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NEWS 7 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 24 MAY 2023 LAST Monday, 22 May, was the international day for biodiversi- ty with the theme "From Agree- ment to Action: Build Back Bio- diversity". This theme fits perfectly the target of the Sea Marvel project to Save, Enhance, Admire Ma- rine Versatile Life in the central Mediterranean Sea where so many anthropogenic activities have and continue to impover- ish and degrade marine life and environment respectively. The Italia-Malta Sea Marvel project continues to undertake marine research and monitor- ing, aimed at acquiring deeper and more accurate scientific information on the state of Ital- ian-Maltese marine biodiver- sity and to assess the presence of vulnerable indicator species, such as dolphins, turtles, and whales. Apart from these, the research also covers the investi- gation on presence of alien spe- cies and plastic waste in differ- ent protected Natura 2000 sites that should be there to protect indigenous species and a thriv- ing marine environment. The Marine Strategy Frame- work Directive, the Habitats Directive and the Internation- al Convention for Biodiversity continue to be important legal structures that direct the many nations agreeing to act today before tomorrow in the safe- guard of what is essential for life on Earth to persist. Science has the power to aid and innovate the ways to effi- ciently safeguard biodiversity instead of continuing to de- plete it. For this reason the Sea Marvel team focuses on scien- tific research and has also pro- duced out puts of ongoing work through publications such as: 1) a paper in the journal Bio- Invasions Records on the First Record of a new alien fish, the marbled spinefoot, Siganus riv- ulatus in Maltese waters and 2) a paper in the journal Diversity on New Records of the alien cr- ab Callinectes sapidus. See links to publications below. The Sea Marvel teams also presented various scientific works on cetaceans in Natura 2000 sites, citizen science with sea users and plastic pollution at this year's European Ceta- cean Society Conference in Spain. Policies and agreements can- not be best assessed or adapted without the actions of research, monitoring and enforcement which are essential to build back the biodiversity we are already losing. Sea Marvel has believed in this from the start when the Maltese and Italian teams joined forces to design the project and now to actuate it. In Malta Sea Marvel has tak- en science and biodiversity to the schools as well and today on this day dedicated to bio- diversity it is continuing with its mission by working with Heads of School, teachers, and students in discovering more about marine biodiversity and the need to safeguard the health of our seas. The presentations prepared and delivered by ex- perienced biologists from the Conservation Biology Research Group of the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Malta led by Prof. Adriana Vella allow students to learn and discuss with these scientists the value and needs of biodiversity. The Sea Marvel roving photo- graphic exhibition revealing in- credibly versatile marine life has been welcomed in many schools to the amazement and marvel of teachers and students. Being aware of the diversity of life that sustains ecosystems' function, goods and services is important for increased awareness and in- volvement by every citizen of the world. This was also possi- ble through the active involve- ment of The Ministry for Edu- cation, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, an Associate Partner of this project. Stakeholders including fisher- men and all sea users have been collaborating with the Sea Mar- vel team and it is a great to see actions that aid marine conser- vation be so possible when col- laboration exists. A video clip on the innovative applications of molecular genetics to accu- rately identify marine species and aliens may be viewed on the project's website. Thanks, are also due to the Bi- ological Conservation Research Foundation, BICREF NGO that voluntarily assists in the dis- semination in schools and sea users. Sea Marvel project gathering scientific data on Italian-Maltese marine biodiversity Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Loggerhead turtle in Maltese waters Sunfish (Mola mola) in Maltese waters PHOTOS: ADRIANA VELLA