Project M.A.R.E. catamaran One completed its navigation, outreach and sampling activities last Saturday by arriving in Corfu. All scientific laboratory activities will now begin.
The brainchild of Centro Velico Caprera in collaboration with One Ocean Foundation, M.A.R.E.(Marine Adventure for Research & Education) is a very special CITIZIEN SCIENCE project that aims to monitor the health of the Mediterranean Sea to promote knowledge and protection of the marine environment.
Under the patronage of the Navy and the Region of Sardinia on this second mission, the One catamaran traveled more than 1235 miles starting from the extraordinary Taranto, sailing up the Italian Adriatic coast and then on to Greece via Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro and Albania.
70 stages
20 environmental DNA samplings
46 sampling of zooplankton
33 sightings
7 researchers on board from 5 institutes/universities
96 guests
15 outreach events
Guests in many ports, most notably at the Venice Arsenal
A long and complex navigation that our two commanders Alberto Radaelli and Simone Sabbieti completed brilliantly and safely, "Bravo Zulu" as they say in the Navy. Thanks also to Angelica Zanoletti and Giulia Tondelli who assisted with the navigation and sampling activities throughout. Thanks to the shipboard biologists, especially Benedetta Villa, on the project for the second year. I also thank our general secretary Enrico Bertacchi, who was instrumental in the planning and success of M.A.R.E.
The 2024 voyage will once again start from the Tyrrhenian Sea, departing from La Maddalena, to move immediately to the Mediterranean Sea continuing its research activities but also disseminating and raising awareness on an issue that we Caprerini have so close to our heart since our foundation. With our friends at One Ocean Foundation, and the support of the Navy, we have managed to start a citizen science project that has never been attempted before in such a widespread way, and we are very proud of what we have done in these two years.
