The Allied Biologists and Young Scientists of the Sea (ABYSS), the student wing of the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS) at the Maldives National University, joined forces with youth organisations and environmental NGOs to mark World Cleanup Day 2026 with a major cleanup drive at Hulhumalé Phase II beachfront.

The event, held under the hashtag #SaafuMaadhamaaeh, drew more than 120 volunteers and collected a total of 282.67 kilograms of waste. The haul comprised 158.72 kilograms of general waste, 92.17 kilograms of recyclable plastic, and 31.78 kilograms of aluminium. In an effort to better understand the types of plastic littering the beach, organisers conducted an audit that recorded 3,522 individual plastic items. The findings provided a detailed picture of the plastic waste affecting the area.