Posted on February 26, 2021
Maradona, Eleanora, Dios and Zia Franca
Being part of Project M.A.R.E. means that we are part of a bigger network of conservationists and people trying to preserve nature and biodiversity. It has been the goal of the project since its creation: protecting the Posidonia meadows in the Bay of Ieranto from their mechanical destruction caused by boat anchoring. Based on that argument and under the banner of the MPA of Punta Campanella, we take part in activities regarding the conservation of marine turtles. We are part of the Tartarughe Marine in Campania network that takes care of the nesting season of marine turtles Caretta caretta in Campania and in Cilento specifically. On the other hand, this network takes also care of beached and turtles caught accidentally in fishermen’s gears, also called bycatch, which is one of the biggest problems for marine organisms. It is a catastrophe killing more than 250,000 marine turtles, more than 300,000 dolphins and small whales and more than 100M sharks.
To reduce this phenomenon, fishermen are mostly targeted in campaigns and trainings to raise awareness. But most of the time, they are more aware of what’s happening around them in the sea. That’s why it has been and still is imperative for the MPA to build contacts and establish cooperation with them.
We were lucky to have had a phone call on January 7th from a fisherman in the golf of Salerno, a place well known to be a resting spot for marine turtles in winter, about two Caretta caretta turtles caught in his nets that morning. We immediately dispatched to the port of Salerno where we met Luigi Guida and Antonio Di Mai, the two captains that found the turtles. The turtles seemed to be in good health. It is a tradition for the one who finds the turtles to name them: One 50kg adult male named Maradona, of 64cm, and a smaller 30kg sub-adult, named Eleonora, of almost 50cm. It is necessary to keep them warm in winter as, like most reptiles, they run on a very slow metabolism, so keeping them cosy is necessary especially after all the effort that they do to liberate themselves from the nets.
That’s why they stayed the night at our mentor’s house and the morning after were taken to the turtle rescue centre in Portici, which is part of the Zoological Station Anton Dohrn of Naples, where they will get tested and have some health check-ups. They will also spend a few weeks in the rehabilitation basins to be sure that they don’t have any health issues. That’s when our job ends when we know that the animal is in good hands.
Our January proved to be very busy turtle-wise as on the 20th, we get a new call from the same fisherman, Captain Luigi again. We went to the port of Salerno on the same day of the call, where we also met the coastal guard and other fishermen. We were able to get our hands on a 62kg Caretta caretta male of 72cm given the name of Dios.
The animal was in good shape and was this time directly transported to the rescue centre that night. We met Dr. Andrea Affuso, a veterinarian from the Zoological Station who conducted an X-Ray on the turtle which came out clean but had some air bubbles in the kidney, which are caused by the sudden rise from the depth while caught in the net. The turtle will pass few weeks in the rehabilitation basins before being released once the veterinarians are sure it’s in good condition to be back in the water.
The French say that things come in threes and on February the 3rd that proved to be correct. We got a call again from the fishermen of the port of Salerno, this time from Captain Giulio Oliviero of the boat Zio Franco. It was about another Caretta caretta again the victim of bycatch, which was recuperated as they said in 50m deep, something extremely rare for turtles as generally, they rest in about 40m. This was a massive adult female turtle of around 77cm long, the biggest that we rescued in these two months, given the name of Zia Franca by captain Giulio. The fishermen told us that this one was too energetic and that it was moving the whole day in the boat, in comparison to the others where they very calm the whole process.
The same day after picking it up from Salerno, we took it directly to Portici, where we met Dr. Antonino Pane who immediately took care of the new guest. He took the morphological measurements that showed that it’s a 65kg female. We also took off the parasitic barnacles on her carapace. Later an X-RAY came out clear but also showed some small bubbles in the kidney. So the doctor immediately started her treatment.
One of the virtues of Project M.A.R.E. is this, having the opportunity to get an inside look at marine conservation efforts. This can only improve our perspective and our ecological thinking. In the end, we would like to thank all the people involved in this turtle rescuing effort, especially the fishermen of the golf of Salerno for their impeccable hospitality and care for the animal. Thanks to such individuals, we are able to help preserve endangered species. This shows how important it is to include fishermen and people of the sea otherwise marine conservation networks would never be as efficient as they are. We would also like to invite any fisherman to work with us and to connect with us in order to save and preserve the Mediterranean biodiversity.
