Events and News

Final event LIFE SEA.NET project

The final conference of the Life Sea.Net Project, of which ISPRA is the main scientific partner, will be held on Wednesday, December 17, at Palazzo Falletti, Via Panisperna 207, in the Throne Room.

Project partners, institutional actors, and stakeholders will discuss the role of the Natura 2000 Network in protecting biodiversity and developing a sustainable blue economy.

The conference is divided into two sessions: the first will present the project's actions, the main results achieved, and the operational tools developed to support the management of Natura 2000 sites; the second will illustrate the management methods of the Natura 2000 Network and its role in achieving EU objectives.

The two sessions will conclude with a roundtable discussion on future prospects for marine protected areas.

Final conference LIFE SeaForest project

ISPRA is hosting the final meeting of the European LIFE SeaForest project, dedicated to the conservation and restoration of the priority marine habitat H1120*: Posidonia oceanica meadows.
The event will be an important opportunity for international discussion and dissemination of the results achieved.
The conference can also be followed online, with simultaneous Italian-English translation available.

The project, coordinated by D.R.E.Am. Italia together with ISPRA, CNR, University of Tuscia, Carbonsink, Paragon Europe, and three National Parks (Asinara, La Maddalena Archipelago and Cilento, Vallo di Diano, and Alburni), has implemented and tested concrete actions to reduce the degradation of Posidonia oceanica meadows.

IV Day of Applied Ecotoxicology

Ecotoxicological Test Batteries for Various Areas: A Review

Sediments and Waters from Marine, Lake, and Inland Environments, Soils and Waste: New Proposals

Environmental assessments cannot do without the contribution of ecotoxicological tests, which estimate toxic effects on living organisms in various application contexts.
The contribution of public and private laboratories must continue to be crucial to the growth of a sector that supports the country's economic system in implementing the principles of the Green and Blue Economy.

Final event Life CONCEPTU MARIS

The final event of Life CONCEPTU MARIS (In Defense of the Giants of the Mediterranean - Life Conceptu Maris), consisting of two days—one technical and one informative—will present the main results achieved in four years of activity.

The first day, scheduled for November 25th, will be open to the technical and scientific community, members of the maritime sector Advisory Board, and the network of related projects formed during CONCEPTU MARIS. The event will share and discuss the results of monitoring activities conducted along 17 routes in the Western Mediterranean and the Adriatic Region, with the collaboration of seven shipping companies and eleven partners from Spain, France, and Italy. Together, they will build a bridge to the project's future.

Italy reconfirmed in Category A of the IMO Council with the highest number of votes: a result of outstanding international significance

During the 34th Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), held in London from 24 November to Wednesday, 3 December, the voting for the election of the new members of the Organization’s Council for the current two-year term concluded on Friday, 28 November.

According to the Assembly’s rules, 169 out of 176 States were eligible to vote.

Italy achieved a result of exceptional significance, having been reconfirmed in Category A— which includes the ten States with the greatest interest in international maritime transport— with 155 votes, equal to about 91.7% of the total number of States eligible to vote.

ISPRA: The Sea for the Common Welfare

"ISPRA: The Sea for Common Well-Being" is a day organized by ISPRA at the MAXXI National Museum of 21st Century Arts in Rome, entirely dedicated to data, information, and perspectives on the future of our seas. The day will feature the participation of researchers, institutional representatives, journalists, associations, and students.

The day will focus on the following main themes: understanding the health of Italy's seas; protecting biodiversity and restoring marine ecosystems; the blue economy for sustainability and innovation; the interconnection between marine health, human health, and animal health (the One Health principle); and promoting scientific communication and environmental education for the sea.

MedJICARP: Kick-off Meeting in Heraklion for Climate Resilience in the Mediterranean

Two days of meetings and workshops at the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research to kick off international cooperation on oceanographic monitoring and climate change adaptation

ISPRA at the China-Italy Science, Technology and Innovation Week

Boosting Innovation, Building a Sustainable Future Together

The 14th edition of the Italy-China Week of Science, Technology and Innovation opened today in Beijing, under the theme “Boosting Innovation, Building a Sustainable Future Together.” The initiative, in which ISPRA is participating, takes place alternately in Italy and China and continues to serve as a key event for the joint promotion of scientific research, technology transfer, and sustainable development. This edition also marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Keel laying and coin ceremony mark the start of construction for Arcadia, ISPRA’s largest oceanographic vessel.

The keel of the new oceanographic vessel Arcadia, destined for the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), was laid today at the Piombino Industrie Marittime (PIM) shipyard. With this symbolic gesture—accompanied by the traditional coin-laying ceremony—the construction of the vessel has officially begun. The build has been entrusted to the T. Mariotti shipyard, part of the Genova Industrie Navali Group.

