Our projects

Italy Marine Protected Areas

Many of Italy’s estimated 14,000 marine species, are found nowhere else on Earth. Our very own Italian Job is a network of marine protected areas that offer them a haven.

Italy Restoration Project

Blue Marine has ten projects in Italy, stretching Tuscany, Sardinia and Puglia to Sicily. In 2023, protected the largest known aggregation of eagle rays in Sicily, saw the return of monk seals to Tuscany, worked to install anti-trawling devices around a marine protected area (MPA) in Puglia, ghost nets in Sardinia preserving coralligenous habitats, and protected sandbar sharks in South Sicily.

Blue Marine has been working closely with local stakeholders to effectively protect Italy’s marine environments, conserve biodiversity and restore vulnerable habitats, making significant strides in safeguarding marine life across various regions.

In Puglia, underwater anti-trawling devices have been installed along the outer boundaries of Torre Guaceto marine protected area, to protect vital seagrass meadows and coralligenous habitats from illegal bottom trawling.

In Sardinia we preserved Italy’s most impressive underwater system of Capo Caccia by deploying a buoy system that halts free anchoring on coralligenous habitat and encourages sustainable diving.

In the Asinara National Park we developed a roadmap with local fishers to ensure that both marine habitats and local fisheries can thrive. Marine protection in the park has increased by 500%.

Over 1,000 kg of ghost nets and waste have been removed from the Capo Carbonara MPA. The scientific study has been featured in the RAC/SPA Best Practice Manual as a protocol for removing ALDFG from coralligenous habitats.

In Sicily, Egadi islands, we’ve established new MPA regulations to protect the largest known aggregation of eagle rays by reducing human disturbance in the hotspot area. Local fishers are adopting sustainable practices that help reduce the bycatch of endangered sharks and rays.

In the Plemmirio MPA, our studies highlighted the importance of protecting the extensive Posidonia meadows and the largest loggerhead turtle nesting site in Italy and are catalyzing the extension of the protected area for their inclusion.

We are looking forward to the first MPA around Salina, the first of the Aeolian Islands. Blue Marine has involved the whole community, from fishers, to restaurateurs, tourists and schools, pushing local authorities to protect the sea life around the island. As a result, a mutual agreement among three mayors was signed in support of the creation of the MPA. The designation process is now underway. 

In the straight of Sicily, we identified new shark and ray hotspots. Preliminary findings have uncovered new aggregation areas, which will inform future conservation strategies across both Italian and Tunisian waters.

Blue Marine has received the generous support from Fondazione Capellino and Smile Wave Fund.

Italy