The Mediterranean, a vital enclave for biodiversity and maritime activity, faces a challenge: each year, many sea turtles can become trapped in lost or abandoned fishing gear (LAF). However, this is not the only risk they face. Protecting its ecosystem requires coordinated action and shared responsibility, as it is a sea shared by multiple countries and various fleets operate within it. This situation impacts not only biodiversity but also the sustainability of fisheries and maritime safety. LIFE OASIS was established to address this issue, a pioneering project that combines technology, research, and direct collaboration with the fishing and maritime sector on an international level.
A solution designed for and by the fishing sector Aside from previous EC LIFE projects and a USFWS Marine Turtle Conservation Act initiative, LIFE OASIS was built with and for the fishing sector, co-funded by the European Union LIFE program for Natura 2000. LIFE OASIS is led by ALNITAK in collaboration with a strong international consortium that includes prestigious scientific entities such as the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB), the University of Valencia, the University of Pisa and the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn. The fishing sector also plays a central role, with the support of CEPESCA, the most significant fisheries confederation in Europe, technology companies such as SATLINK, and conservation organizations such as Filicudi Wildlife Conservation and Nature Trust Malta.
However, many more key stakeholders play a vital role in the basin-wide concerted effort to conserve the loggerhead turtle and fisheries' sustainability, including relevant authorities, marine wildlife rescue centers, ports, patrol boats, etc.
The project has a clear objective: to prevent gear loss, enhance fishing sustainability, and protect marine biodiversity through innovative solutions, including developing an intelligent anchored Fish Aggregating Device (aFAD) model.
The result: a solution that effectively combats ghost fishing and reinforces the sector's sustainability, ensuring a viable future for coastal communities that depend on this activity.
Sea turtle rescue and mapping of abandoned gear One of LIFE OASIS’s main goals is to promote a collaborative network involving fishers, navigators, and marine wildlife rescue centers across the Mediterranean. This already active network facilitates the rescue of sea turtles trapped in ALDFG, optimizing conservation efforts at sea.
Additionally, reports and data provided by fishers and navigators on the location of marine debris will enable LIFE OASIS to create detailed maps forecasting ALDFG accumulation hotspots and identifying the source sites. These maps will serve as a critical tool to prevent ghost fishing and mitigate its long-term impacts. A commitment to sector sustainability.
In collaboration with fishers from Malta, Sicily, and the Balearic Islands, LIFE OASIS is co-developing a practical and affordable aFAD model built on fishers’ knowledge and experience. This innovative approach ensures the prototype is designed by fishers, for fishers—reducing gear loss, minimizing bycatch, and maximizing efficiency using biodegradable materials. By integrating traditional expertise with modern sustainability solutions, the project directly addresses ghost fishing while reinforcing the long-term viability of the fishing sector and the coastal communities that depend on it. LIFE OASIS is using the Mediterranean as a “miniature ocean laboratory” to develop technological measures that artisanal Mediterranean fishers will share with their knowledge