SUMME_One Health

Sustainable Management of Marine Ecosystems: a One Health approach for the Gulf of Gabès, with a comparative analysis of the Gulf of Gela

The Mediterranean Sea, a crossroad between Southern Europe and Northern Africa, becomes the stage for a shared challenge between Italy and Tunisia: pollution. In an unprecedented initiative, the two countries join forces to assess the presence of emerging pollutants in the Gulfs of Gela in Sicily and Gabès in Tunisia, with the aim of initiating a decontamination process through the construction of nano Biofilters that can ensure a good environmental status and promote sustainable development to protect the Mediterranean for future generations.
The Gulf of Gabès, a vital part of Tunisia’s coastal waters, represents a rich and productive ecosystem, unlike the eastern Mediterranean basin known for its poor fertility. However, it faces similar environmental threats to the Gulf of Gela, highly vulnerable due to past industrial pollution. Both sites host vulnerable habitats and are crucial for marine biodiversity.
Our project will conduct a detailed analysis of the marine ecosystem, including the evaluation of climate models, the influence of climate change on pollutant circulation, and variations in marine habitats. We will follow the principles of One-Health, examining the interconnectedness between human, animal, and environmental health. We will identify the main threats to the ecosystem, with particular attention to contamination and ecotoxicology, exploring different classes of emerging pollutants and their effects on marine species and organism physiology.
The use of modeling methodologies will allow for a precise assessment of the impacts of climate change and anthropogenic activities. We will actively involve local communities and other stakeholders in decision-making processes and conservation planning, promoting environmental awareness and creating economic opportunities.

PARTNERS

Referent:

Francesca Falco

Researcher

Mazara Del Vallo

SCOPRI DI PIÙ

Programme: Interreg VI-A NEXT Italia-Tunisia

Acronym: SUMME_One Health

Duration: January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2027

Budget: 1.290.198,00 €

Budget IRBIM: 460.000,00 €

Areas of Research:

TEAM
Cinzia Vita Badalucco

Technical Collaborator

Mazara Del Vallo

Francesca Falco

Researcher

Mazara Del Vallo

Mariangela Giglio

Administrative Officer

Mazara Del Vallo

Isabella Panfili

Technologist

Ancona

Massimiliano Pinat

Technologist

Ancona

Maria Timenkova

Technologist

Messina

Antonino Titone

Technologist

Mazara Del Vallo

Research Projects



UseIT

Using Operational Synergies for the Integrated Management of Invasive Alien Species in ITaly

Referent:
Ernesto Azzurro

Invasive alien species (IAS) and climate change require the development of new capacities to protect the natural capital and manage the rapid transformation of natural resources. The project proposes the development of an integrated and shared approach to studying this issue. The goal will be pursued through technical and technological advances supported by studies to improve the information management and the use of IAS as a potential economic resource

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Research Projects

The research activities of the Institute are carried out in the context of research, development and innovation projects, both national and international, based on regional funding programs (POR FEAMPA - Regional Operational Program of the European Maritime Affairs Fisheries Fund and Aquaculture and POR FESR - Regional Operational Program of the European Regional Development Fund) or ministerial (PRIN - Projects of relevant national interest, PNRA - National Research Program in Antarctica, PO FEAMPA - National Operational Program European Maritime Affairs Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund) , programs for European Territorial Cooperation (Interreg), direct funding programs of the European Commission (Horizon2020 and Horizon Europe, Life, JPI - Joint Programming Initiatives, ERA-NET Cofund) and thematic collaboration initiatives managed by international organizations such as, for example , the FAO - GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean). The Institute also develops funded projects in the context of collaborations with private companies in the sectors of the blue economy as well as technology transfer and research results. Research projects, mainly of a collaborative nature, are developed through a wide network of partners that include major Italian and foreign research institutions and universities.

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