xaloc, a wind of salt to save the seas

They say that the obsession for the sea has a little bit of madness… and also of salvation. Especially when this natural environment is one of the most affected by our actions. Faced with this situation, there are those who have made this madness a purpose. And from this purpose, a series of actions to make people aware of the state of our seas and the possible solutions. And this is one of those logical associations that we love.

xaloc is an association formed by scientists, biologists, conservationists and communicators that seeks to raise awareness and defend the seas. Based in the Valencian Community (Spain), this group, which members are called “Hermanos de Sal” (“Salt Brothers”), has been working for 10 years under the influence of its own name: “xaloc" is a southeasterly wind that in other latitudes is called "Sirocco"; a wind that old sailors used to say that was capable of upsetting the mood. In this case, the members of xaloc experience this “madness” as a healthy passion for the sea.

This association realized that scientific studies were not succeeding in raising awareness among citizens, so they started collecting all the information of these studies with the aim of bringing it to the people. How? With an infinite number of actions, among which those related to sea turtles and the fight against microplastics stand out.

xaloc is the entity in charge of guarding sea turtle nests in the Valencian Community. To date, they have guarded 5 nests thanks to the action of 390 volunteers who waited for 21 days (day and night) for the birth of the loggerhead turtle (careta caretta) hatchlings. In addition, xaloc has allied itself with professional fishermen to protect the turtles in the Mediterranean. Thanks to this initiative, around 150 turtles are rescued every year in the Valencian Community.

In addition, xaloc is known for its selective microplastic cleanings, in which these “Hermanos de Sal” go to the beaches and collect one by one the small fragments.

If you are interested in knowing more about xaloc, you can visit their profiles on Facebook or Instagram. They also organize workshops, talks and training courses in the field of marine conservation.