The ICM-CSIC will play a key role in the project, focusing its efforts on research through marine citizen science.
The LIFE OASIS project, co-funded by the European Union and led by ALNITAK in collaboration with an international consortium of scientific and fishing entities, including the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), has begun with the aim of mitigating the effects of ghost fishing and ensuring the protection of marine turtles in the Mediterranean.
Each year, a significant number of marine turtles and other species become trapped in lost or abandoned fishing nets, posing a serious threat to biodiversity and the sustainability of the fishing sector. To address this issue, LIFE OASIS has brought together a multidisciplinary team that, in addition to ICM-CSIC, includes the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB), the University of Valencia, the University of Pisa, and the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station. It also involves collaboration with the fishing sector through CEPESCA, the largest fishing confederation in Europe, as well as technology companies such as SATLINK and conservation organisations like Filicudi Wildlife Conservation and Nature Trust Malta.
ICM-CSIC will play a fundamental role in LIFE OASIS, focusing its efforts on research through marine citizen science and the creation of collaborative networks for monitoring and conserving biodiversity affected by ghost fishing. For this purpose, the Observadores del Mar citizen science platform will be used, which has a specific project dedicated to Ghost Fishing. This project aims to remove these waste materials and rescue marine fauna trapped in them, with particular attention to the release of marine turtles.
"This project demonstrates the importance of teamwork between different sectors, and through Observadores del Mar, we want to turn every sighting and every report into an opportunity to better understand the problem and provide real and effective solutions, thus contributing to the conservation of Mediterranean biodiversity," says Macarena Marambio (ICM-CSIC).
The pillars of the project
One of the pillars of LIFE OASIS is the creation of a collaboration network between fishermen, sailors, and marine wildlife recovery centres across the Mediterranean. This network will optimise the efforts to rescue marine turtles trapped in ghost nets and develop detailed maps that identify critical areas of abandoned fishing gear accumulation. These maps will be a key tool for preventing ghost fishing and mitigating its long-term effects.
On the other hand, LIFE OASIS promotes innovation in the fishing sector, collaborating with fishermen from the Balearic Islands, Malta, and Sicily in developing a replicable fishing model based on fish aggregating devices (aFADs). This approach not only reduces the loss of fishing gear and minimises bycatch using cutting-edge technology but also maximises efficiency through the use of biodegradable materials. The result is an effective solution to combat ghost fishing while reinforcing the sustainability of the sector, ensuring a viable future for the coastal communities dependent on this activity.
An impact that transcends borders
Although its initial focus is on the Mediterranean, LIFE OASIS is designed to be replicated in other regions of the world facing similar issues, such as North Africa. The sharing of knowledge on sustainable fishing will offer alternatives to communities that rely on this activity, contributing to the conservation of marine ecosystems and the sustainable development of coastal areas.
LIFE OASIS shows that collaboration between science, the fishing sector, and society is key to finding effective solutions to environmental challenges. With this initiative, the Mediterranean is taking a firm step towards a more sustainable and resilient future.