The coin-laying ceremony, an ancient maritime tradition, involves placing a few coins beneath the ship’s keel as a good-luck charm, wishing safe voyages and protection for the crew and all who will work on board. It is a simple yet deeply meaningful act that has accompanied the birth of new vessels for centuries—and in this case, of a ship dedicated to studying the very sea that will support it.

Approximately 70 meters long and equipped with state-of-the-art technology, Arcadia will serve as a next-generation scientific platform for the study and protection of the marine environment. Thanks to autonomous underwater vehicles (ROVs) capable of operating at depths of up to 4,000 meters, modular laboratories, and dedicated spaces for researchers, the ship will enable monitoring, mapping, and research missions on marine and coastal ecosystems, contributing to the understanding of deep-sea habitats and the protection of biodiversity.

The project is part of the PNRR MER – Mission 2 “Green Revolution and Ecological Transition,” Italy’s most comprehensive national program for marine conservation and the strengthening of environmental research. For ISPRA, this represents both a strategic investment and a responsibility: to place science and knowledge at the service of the country, enhancing the ability to observe, understand, and protect the Mediterranean in the context of climate change and ecological transition.

The keel-laying ceremony for Arcadia was attended by ISPRA’s Director General, Maria Siclari.

Photo gallery

World Tsunami Awareness Day

Promoting a culture of information and prevention as a key focus for tsunami risk mitigation. This is the goal of World Tsunami Awareness Day (WTAD), an annual event established by the United Nations in 2015, which highlights the importance of the topic every November 5th.

On this occasion, the National Tsunami Warning System (SiAM), consisting of the Department of Civil Protection (DPC), the Tsunami Warning Center of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (CAT-INGV), and the National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), renews its commitment to mitigating tsunami risk along the Italian coast and contributing to the safety of coastal communities in the Euro-Mediterranean Area (NEAM).

Presentation of the Europe's Environment 2025 Report, the State of the Environment Report, and the SNPA Environment Report

On October 28, 2025, in the Sala della Regina of Palazzo Montecitorio in Rome, a national event will be held to jointly present three major reports on the state of the environment: Europe's Environment 2025 (European Environment Agency), State of the Environment in Italy 2025: Indicators and Analysis (ISPRA), and the SNPA Environment Report 2025 (National System for Environmental Protection).

The event will offer an integrated and up-to-date overview of key environmental dynamics, from the European, national, regional, and autonomous provinces perspectives.

The three reports present data, indicators, and analyses that enable us to understand current trends, identify emerging critical issues, and understand the responses adopted in different contexts.

These are essential tools for providing the scientific community, institutions, and citizens with reliable and comparable information capable of guiding future decisions towards sustainability. Not just a snapshot of the state of the environment, but also a thoughtful reflection and a solid basis for discussion on the priority challenges to be addressed.

Three complementary perspectives will offer a coherent and authoritative vision of the state of the environment in 2025.

Press release (ita)

Environment report in Europe 2025

The state of environment in Italy 2025

Environmental indicator data base ISPRA 

Program

Pollution, an integrated sea-coast response. Meetings for managing level 2 emergencies.

As part of an agreement between MASE and ISPRA, a project has been launched to explore the operational synergies arising from the "MiTE Anti-Pollution Plan" and national and local planning, which address the response methods, at sea and on the coast, in the event of accidental pollution caused by spills of petroleum products and hazardous and noxious chemical substances (HNS).

Published EEA Report Europe's Environment 2025

Despite significant progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, the overall state of the environment in Europe is not good, particularly with regard to nature, which continues to suffer from degradation, overexploitation, and biodiversity loss, as well as from the acceleration of climate change, which poses an urgent challenge.

These are the conclusions of the Report Europe's Environment  2025, published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA). The report provides the most comprehensive analysis of the current state and outlook for the environment, climate, and sustainability on the continent, based on data from 38 countries. The outlook for most environmental trends is alarming and poses serious risks to economic prosperity, security, and quality of life in Europe.

Farming the Sea

The educational workshop is an immersive experience on the topic of sustainable aquaculture. It explores the opportunities and purposes of aquaculture (e.g., food production; conservation of threatened species), the environments, techniques, and aquatic species farmed. It also addresses the interactions between aquaculture and marine ecosystems in a changing climate.

Recommended: from age 8 and up.

The European Researchers' Night 205

This year, ISPRA is participating in the European Researchers' Night, along with other public research institutions and universities.
The initiative, which will take place across Europe on September 26 and 27, will be an opportunity to introduce citizens to the world of scientific research and discover the activities and results of public research on current topics.

