Latest
Explore our most recent news to discover how our work is advancing innovation, collaboration, and sustainable solutions across the Mediterranean and beyond
On 19 June 2026, the Italian National Research Council hosted a workshop in Mazara del Vallo, Western Sicily, bringing together fishers, policymakers and researchers to explore how innovative technologies and ecosystem-based approaches can strengthen the resilience of marine ecosystems and fisheries in the Strait of Sicily.
Dr. Grit Martinez from Ecologic Institute participated on behalf of SEA4FUTURE, representing the policy-related activities of the four-year EU-funded project led by Ecologic Institute. In her welcoming remarks, she emphasised that adaptive fisheries governance relies on effectively combining fishers’ knowledge and practical experience with robust scientific evidence, including stock assessments and bycatch monitoring.
Dr. Martinez also highlighted the importance of fostering innovation and exploring new opportunities for sustainable fisheries, including the potential use of invasive species for human consumption. At the same time, she stressed the need to strengthen the protection and sustainable management of key commercial stocks, such as red shrimp.
The workshop demonstrated the value of close collaboration between fishers, scientists and policymakers in building more resilient and sustainable fisheries. The Strait of Sicily provides a particularly valuable example, with a long-standing culture of cooperation and knowledge exchange between scientific institutions and professional fishers. Fishers contribute observations and practical knowledge gained through their daily activities at sea, while scientists complement this expertise with quantitative evidence from stock monitoring, ecosystem surveys and analytical models.
Bringing these different forms of knowledge together is one of the region’s key strengths. This established collaboration provides a strong foundation for adaptive, ecosystem-based fisheries management and offers valuable lessons for co-management approaches that could be applied across other Mediterranean fisheries.
Watch the full workshop: S4F Stakeholder Meeting