The Guardians of the Ocean conference, held on April 3 at the Xrobb l-Għaġin Park and Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, brought together international experts, policymakers, fishers, and scientists to strengthen regional cooperation and innovation in Mediterranean marine conservation.
The event marked a major milestone for LIFE OASIS, a project co-funded by the European Union that promotes sustainable fisheries practices in the dolphinfish fishery, especially lampuki fishing, and the protection of marine turtles while reinforcing the socio-economic resilience of coastal communities across the region.
Malta’s Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Dr. Alicia Bugeja Said, opened the event by highlighting the country’s new fisheries policies, including legal reforms that broaden the representation of local fishers in national decision- making and new EU-funded schemes encouraging the adoption of selective gear and onboard improvements.

“We are committed to a science-informed approach that reflects the realities of our fishers,” said Dr. Bugeja Said. “Through better communication and collaboration, we can tackle critical issues like plastic pollution and ensure long-term sustainability.”
Innovation, Ecosystem Health, and Fisher Involvement Central to the discussions were anchored Fish Aggregating Devices (aFADs), innovative fishing gears that create stable micro-ecosystems in open
waters, known as the “oasis effect.” LIFE OASIS aims to improve FAD designs to reduce bycatch, avoid plastic use, and collect scientific data, all while keeping fishers’ needs at the forefront.
Project coordinator Ricardo Sagarminaga emphasized the importance of integrating technological, social, and economic dimensions to make fishing both sustainable and scientifically valuable. “Fishing technology must improve efficiency and serve conservation,” he said.
Intelligent aFADs and other innovations, such as drone-based surveys, molecular methods known as Environmental DNA (eDNA) and AI-enhanced monitoring, are being tested to support science and policy while empowering local stakeholders.

The conference showcased a shared understanding among participants:
sustainable fishing and conservation must go hand in hand. From turtle rescue and tracking to biodegradable gear, the collaboration between scientists and fishers was recognized as essential.
“Fishers are at the heart of LIFE OASIS,” said Vincent Attard, Director of Nature Trust Malta. “By working together, we ensure that conservation and livelihoods grow hand in hand.”
The panel emphasized the need for standardized yet localized protocols in dealing with threats like entanglement, ghost gear, and plastic ingestion, especially for vulnerable species like sea turtles. Participants also stressed the need to make sustainable innovations affordable, practical, and aligned with fishers’ working conditions, ensuring uptake and long-term success.

LIFE OASIS is building a Mediterranean-wide cooperation network through 15 active projects and a broad coalition of stakeholders. The initiative combines high-quality scientific research, traditional knowledge, and citizen science to achieve long-term, measurable impact.

By the end of the project, the expected outcomes include:

• Improved and localized FAD designs that reduce ecological impact
• Broader access to training and funding for small-scale fishers
• Enhanced tools for data collection using AI, drones, and telemetry.

  A deeper understanding of marine turtle behavior and conservation “Five years from now, we envision a Mediterranean where conservation and traditional fishing thrive together,” said Attard. “LIFE OASIS is about protecting biodiversity—but also about building stronger, more sustainable coastal communities.”