Life Project Prometheus: Magnetic Deterrent Testing Begins

As part of the testing of magnetic deterrents planned by the Life Prometheus consortium for the reduction of pelagic shark and ray bycatch on longlines, a team of ISPRA researchers embarked on three professional pelagic longline fishing vessels to conduct the first of five campaigns planned for the project. The preliminary results are encouraging, indicating both the effectiveness of the magnets in reducing shortfin mako shark bycatch and the non-interference of the devices with commercial catches of swordfish and bluefin tuna, typical prey of this type of fishery. ISPRA represented Dr. Umberto Scacco, Dr. Barbara Catalano, Dr. Tomaso Fortibuoni, Dr. Danilo Scannella, Dr. Claudia Sebbio, and Dr. Luca Stellati.'

Summer School Marine-coastal ecosystems and climate change: chains of connections and resilience

As part of the School of Specialization in environmental disciplines, ISPRA organizes in Cagliari, from 22 to 26 September 2025, the Summer School “Marine-coastal ecosystems and climate change: chains of connections and resilience”, aimed at 45 participants including graduates, PhD students and young researchers.
The initiative aims to provide a practical approach to the sustainable management of the coastal strip, encouraging dialogue between universities and applied research.
The activities will take place in various institutional locations with frontal lessons; educational workshops and technical-scientific visits to some coastal sites are planned.

The call and the registration link will soon be available on the ISPRA website.

Protection tools for the sea: the second stop on the SEA.NET tour in Palermo.

The LIFE SEA.NET project's journey to disseminate the new Manual for the Application of V.Inc.A Procedures in Natura 2000 Marine Sites, an innovative tool designed to protect Italy's most fragile marine ecosystems, passes through Palermo.

ISPRA inaugurates the sixth edition of the Summer School of Geomorphology, Ecology and Biology in marine and island environments

A laboratory for students, PhD candidates, graduates, and young researchers that combines advanced training, interdisciplinary research, and policies for the protection of marine resources.

The sixth edition of the Summer School of Geomorphology, Ecology, and Biology in Marine and Island Environments was officially opened in the presence of the Mayor of Procida, the Director General of ISPRA, Maria Siclari, the Director of the Regno di Nettuno Marine Protected Area, the Director of ARPA Campania, Stefano Sorvino, the representative of the Italian Geological Society, Fabiano Gamberi, the Director of the Vivara State Nature Reserve, Nicola Scotto di Carlo, and Giordano Giorgi, Head of the ISPRA National Center for Environmental Characterization and Coastal Protection, Marine Climatology, and Operational Oceanography. The event is promoted by the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) in collaboration with Sapienza University of Rome and the University of Chieti-Pescara.

As per tradition, the aim of the event is to provide advanced training, hands-on field experience, and opportunities for exchange between young researchers and professors from different institutions.

VI Summer School of Geomorphology, Ecology and Biology in marine and insular environments

The Summer School of Geomorphology, Ecology and Biology in Marine and Insular Environments was created with the aim of providing advanced training and scientific updating to master's students, doctoral students, researchers and technicians working in the environmental sector. The multidisciplinary training offer is developed through lectures and practical exercises, in the various themes of geological, biological and natural sciences applied to the coastal marine environment. Particular attention will be given to the new technologies used in the study of these ecosystems, characterized by high vulnerability and strongly influenced by the effects of climate change, given their position on the border between the marine and continental domains.

ISPRA joins the LIFE MAPPER Project

Guidelines for MAPping, ProtEcting, and Restoring Marine Ecosystems

LIFE MAPPER initiative seeks to consolidate current knowledge and best practices in marine habitat mapping and restoration

MER Project – Coastal Mapping: Exploring the Submerged Wonders of the Baia Archaeological Park

Just off the coast of Naples, beneath the tranquil waters of Baiae, lies one of the Mediterranean's most fascinating underwater treasures: the Baiae Underwater Archaeological Park. This unique site offers an extraordinary glimpse into ancient Roman civilization, now lying between 5 and 13 meters below sea level.

Once a luxurious resort for the Roman aristocracy, Baiae was renowned for its opulence and thermal baths. Over the centuries, volcanic activity and coastal subsidence gradually caused part of the city to sink beneath the sea. Today, the underwater park preserves the remains of Lacus Baianus and Portus Julius, two important ports of the Roman Empire. To the west, the port of Cape Misenum served as a base for the Roman imperial fleet.

Undersea mountains: treasure troves of biodiversity and natural laboratories for geological research.

