Our Mission
Conservation must be based on a sound knowledge of what needs to be protected. Our knowledge of marine biodiversity is so poor that we know almost nothing about most of the species that inhabit our seas.
Most marine organisms do not yet have a name, and for most of the species that do have a name, we don’t even know where they live, for how long and what they do.
Research
Our aim is to contribute to the conservation of global marine biodiversity. In particular, we want to increase scientific knowledge of marine organisms and ecosystems and their responses to climate change and other human impacts.
Our research includes describing and mapping unstudied ecosystems in collaboration with expert taxonomists, ecologists, local communities and NGOs.
Read our scientific papers:
Near-future extreme temperatures affect physiology, morphology and recruitment of the temperate sponge Crella incrustans
Promote
We want to enable everyone to experience marine biodiversity to make them aware of the immense heritage hidden under the sea.
We believe that showing the beauty and variety of life that populates our oceans can arouse curiosity and empathy towards the marine environment. This will be essential to produce a change in our behaviour necessary to move from a consumer society to a conservation society.
Photos and videos give everyone the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the sea. So, we want to use social media to spread photos, videos and stories about all the different creatures, especially the less common ones.
Watch the video about Sea Slugs - Nikon Small Word Competition
Conserve
Our ultimate goal is to improve the conservation of the marine environment, so our research also aims to identify the main local and global threats to habitats and species.
Watch the video about changes at Lough Hyne Marine Nature Reserve
Read a scientific article about changes and conservation at Lough Hyne
Behind the Project
Valerio Micaroni, PhD in Marine Ecology from Victoria University of Wellington, is an enthusiastic diver and underwater photographer. His research focuses on understanding the impacts of anthropogenic stressors on temperate mesophotic ecosystems. He uses a combination of field observations and laboratory experiments to answer his research questions.
Francesca Strano is a PhD candidate in Marine Ecology at the Victoria University of Wellington and a passionate diver. Francesca is interested in the adaptive strategies of marine invertebrates (with an emphasis on sponges) in response to environmental variations, including climate change effects. Her research includes invertebrate zoology, physiology, and microbiology.
