Scientific goal

During the first phase of the journey (2013-2019) Progetto Mediterranea, in collaboration with italian and international universities and research centers, carried out monitoring and documentation of the state of the sea: from the mapping of plankton and microplastics, to the study on the Mediterranean diet up to astronomical observation.
Progetto Mediterranea wants to continue to be a sort of floating laboratory for science and an expedition for the protection of our sea.
The Mediterranean sea, the Mare Nostrum, is home to an environmental area with incredible biological diversity (8% of the world’s flora, 8% of the world’s marine biodiversity, 28% of endemic species) yet it is continuously threatened by man, polluted and exploited beyond measure. Land consumption, habitat loss, desertification, overfishing and pollution are all factors capable of triggering direct and indirect impacts on biodiversity, amplified in turn by climate change.
We also want to raise public attention on these aspects and actively contribute to protect, conserve and enhance the extraordinary heritage of the Mediterranean.
We aim to do this both by making our research boat available, as an operational arm to study climate change, water and air pollution, marine biology, currents and everything else that can be considered useful to preserve the “ecological integrity of the Mediterranean“, both by using the “speaking platform” and the communication activity, guaranteed by our expedition, to raise awareness and stimulate public opinion on the issues of safeguarding marine ecosystems, the sustainability of the economic exploitation of the sea, need to reduce pollution from fishing, tourism, maritime traffic, energy production, urbanization and coastal industrialization.
We will continue to work actively both directly and with the world of research and universities for the defense of the sea and the marine environment of the Mediterranean sea.

Scientific projects in progress:

Spot the Monk, in collaboration with the Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences, Uni Milano-Bicocca. Project activation: May 2021

Floating Litter, in collaboration with ISPRA – Higher Institute for Environmental Prevention and Research. Project activation: May 2021