Due to their ecological importance and vulnerability to human impacts, seamounts are a priority for marine conservation. These submerged mountains are true biodiversity hotspots, with unique ecosystems home to coral forests, sponges, invertebrates, and numerous fish species.

From a geological perspective, seamounts are of extreme interest for several reasons: the potential presence of geomineral resources, such as strategic mineral deposits; geothermal energy sources, resulting from underwater volcanic activity; and the assessment of the risk of seismic events and landslides, which can affect the stability of the seabed and coastal areas.

The geophysical surveys conducted during the PNRR MER oceanographic campaign provide an essential knowledge base for planning further exploration campaigns. Thanks to the use of sustainable research methods, it will be possible to further study these environments while minimizing the impact on deep-sea ecosystems.

The MER Project at Expo Osaka 2025 among Italian maritime excellences

The sea is one of the key topics of Expo Osaka 2025, under the theme “Designing the future society for our lives,” which will be held from April 13 to October 13, 2025.
On July 22nd, within the celebrations of the World Maritime Day in Japan, the Department for Maritime Policies (Presidency of the Council of Ministers of Italy) is organizing the event "Celebrating the Sea as a Source of Knowledge and Sustainability" at the Italian Pavilion’s Auditorium. The event is dedicated to promoting maritime excellence such as the ocean economy and scientific research. ISPRA will be among the main actors of the afternoon session with the presentation of the PNRR MER Project (Marine Ecosystem Restoration) and the implications for the blue economy, just a few days after the inauguration of the new oceanographic vessel Arcadia with which the Institute has renewed its commitment to marine protection by deploying a top-notch scientific infrastructure at the service of research, the environment, and the community.

The monk seal in the seas of Campania

What to do in case of sighting?
The event is organized as part of the Life Sea.Net Project coordinated by Legambiente. The ISPRA researchers together with the staff of the Marine Protected Area Regno di Nettuno and Punta Campanella will share curiosities about the monk seal and illustrate the best practices to follow in case of sighting of specimens in our seas.

ISPRA’s new oceanographic vessel: up to 4000 meters deep to overcome the challenge of climate change

On July 15, the ISPRA Major Oceanographic Vessel will be presented at the Chamber of Deputies: not just a new research infrastructure, but the concrete symbol of a collective commitment to the sea, to science, to future generations. The vessel represents one of the key interventions of the Marine Ecosystem Restoration Project (MER), the largest investment envisaged by the PNRR for the protection of the marine environment: 400 million euros intended to protect and restore fragile ecosystems, starting with those that are submerged, invisible and mostly unknown. A project of great national scope, with ISPRA as the implementing body and the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security as the titular administration.

ISPRA's MER Project on Special Tg1

"Marine Ecosystem Restoration" is the title of the Tg1 Special broadcast on July 13th, entirely dedicated to the PNRR "Marine Ecosystem Restoration" project.

Alien species in our seas

The Mediterranean Sea's biodiversity is constantly evolving, colonized by species expanding their ranges and arriving through natural corridors, such as the Strait of Gibraltar, and by non-native or alien species introduced by human activities or arriving through artificial corridors such as the Suez Canal. Some of these species can also pose a threat to human health, being toxic to eat or poisonous upon contact.

To help marine life recognize new species that can potentially be observed and fished in our seas, including those that pose a threat to human health, a brochure has been created, an updated version of the 2021 edition.

Any reports sent to researchers will also help monitor the distribution and spread of these species in our waters.

International Day of the Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean is a sea of ​​wonders, history, culture and beauty to be protected and enhanced: a heritage that is celebrated on July 8 through the International Day that bears its name. With the MER (Marine Ecosystem Restoration) Project of the PNRR, ISPRA is building a laboratory to map, restore and protect one of the richest - and most fragile - marine ecosystems on our planet with the aim of safeguarding its biodiversity and handing it over to future generations. The MER Project, the largest project on the sea within the "National Recovery and Resilience Plan", sees the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security as the titular administration and ISPRA as the sole implementing body. The project includes 37 lines of activity, to be carried out by June 30, 2026, throughout the national territory divided into three pillars: the restoration and protection of the seabed, the strengthening of marine and coastal observation systems and the mapping of coastal and marine habitats of conservation interest.

3D mapping of the SS Samuel J. Tilden wreck off the port of Bari

Complex 3D underwater photogrammetric survey operations of the wreck of the SS Samuel J. Tilden are underway in the waters off the port of Bari. The project is the result of a collaboration between ISPRA (Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research), the Carabinieri Subacquei units of Rome and Pescara, the Naval Carabinieri Service of Manfredonia, and the University of Siena – Department of Historical Sciences (LAPE&T LAB).