𝐎𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐲𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐆𝐮𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

A unique public art installation aimed at raising awareness of marine pollution and abandoned fishing nets has been unveiled at CETAG Turtle Village in Gunjur.

Known as the Ocean Waste Pyramid, the initiative is a collaborative community project designed to highlight the growing challenge of marine litter along The Gambia’s coastline while promoting sustainable waste management and environmental education.

The concept and design were jointly developed by The Gunjur Project, Dr. Marquez of Columbia University, and Gambian artist Baoubacarr Fall. The pyramid was fabricated by local welder Ismaila Darboe before being transported to the beach. It was subsequently erected at CETAG Turtle Village by Buba Saho and the CETAG team.

The installation forms part of the RED CENTROS Project, which is co-funded by the European Union through the INTERREG MAC 2021–2027 Programme. The project focuses on recovering abandoned fishing nets from the marine environment and promoting their reuse through the circular economy.

According to the project team, while many recovered fishing nets can be recycled and transformed into new products, a significant proportion are too degraded or consist of mixed materials that cannot currently be recycled. Rather than disposing of these materials in landfill sites, the Ocean Waste Pyramid will permanently display them as a powerful reminder of the impact of marine pollution and the urgent need for more sustainable solutions.

In recent weeks, students from Gunjur have also participated in educational activities organised by The Gunjur Project exploring the environmental problems caused by discarded fishing nets. Through practical workshops, the students have been learning creative upcycling techniques, transforming recovered materials into useful products such as cushions, balls and toys, while gaining a better understanding of resource recovery and the importance of reducing waste.

The collaborative team say the Ocean Waste Pyramid will serve as an educational attraction for schools, visitors and the wider community, encouraging greater awareness of ocean conservation, waste reduction and environmental responsibility.

The pyramid will begin to be filled during a community beach clean scheduled for Saturday, 15 August, when volunteers will collect abandoned fishing nets and other marine litter along the coastline from CETAG Turtle Village to Sankuley Beach Bar & Hotel. The exercise will mark the fourth organised beach clean of the year and is being conducted in partnership with local authorities and community organisations in support of The Gambia Government’s efforts to improve waste management, reduce plastic pollution and protect the country’s coastal ecosystems.

Organisers have called on residents, volunteers and environmental supporters to join the clean-up exercise, emphasising that collective community action is essential in safeguarding Gunjur’s coastline.

The Ocean Waste Pyramid stands as a lasting symbol of how partnerships, creativity and community participation can transform environmental challenges into opportunities for education, innovation and positive change.