Over ten weeks and 1,850 nautical miles, our team carried out field activities across the Tyrrhenian Sea, collecting samples, monitoring biodiversity, recording underwater soundscapes, and gathering environmental data to better understand the Mediterranean Sea.
The 2026 expedition in numbers
- 56 zooplankton samples collected
- 10 water samples collected
- 55 bioacoustic recordings
- 257 megafauna individuals observed across six species
- 23 water samples collected for eutrophication analysis
- 38 snorkeling transects conducted
- 10 temperature and salinity/conductivity profiles, together with continuous bathymetry and wind speed monitoring to identify climate-change related patterns
The research continues
While the field expedition has come to an end, the research is just at the beginning and scientific work continues. The collected samples and observations will now be analysed in the laboratory, where they will contribute to our understanding of marine pollution, biodiversity, underwater noise, and climate-related changes.
These findings will also contribute to the long-term objectives of Progetto M.A.R.E. 2026–2029, supporting the expansion of environmental monitoring across the Mediterranean and strengthening the scientific knowledge needed to guide its conservation.
A special thanks goes to all researchers, crew members, partners, and collaborators who contributed to this mission, with a special thanks to Centro Velico Caprera for leading the project and Shiseido for supporting this year's scientific activities as main partner.
We look forward to transforming these data into scientific knowledge that can help protect our sea.
