The research boat Tara will arrive in Malta tomorrow as part of an expedition to study the effects of plastic pollution in the Mediterranean.

This will be the second time the schooner has visited the island, the first being five years ago.

Tara Expeditions is a French non-profit organisation active since 2003 in favour of the environment.

The boat is built for extreme conditions and conducts high-level scientific research missions. It is in the Mediterranean until November, studying plastic pollution and raising public awareness about environmental issues in the Sea.

Scientists on board are trying to better understand the impacts of plastic on the ecosystem.

They will quantify plastic fragments and measure their size and weight.

The team will also identify the types of plastic and organic pollutants that adhere to it, and study the microbes living on the plastic.

The boat will be docked at Pinto Wharf in Valletta until Saturday morning.

A documentary entitled Planet Ocean will be screened at St James Cavalier, Valletta, on Friday at 6pm, and an exhibition will be held on St George’s Square also on Friday.

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