Updated on February 16, 2021
A Dive Far Up North to the Latvian Culture
Located in northeastern Europe with a population of over 1.9 million people, Latvia has vibrant traditions and a long history dating back to early 9000 BC. It’s an extraordinary land that encompasses a mosaic of magnificent woodlands, marshes, lakes, rivers, and other habitats. When comparing to all European cultures that are present in this project, it’s safe to say that there are some distinct qualities that make Latvia really stand out. You can see it, for example, in pagan origins, work ethics or manners when men open doors for women or insist on carrying all the heavy bags. Yes, chivalry is alive and well in Latvia!
To be honest, for us, Latvian culture was like quantum mechanics – we had heard of it but knew nothing about it, so having our amazing Latvian friends, Arina and Kristiāns, here was an extraordinary opportunity to discover it. Little by little, throughout December, we got familiar with Latvian culture by trying some delicious foods, exploring their cinematography, history, language, popular games, and music. These experiences really helped us to broaden our perspective of this mesmerizing Baltic country.
Latvia is such a small country, almost five times smaller than Italy, yet so full of beauty and rich in history, filled with hope and glory. They have a deeply rooted culture and a very strong identity, that they had defended on so many occasions throughout centuries. It has always been under the domination of larger nations, for example, Germany or Soviet Russia. After Latvians became free of the Soviet rule, their cultural heritage was reignited once again.
Before the Latvian culture month even started, we already had a glimpse of the language whenever Arina and Kristiāns were talking together – so many new and beautiful sounds and a lot of logic behind them. During the first cultural evening, we were trying to read the alphabet and speak the language ourselves, but we must admit that for many of us it was quite a challenge. We got a chance to discover a small part of Russian culture too, since a large percentage of the Latvian population is of Russian origin, as it is the case with Arina. Seeing and comparing both Latvian and Russian alphabets, we noticed how different they are. There are way less, if hardly any, similarities than we expected.
Our friends offered us a virtual trip to Latvia through a series of videos and storytelling. We got to know cities and towns, such as Jūrmala and Alūksne, where they grew up in and, also, Riga – the capital – which is crossed by the Daugava river that meets the Baltic Sea. The clean and calm environment fantastically contrasts with the bright and vibrant colours of the buildings. We would be lying if we said that we didn’t feel the desire to experience the beauty with our own eyes.
During the Latvian culture month, we had the opportunity to try many treats. Cold, warm, crunchy, or soft – Latvian cuisine has a lot to offer. Potatoes were included in almost every meal. We really liked the delicious Olivier salad which for some of us even brought back some dear childhood memories. However, the uncontested superstar was the snack ķiplokgrauziņi – fried garlic breadsticks from heaven. Honestly, one of the most savoury and aromatic garlic bread we have ever tasted.
Latvians are still very much pagans at heart. They worship nature by celebrating the summer solstice which arguably is the most important national holiday. It’s a pagan tradition when Latvians celebrate the shortest night by staying up to greet the rising sun, weaving wreaths out of grasses and flowers, burning bonfires and jumping over them. Not only that, they still preserve a form of ancestor worship in celebrating Remembrance of the dead. That said, one thing that some of us found to be the most interesting one was the Ancient Latvian signs. There are so many different symbols and they all have geometrical and abstract forms which represent ancient deities and unique meanings. Kristiāns prepared a mesmerizing surprise by giving each of us a hand-painted wooden piece with an ancient Latvian sign on it so that they could be carried around as protective and empowering amulets. Thank you so much, Kris, for looking after our wellbeing!
Some of us had heard that people from the north are cold, but we would like to disagree with that statement. It’s quite the opposite – they are probably the most caring people in the group. Once you get to know Latvian, the friendship will be very deep and personal. When either Kris or Arina are in charge, every detail counts and they always pay attention to each and one of us.
Liels paldies Arina and Kristiāns for being so generous and sharing this month with us!
