EcoMarine Malta Academy

01/07/2024

From today, one of my favorite real-time show to watch:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/5VThiJojvBk?autoplay=1&mute=1

🌊 We have a lot to learn from other MPAs (Marine Protected Areas), and this fantastic underwater camera allows us to see what a protected area looks like. It shows us how important it is to have safe spaces for fish to recover and grow healthy. ⛵

🦈MPAs are incredible resources for recovering marine ecosystems, not only within the protected areas but beyond them as well.🐟

https://www.ampisolabergeggi.it/area-marina-protetta/

13/06/2024

For more info ... Stay tuned 🐬



Global Mindset Development - GMD
Fins into the Water

13/06/2024

Join us!!
More info soon ...🐬🐳🐋

For more info ... Stay tuned 🐬



Global Mindset Development - GMD
Fins into the Water

02/05/2024

Join us for the first experience of the season!!

Sunday the 5th of May, one day to enjoy the sea, the sun and the
amazing Maltese marine life and landscapes.

Book here or contact us for more info.
https://www.ecomarinemalta.com.mt/booking/

27/04/2024

🦈Thanks to Laura Piredda aka for writing this interesting article about the sharks of the Mediterranean Sea, for the column. 🌊

https://www.ecomarinemalta.com.mt/sharks-in-the.../

🦈Sharks are a crucial species for the oceans, maintaining the right balance for a healthy and robust ocean...but ...

❗️Unfortunately, many species are at risk due to prejudice and intensive fishing..
🦈🐟Let's find out more, thanks to Laura.🌊

https://www.ecomarinemalta.com.mt/sharks-in-the.../

One of the most iconic shark species found in the Mediterranean Sea is the blue shark Recognizable by its distinctive blue coloration

26/04/2024

📆Tomorrow a new article for you.📆

🦈This time, it's the fantastic Piredda

AKA AdriShark, https://www.instagram.com/_adri_shark_/

who will tell us more about sharks in the Medietrranean Sea.

An introduction that will be followed by other in-depth articles.🦈

❓What topics would you like us to cover in the next issues❓

10/04/2024

We are at the European Cetacean Society (ECS) Conference 2024 Catania, Sicily! 🤩

Why are we here? 🧐

We are here to present our poster for the DELFISHPAM Project. 🐬

First of, what is the DELFISHPAM Project? As is it summarised in the name, the DELFISHPAM Project deals with detecting the presence of Dolphins in the area of the local Fish farms, using Passive Acoustic Monitoring. 🔈

Our goal with The DELFISH PAM Project is to use acoustic devices to gather information on dolphins and their interactions with fisheries and aquaculture. By doing so, we aim to provide valuable insights to various stakeholders and assist in developing a more effective conservation plan for dolphins and the marine ecosystem.🌊

We are pre-analysing the sound recorded till now. Amongst these recordings, there are a number of different sounds that were detected, including the famous clicks, whistle and even sounds called pulsed sounds and bray calls. Dolphins produce these different sounds for various reasons. Stick around to learn more about these sounds and about our project! 🤩

A big thanks goes to our volunteers, Samantha Jade and Yesahel for helping us in this project. Thanks also to Malta Fish Farms (MFF) Ltd, to Mare Blue Ltd and Fish and Fish Ltd for the support and collaboration in this project. 🙏🏻

25/03/2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) is ubiquitous, extending even to aiding whale watchers during their expeditions at sea. 🤖

HappyWhale, a website designed for this purpose, allows users to submit their whale photographs for identification of various cetaceans. 🐋

The HappyWhale’s AI software swiftly sifts through a vast database of over 70,000 different whales to precisely determine the species depicted in the photo. It provides information on the whale's known name or offers the option to assign one. 🐳 Moreover, if the whale has been previously documented, the platform displays a map showcasing its past sightings. 👀

The AI utilizes modified human facial recognition technology to analyze each whale's distinctive tail characteristics, including shape, color, or markings. 😱

According to Mr. Ted Cheeseman, a whale conservationist, the AI's efficacy transcends typical constraints; it can identify whales even when their tails are in motion, rotated, curved, or during dives. 🤿

Read more here: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-67649177

18/03/2024

Echolocation, also known as biosonar, is a sensory method utilized by certain animals to perceive their surroundings. 🔊

These animals emit specialized noises, often high-pitched clicks or chirrups, which rebound off objects in their vicinity, generating an echo. 😯

By interpreting the characteristics of this echo, such as size, shape, location, and movement, the animal gains valuable information about its environment. 🌊

Echolocating animals rely on this data to navigate, detect potential dangers, and locate prey, particularly in scenarios where visual perception is limited. 👀

Dolphins and other toothed whales like killer whales, use echolocation to detect food and objects in the ocean. 🌊 Through this process, dolphins specifically emit these short bursts of broad-spectrum pulses that resemble "clicks" to human ears. These clicks bounce off objects, allowing the whale to gather information about potential food sources. 🐬

This is what EcoMarine Malta is trying to accomplish through the DelFishPam Project. 🙌🏻

For anyone who is not familiar with this project, where have you been?!?!😱😱😱

The DelFishPam Project is a year-long project aims to develop innovative monitoring procedures to inform policymakers, stakeholders in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, as well as, conservationists, on the presence of the dolphins and their interaction with relevant economic activities aquaculture and fisheries. 🐬

Furthermore, the presence of such dolphins would be recorded using acoustic devices, including underwater acoustic recorders and a hydromoths. 🎙️

Keep following us along our journey for more updates! 👀🙏🏻

11/03/2024

The Mediterranean Sea is very rich in biodiversity, including a wide variety of elasmobranchs.

What are elasmobranchs? 🧐

Elasmobranchs are a diverse group of fearsome sharks to flattened rays and skates. 🦈 They are also known as cartilaginous fish, meaning instead of having a skeleton made from bones, like other bony fish, these fish have one made from cartilage.

Elasmobranchs do not possess swim bladders; instead, they rely on oil stored in their livers for buoyancy. These cartilaginous fish typically utilize internal fertilization and either lay large, heavy-shelled eggs or give birth to live offspring. 😯

🇲🇹 In the Maltese waters there are five groups of sharks species, including the dogfish and angel shark.

There are also six groups of rays, which include Torpedinidae and Mobulidae. Rajidae is the only family of skates which inhabits the Maltese waters.

Unfortunately, elasmobranchs have long been exploited by the fisheries sector in the past. What we can do presently to ensure a stabilizing population of elasmobranchs is to enforce measures such as the improvement of the fishing techniques to reduce the by-catch and the exploitation of the sensitive life history stages of these species. 🎣

There is an ongoing, year-long project which involves protecting bull rays which inhabit the Maltese waters. 🤔

Be sure to read more here: https://maltaenvironment.org/grants/bull-rays-in-
malta-publication-preservation-and-education/

08/03/2024

🦀 The Atlantic blue crab, introduced to the Mediterranean Sea in the early 20th century via ballast water from cargo ships originating in North and South America, has become an invasive species.
Unlike in its native habitat, where it serves as a vital food source for rays and sharks, it lacks natural predators in the Mediterranean. 🦈 Consequently, its population is thriving, leading to increased predation on bivalves such as clams.
This poses a significant threat to the livelihoods of countless fishing families. 🎣 To mitigate the impact, fishermen are actively harvesting and selling the blue crabs as a food source. While this creates a new market, it also perpetuates the growth of the blue crab population. 🦀
Nonetheless, individuals can contribute to the solution by consuming blue crabs, thereby aiding in controlling their numbers and addressing the issue. In this context, consuming blue crabs becomes part of the solution rather than adding to the problem. 🙏🏻