NEWS: Porto San Giorgio, fishers and students together to monitor plastics and microplastics: success for the JOINABLE project

The training day “Tools and technologies for monitoring plastics and microplastics” took place on April 28, 2026, along the seafront of Porto San Giorgio. The event was promoted by AMAP as part of the European JOINABLE project, co-funded by the Interreg VI-B IPA ADRION 2021–2027 programme.

The initiative represented an important opportunity for dialogue between professionals in the fisheries sector – fishers and aquaculture operators – and students from the “G. and M. Montani” Technical Institute of Fermo. The aim was to raise awareness about marine pollution and promote the use of innovative tools for monitoring waste.

The event, organized with the support of the CO.GE.PA. Consortium and in collaboration with the Municipality of Porto San Giorgio, opened with an overview of the JOINABLE project, which aims to foster the development of a circular blue economy and the protection of marine ecosystems in the Adriatic-Ionian area. This was followed by scientific contributions from members of the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences of the Marche Polytechnic University, who explored the issue of microplastics in marine organisms, as well as teachers from the “Montani” institute, who presented an innovative approach to monitoring microplastics in sand based on green chemistry, service learning, and citizen science, directly involving the school community.

During the afternoon, several technological tools developed within JOINABLE were also presented, including digital applications for monitoring marine litter detected during clean-up and monitoring activities, as well as for reporting so-called “ghost boats” – abandoned or drifting fiberglass vessels that pose an environmental threat to biodiversity, ecosystems, and coastal economic activities.

Among the most significant activities was a field demonstration of the localization of “ghost boats” along the Porto San Giorgio coastline, which are to be recovered and sent for upcycling processes, with a focus on sustainability and resource enhancement. In this context, AMAP’s pilot activity within JOINABLE was also highlighted, aimed at developing innovative and sustainable materials from plastic waste derived from fiberglass boats and by-products of the fishing industry.

The initiative also involved students and teachers from the “G. and M. Montani” Technical Institute as part of the project “Cinema and Images for Schools” – “Chemistry: 118 Elements of the Future,” promoted by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education and Merit, with activities linked to the production of the short film “Microplastics: the solution is within the problem.”

Among those attending the event were AMAP Vice President Marco Rotoni and the Mayor of Porto San Giorgio, Valerio Vesprini, demonstrating strong institutional attention to environmental issues and innovation in the sustainable management of marine resources. The day fostered dialogue between the fishing sector, schools, research, and institutions, confirming the importance of a participatory approach to addressing environmental challenges related to the sea.