Our lovely Latvian hosts Arina and Kristiāns: “Looking back to the start of the Latvian cultural month, we remember how confused we both were. We didn’t really know how to present our country in the best possible way. Not because there is little to show but quite the opposite – there are so many beautiful traditions, interesting facts, and tasty foods to share. Soon after starting the preparations, everything fell into place and both of us got extremely excited to show our fellow volunteers how proud we are to be Latvians.
Italian culture is so different from Latvian, it’s like night and day. However, one thing that unites both is the love of food and cooking. We had to choose the recipes carefully because Italy does not have many products that we usually utilise in our cuisine. Many meals that were served, we prepared for the first time in our lives and they turned out fantastic. We can proudly say that we gave our all and succeeded and overcame all the challenges and presented our culture as best as we could!
The best gift for us was to see how our fellow volunteers and mentors enjoyed the food with a warm smile on their faces. We are beyond proud of our friends because they were so dedicated and gave their all in every cultural evening. We really do appreciate their effort in speaking Latvian because we know it is not easy.
We are grateful and blessed to have each other because we really proved to ourselves that we are a real dream-team. After this experience, it definitely feels like we can do anything together!”
Posted on February 10, 2021
Clean-up of Marina della Lobra
On Wednesday, February the 3rd, we, M.A.R.E. 2020 team, decided to make our day meaningful by giving back to the local community and to begin a journey of positive impacts. After getting suited up with our gloves and trash bags, we dedicated our day to make Marina della Lobra, our dear home, beautiful again. It was such an incredible experience!
Following all safety precautions, we aimed to collect as much waste as possible. It was a true team effort that brought us closer together. First, we started cleaning the small beach near our house. It was filled with tiny pieces of glass and plastic and a lot of cigarette buds. Then we continued by cleaning the path along the coast which was drowning in waste. A lot of it was trapped between rocks and plants. We stumbled upon an overwhelming amount of polystyrene which is rapidly becoming an environmental nightmare. Also, we found plenty of plastic bottles, bags, shoes, hundreds of small plastic pieces washed ashore and, of course, face masks – an item that is still creating a big impact on our environment.
While cleaning the beach, it was very nice and sweet to receive some uplifting words from the locals. People showed their support by stopping by and expressing their gratefulness, asking some very interesting questions, and giving us tons of encouragements. A simple “grazie”, “complimenti” and “buon lavoro” really did wonders and gave us motivation and joy to carry on with the work. That’s a good reminder that one kind word or a simple appreciation can change someone’s entire day.
There is a major difference between seeing photos of pollution online and witnessing it with your own eyes. It really makes one think about the devastating impact human activity has on the environment. We strongly believe that picking up trash is one of the easiest things a single person can do to help the environment. Imagine if a hundred people start doing it, then a thousand, a hundred thousand, a million…we could make a really big change. We have got only one Earth. Please be respectful and treat it right!
Posted on February 2, 2021
Beach clean-up in Tordigliano
On Monday, 18th of January, we continued the series of beach clean-ups proceeding with Tordigliano beach – the last one before the Punta Germano where the Marine Park officially ends within the zone C. To arrive there, we followed the windy road which going further leads to the famous places of Amalfi coast such as Praiano, Positano, and Amalfi. It took us around 20 minutes to reach Tordigliano following the sentiero (eng trail) which offers beautiful views.
Once we reached the sea, we observed the small beach with very thick banquettes of decaying Posidonia oceanica. Sea Grass Posidonia oceanica plays an important role in the marine ecosystem by providing habitat and nursery for diverse fish and invertebrate species and reducing coastal erosion. Facies of banks of dead leaves of Posidonia have been recognized as a EUNIS habitat type (A2.131). These facies are characterized by the accumulation of plant debris made up mostly of dead Posidonia oceanica leaves and/or other marine phanerogam* species.
*phanerogam species – species of plants that reproduce using seeds, not spores.
It is also known as “the lungs of the Mediterranean” because it produces oxygen and absorbs carbon dioxide. Posidonia is being endangered and mechanically damaged by anchoring of the boats. For this reason, we are monitoring the Bay of Ieranto during the summer season and do not allow unauthorized boats to enter.
