This is the second year for the campaign, which will be extended to include more beaches, following last year’s success. This year’s list of beaches includes the Xlendi, Marsalforn, Xwejni, Qbajjar, Ramla, Dahlet Qorrot, Hondoq ir-Rummien, Qawra fid-Dwejra bays as well as well as the Blue Lagoon and Santa Marija bays in Comino.

Mrs Debono said that the ministry was committed to keep the beaches in the best condition possible, pointing out that the sea was Gozo’s most sought-after feature both by tourists and by the locals during the summer months.

Throughout the year, the minister said, especially during summer months, workers from various government departments and the ministry carry out maintenance and embellishment work on the beaches, adding that the campaign to clean the seabed of these bays will complement this work.

She stressed that last year’s campaign was a success story not only because of the bays that were cleared for the benefit of beach-goers in general but also because it managed to create a public awareness against littering the sea.

She thanked the NGOs that volunteered for the project saying that they were doing valuable work for the common good, Maltese, Gozitans and tourists.