Impact: Lending a Hand at Salarte

From the numerous in-port options for exploration available, 17 participants from the Fall 2014 Semester at Sea voyage chose to spend their first day in C√°diz, Spain working on an environmental volunteer program at the Salarte project Salina La Esperanza. Salina La Esperanza is an abandoned salt marsh with important migratory bird colonies and a fragile habitat that Salarte is working to save.

Upon arriving at Salina La Esperanza, the group hiked through the salt marsh learning about the habitat and wildlife, and stopped at a birdwatching platform to observe several types of birds in the marsh.

Fall 2014 students went to work using shovels, picks, rakes, and wheelbarrows to build and repair salt channel walls. The walls not only separate the canals and salt pans but also provide nesting areas for local and migratory birds.

Salt is no longer harvested in the area for commercial purposes but it continues to be done in order to maintain the ecological balance of the marsh.

After harvesting the salt, the students watched as the workers demonstrated despesque, a traditional style of net fishing. Once the little ones were thrown back, two baskets of large fish were brought back to the camp. Using the freshly harvested salt as seasoning, the fish were barbecued for lunch before the students returned to the ship.

Impact: Lending a Hand at Salarte

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