Underwater Clean-up of the Bay of Kotor as Part of the "Čuvaj da te čuva” Campaign

As part of the national environmental campaign " Čuvaj da te čuva ", a major underwater clean-up of the Bay of Kotor was successfully carried out. The initiative was organised by the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development, and the Eco-Fund, with the support of numerous partners, diving clubs, institutions and volunteers.

The event was attended by the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, and the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milojko Spajić, reaffirming the shared commitment of the European Union and Montenegro to environmental protection, the preservation of marine ecosystems, and the advancement of sustainable development.

Commissioner Kos emphasised that the underwater clean-up of the Bay of Kotor demonstrates how European integration delivers tangible benefits to citizens through a cleaner environment and the preservation of natural resources. She noted that Montenegro is closer to European Union membership than ever before, with 16 negotiating chapters provisionally closed, and stressed that environmental protection, particularly through Chapter 27, represents one of the key milestones on that path. She also highlighted that the European Union is proud to support projects such as this, which contribute to marine conservation and sustainable development.

Copyright: Evropska kuća

"Today, we are demonstrating what progress on the European path means in everyday life. Although accession to the European Union is built through legislation and negotiations, it is ultimately experienced through clean water, protected coastlines and communities that can make a living from the sea in harmony with nature," Commissioner Kos said.

Prime Minister Spajić stated that the time has come for Montenegro to demonstrate in practice its status as an ecological state, emphasising that protecting nature must be a shared responsibility. He pointed out that this was the largest underwater clean-up ever organised in the Bay of Kotor, bringing together institutions, citizens, volunteers and European Union partners in a joint effort to preserve one of the Mediterranean's most valuable natural and cultural areas. He also highlighted the significance of the Bay of Kotor as part of the proposed Natura 2000 ecological network, stressing that safeguarding it is an obligation to future generations.

Copyright: Evropska kuća

"In the year in which we mark three and a half decades since Montenegro declared itself an ecological state, we are finally demonstrating that status through responsible action towards nature. Let us protect nature so that it may protect us," Prime Minister Spajić said.

"It is a great honour and pleasure to be here today and to experience this remarkable energy, where we are finally all on the same side – united for our coastline, for an ecological Montenegro, and for our shared contribution to closing Chapter 27, which will likely be one of the most demanding and costly chapters in the European Union accession process. On behalf of all NGOs and the wider civil society sector, I can promise that we will continue to do everything we can to maintain this momentum. I believe that the greatest measure of our work will be the number of initiatives implemented, as well as the tangible results achieved – the amount of waste removed from the bay and our contribution to preserving our coastline," said Miloš Gezović, Director and one of the founders of the NGO Ljute Kamenice.

The programme began with the gathering of participants outside the Institute of Marine Biology in Dobrota, where registration, a safety briefing and a presentation of the campaign's objectives took place. Following the official opening, teams of divers and volunteers were deployed to several locations across the Bay of Kotor.

Underwater clean-up operations were conducted along the Dobrota waterfront, in front of the Institute of Marine Biology and the Lahor Sailing Club, along the waterfront in Muo, and within the protected waters surrounding Our Lady of the Rocks. Various types of municipal and bulky waste were removed from the seabed, recorded after retrieval and prepared for appropriate disposal.

Alongside the regular clean-up activities, specialist teams carried out demanding recovery operations involving submerged objects. A sunken tanker in front of the local Police Department building was removed from the sea, while the wrecks of submerged vehicles were recovered from the seabed between the Verige Strait and the Montefish site, eliminating part of the long-standing waste burden on the marine ecosystem.

Following the completion of the operation, the organisers presented the results, thanked all participants, partners, divers, volunteers and institutions that contributed to the initiative, and announced the continuation of activities under the "Čuvaj da te čuva" campaign.

The initiative once again demonstrated that coordinated action by public institutions, international partners, the scientific community and citizens can make a tangible contribution to preserving Montenegro's natural heritage. The "Čuvaj da te čuva" campaign continues to promote responsible environmental stewardship and encourages the active involvement of all sectors of society in protecting nature for future generations.

Organisations Supporting the Initiative

Non-governmental Organisations

Heal Boka Bay

Caritas of the Diocese of Kotor

Association of Kotor Fishermen and Supporters of Traditional Fishing

Ljute Kamenice

Let's Green Montenegro

Marine Ecology

Montenegro Dolphin Research

Medaur Risan

Montenegrin Ecologists' Society

CZIP

Ecopatriotism

Optimists

Zero Waste Montenegro

Dr Martin Schneider-Jacoby Association (MSJA)

Expeditio

Čista Gora

Green Adriatic

Volunteer Fire Brigade of Montenegro

Diving and Sports Clubs

Adriatic Blue Diving Club

MedCEM – Mediterranean Centre for Environmental Monitoring

Boka Diving Academy

Lahor Sailing Club

Montenegrin Sailing Federation

Olympian Milivoj Dukić

Regional Diving Centre

Educational and Scientific Institutions

University of Montenegro – Centre for Archaeology (Diving Team)

Institute of Marine Biology

Cultural Organisations and Companies

KotorArt

Private Sector

Ecoboats

Montefish