The Spanish “furia” team is known for its technical agility, graceful ball movement. It has had a frustrating world champion curse —preventing the national team from winning the trophy over the last 44 years. Second to the WorldCup Championship the EuroCup is the most sought after football trophy. In the final match Spain versus the … Read more
Expedition Leader Xavier Pastor has directed the Marviva Med into the Italian waters South of Sicily along the boarder of the African coast heading west from Tunisia towards Algeria. Within this region near Africa, very little is known about the activity of fishermen and fishing boats. Additionally, Xavier explained to the Oceana Team that the … Read more
Throughout the world every day in every city there is a fish market just like this one — that we documented in Malta Harbor at 3:30 in the morning — that brings fresh fish to your home and restaurant each day of the week 365 days a year. No tuna are sold here — for … Read more
In a twist of irony, with the absence of marine life, our exploration shifted towards underwater landscapes and prisms of light that dazzled the eye and sparked imagination. From the surface, and as soon as I descended, I was immediately captivated by the vibrant colors of blue and blue/green light flowing effortlessly through the water. … Read more
Exploring the underwater environment of Gozo and Malta the Oceana dive team comprised of (pictured left to right) Alberto Iglesias, Gorka Leclercq, Keith Ellenbogen, and Thierry Lannoy noted very little marine life juxtaposed to some of the most scenic locations. Over the next couple of days we dove the following dive sites: Gozo Island — … Read more
The island of Gozo, is part of the Maltese archipelago, and is the second largest island in Malta. Gozo has a long tradition that connects — this current modern day island with the mythical island of Olygia in Homers’s Odyssey book V. Within Homer’s fabled poem, Olygia was ruled by ‘Calypso’, a nymph, (a nymph … Read more
If only we could pull out our brain and use only our eyes.” Pablo Picasso Beneath the surface, immersed in a liquid medium at a depth of 25m/80ft in the Mediterranean Sea — looking towards the surface I watched a single bluefin tuna swimming all alone. At that moment, I felt a sense of urgency … Read more
As sure as the sun would rise, in the morning with Mediterranean Sea as smooth as glass — the purseiner fishing fleets were busy catching and caging the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna. Within 100 meters of the activity Patricia Lastra, tuna scientist as well as Gorka Leclercq, underwater videographer documented the purseiners using fishing nets. With … Read more
Under a full moon with strong winds, rough seas (category 7) and deep swells (reaching 8-12ft) the Oceana Marviva Med continue the course set by Expedition Leader, Xavier Pastor to monitor the purseiner fishing activity in the open Mediterranean Sea between Malta, Tunisia and Libya. Over the course of the last 5 days our crew … Read more
As of June 16, 2008 the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus Thynnus) fishing season has been officially closed in the Mediterranean by the European Commission due to non-compliance by member states within the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Recovery Plan. Read the European Commission Press Release Government officials, scientists and non-profit organizations have estimated that the fishing industry … Read more
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We have already protected nearly 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done.
Oceana in Europe gratefully acknowledges EU funding support.
