Patos and Prado Beaches (Nigrán) at 10:00.
  • Barrañán Beach (Arteixo) at 15:30.
  • Boa Beach (Noia) from 10:00 to 12:00.
• Wednesday, January 10:
  
  • Doniños and San Xurxo Beaches (Ferrol) at 11:00.
  • Samil Beach (Vigo) at 15:00.
• Thursday, January 11:
  
  • O Castro Beach (Ribeira) at 10:30.
  • Espineirido Beach, Seráns (Porto do Son) at 11:00.
  • Madorra Beach (Nigrán) at 11:30.
  • Baleeiros Beach, Corrubedo (Ribeira) at 16:00.
  • Portocubelo Beach, Lira (Carnota) at 15:30.
• Friday, January 12:
  
  • Aguieira Beach (Porto do Son) at 11:00.
  • Dique Beach (Porto do Son) at 11:00.
  • O Piñeirón Beach (O Grove) at 11:00.
  • Tuia Beach (Bueu) at 15:00.
  • A Illa Beach (Pobra do Caramiñal) at 15:00.
  • Barrañán Beach (Arteixo) at 15:00.
• Saturday, January 13:
  
  • Playa de Doniños (Ferrol) at 10:30.
  • Playa de Orzán (A Coruña) at 11:00.
  • Playa do Dique (Porto do Son) at 11:00.
  • Playa de Bares (Mañón) at 11:30.
  • Playa de Espineirido, Seráns (Porto do Son) at 15:30.
• Sunday, January 14:
  
  • Playa de Doniños (Ferrol) at 15:00.
• Wednesday, January 17:
  
  • Playa de Doniños and San Xurxo (Ferrol) at 11:00.
• Friday, January 19:
  
  • Playa de O Piñeirón (O Grove) at 16:30.

In the coming days, more groups will be organized to collect the largest amount of pellets on the Galician coast. Those interested in collaborating can request to be included in the WhatsApp groups created for the organization of the cleaning work.

Procedure and cleaning tips for pellets on the Galician coast

To go cleaning, it is recommended to wear protective glasses, rubber boots, gloves, FFP2 masks or higher, a spraying suit, and tools to collect the pellets:

• broom or brush and dustpan;
• large tub with seawater;
• large strainer;
• garbage bags.

The best approach is to work in chains in groups of four people by areas of the beach, regardless of the number of volunteers present. Two volunteers should collect pellets from the surface with sand, another filters the pellets from the tub, and another empties and refills the tub.

Special care should be taken not to step on areas with pellets, and it is recommended to create pathways to empty and fill the seawater. Additionally, with the cold wave expected, it is advisable to dress warmly and wear suitable footwear for walking on sand and rocks.

Finally, call the town hall or 112 to collect the bags with the pellets. It is recommended to take photos and videos to document the actions carried out by the volunteers.

Call 112 and the corresponding Town Hall to collect the pellets from the Galician coast.

Pilgrim, act! Avoid throwing plastics on the Camino de Santiago

As pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago, we carry more than just our backpacks. We also carry the responsibility to protect and respect the environment that welcomes us. We must act with environmental awareness and avoid throwing plastics and other waste. It is not only an act of respect towards nature and local communities, but also a commitment to future pilgrims who will follow in our footsteps. Let us remember that every small gesture counts and that, together, we can maintain the essence and beauty of the Way for generations to come. ¡Pilgrim, act responsibly!