In Tordigliano we stumbled upon a couple of fishermen repairing the fishing nets and, also, a lot of cats lurking around the area. Well, Tordigliano is famous because around 20 cats inhabit this hidden paradise. Cats of all colours and sizes enjoy their ”private” beach, and although they are not completely wild, do not expect that they will want to be stroked!
After crossing the small beach, climbing metal ladders, and a big pile of rocks, we discovered a stunning and spacious rocky beach. At the first glance, it seemed that the beach is clean and that we will not have a lot of cleaning up to do. However, when we took a closer look, between the rocks and other hidden spots, once again we witnessed the big amounts of plastic waste, mainly polystyrene, two big car tires, pieces of iron, and abandoned or lost fishing gear. Moreover, the nets are known as ‘’ghost nets’’ which continue to float in the sea, entangle and kill marine wildlife.
The most common waste was foamed polystyrene, or as we mostly call it a Styrofoam, which is one of many types of plastics, puffed with air becomes incredibly light and useful in food packaging, housing insulation, or in protecting our products while being transported. So light and practical, yet so harmful material that easily breaks into very small pieces. Waves and the sun help to break it into tiny pieces which are very hard to collect and remove from the environment. Pieces of cooling boxes that probably come from the fishing boats, buoys, and many other products are threatening sea birds and many other sea organisms. In which way will we ever get rid of famous tiny polystyrene balls remain an enormous challenge for humanity. Some scientific studies show that there are efficient decomposing bacteria and sunlight which can turn polystyrene into Carbon Dioxide and Dissolved Organic Carbon. For more information, read the full paper HERE! However, what we know for certain is that as individuals we can try to reduce our negative impact by paying attention to the packages that we are buying, especially to be careful with the takeaways packed in polystyrene boxes!
After 1.5 hours of cleaning the beach, a lot of trash was been collected. Besides the project M.A.R.E team, we had help from a young man who came to soak up the sun but motivated by the collective action he joined and helped us with the cleaning.
Our special thanks go to the Comune di Massa Lubrense, Comune di Positano, Terra delle Sirene, società Multiservice and Associazione Macchia Mediterranea for helping us with the transport and a proper disposal of the trash next day!
Updated on December 17, 2021
Looking for volunteers for the 10th edition of the project M.A.R.E.
This project has been going on for 9 years but we are currently waiting for the approval and for this reason the dates are susceptible to change.
Thanks to a strategic partnership with the Italian National Agency, our organisation is offering the opportunity to take part in one project:
- Project M.A.R.E. Long term ESC (10 months: March 3rd – December 15th) at the Marine Protected Area of Punta Campanella (Massa Lubrense NA), that will host 10 volunteers from Spain, Tunisia, Portugal, Croatia, Latvia, but also other volunteers from European countries are welcome.
M.A.R.E. family is a big community made of more than 80 volunteers from more than 10 different countries that have reached the project during the last 9 years. Now we are ready to open the doors of MARE world for those who are interested!
Background Info
Project M.A.R.E. represents a unique experience in collaboration with the PUNTA CAMPANELLA Marine Protected Area, to support marine conservation programs based on initiatives to reduce human impacts on natural resources.
Volunteers will work to spread awareness about the richness of marine ecosystems, to promote ecotourism, to stop anchoring and pollution, to clean up beaches and the sea, working side by side with operators of the Marine Protected Area and many local organizations that follow the same path of sustainable development.
During the last 9 years of activities (from 2013 until today) volunteers have participated to many local initiatives, international meetings and conferences, and they have achieved many results in terms of support to the Park and personal development.
This life-changing experience has a powerful input to make people realize what’s the interaction between humans and ecological systems, and this helps a lot to understand the direction to take along their lives.
Site Info
Punta Campanella MPA is located at the edge of the Gulf of Naples and represent one of the most natural sites within this basin.
This territory is made of mountains that fall into the sea. Due to its location in the Naples region, it is characterised to be a preferred destination for luxury and mass tourism. The Marine Park is also protecting natural places like Ieranto bay, where there are signs of old civilisations that make these natural places still more fascinating and mysterious.
The continuous exploitation of coastal areas led to a need in the reinforcement of marine conservancy and therefore, the Marine Protect Area was created within the last 25 years. Due to the difficult access by land and their transparent waters, this area is the perfect spot for boats and yachts to stop and anchor during holiday periods. This leads to a big threat for marine life, especially Posidonia oceanica and hard substrate communities (made of encrusting sponges and algae, the so-called coralligenous community).
Since its foundation, the MPA is carrying out many summer initiatives to reduce the impact of mass tourism (between June and September) and to let people enjoy the Park in a sustainable way. Monitoring, ecotourism and conservation are the keywords to have a balanced usage of marine resources, and volunteers have an important role in helping these operations.
Position offered
We are looking for 10 volunteers (5 boys and 5 girls for 9 months) that are able to work with different levels of organisation:
- The project team, made of the group of volunteers from different countries, cultures, backgrounds + a coordinator + 2 mentor
- Park team, made of biologists, educators, mariners, divers, park guards
- Networking with local organisations (Foundations, Associations, Parks, People) that work for the same cause.
Volunteers should be open-minded, curious, tolerant with a positive attitude and willingness to learn. We would like to host people with special interest and love for nature, ocean, marine conservation, education, outdoor activities, to involve in a wonderful dream made in an international environment.
Duties:
Volunteers will support the park initiatives with a 30 to 40 hours/week commitment (6-8h/day). They will enjoy 2 Weekly free days (not weekend free days during summertime). They will also enjoy 2 monthly free days, to travel across this wonderful country, or just to relax. The work will be done at the office (50%) and in the field (50%).
The schedule is following these steps:
| Description | Timing | ||
| TRAINING and ORIENTEERING | Introduction to the territory, Italian language, marine resources, outdoor activities, active communication, park rules, marine conservation. | March-April-May | |
| INTO THE BLUE | A non-stop engagement in marine activities, during which everybody will be following a different schedule with different free days in order to cover a full week plan of initiatives. | June-July-August-September | |
| MATURATION | During the fall season volunteers will slow down activities, and they’ll concentrate more on the evaluation of everything that has been done in the summertime. They’ll present their work in many different meetings, from the schools to the conferences, from the local environment to the international meetings. | October-November-December | |
| The SCHEDULE could undergo changes according to COVID emergency restrictions! |
WORKING INFO
The Marine Parks are working on the activities that are listed below. According to the period of the year, volunteers will be involved in one or more of them. They will be asked to take part in these initiatives with a positive mood, active collaboration, using English and Italian languages.
Marine Conservation – to reduce human impacts on nature through reducing illegal activities, making people aware of the protected marine resources of the Park
Environmental Monitoring – to collect information about abiotic, biotic and human factors in the area of the park
Info & Awareness – to educate people about park rules and threats to marine resources
Outdoor Adventures – to meet nature face to face, and enjoy its power and energy
Beach and Sea Cleanups – to slow down one of the biggest impacts we have on our oceans
Intercultural Dialogue – to learn about different cultures, tolerance and diversity
Ecotourism Promotion – to spread info and open the doors to eco-compatible interactions between humans and nature
SUPPORT FROM THE PROJECT
The project is a part of the EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY CORPS, and it is financed by the Italian National Agency. Thanks to these funds we can cover these expenses for volunteers:
- Round trip – to come here at the beginning of the project, and to return back to the hometown;
- Accommodation – a shared flat with other volunteers ;
- Food Expenses – an amount of 150€ per month is guaranteed to volunteer to cover food expenses;
- Pocket Money – an amount of 150€ per month is guaranteed to volunteers for extra expenses;
- Training – several training sessions will be offered to volunteers in order to give them the best tools to support our work;
- Orienteering – the first step of the project is to become a local person, trying to orienteer in the new town, understanding also the geography of the Peninsula and the province of Naples, to make you feel at home;
- Mentoring – volunteers will take part in weekly meetings with a mentor to analyze the training process and the problems that they might face during the project.
If you are interested in this project, you are WELCOME to M.A.R.E. world!!
Check out our Facebook page and our blog to better understand who we are!
HOW TO APPLY: send a mail to mareapplication@gmail.com with your Curriculum Vitae and Motivation Video of 1 min.
DEADLINE: 9th of January 2022.
