The project VECNA_III

The collaboration among Italian research institutions in the Svalbard Islands continues successfully through the VECNA project (Knocking on Arctic Door), coordinated by CNR-IRBIM, Messina. From June 30 to July 10, 2025, the research team — composed of Adriana Profeta (CNR-IRBIM), Giovanni de Vincenzi (CNR-ISP), Nadia Marinchel e Tommaso Russo (Università di Roma Tor Vergata), carried out an intensive monitoring campaign in the coastal waters of Kongsfjorden, Svalbard. The objective was to investigate the potential emergence of non-indigenous marine species (NIMS) in the context of Arctic climate change. The field campaign combined traditional techniques (such as traps and plankton nets) with advanced technologies, including underwater cameras, hydrophones, and environmental DNA (eDNA). The operation was made possible thanks to the support of the CNR Arctic Station Dirigibile Italia and the logistical assistance of the Guardia di Finanza, whose highly trained personnel provided critical expertise for operating in extreme environments. This strong synergy represents a successful example of enhanced monitoring of polar waters and a step forward in scientific cooperation in the Arctic. Adriana Profeta had previously presented the project during the recent seminar organized by the Italian Society of Marine Biology (SIBM, entitled: “Women and Science in Extreme Lands: Studying Sentinel Species of Change in Ny-Ålesund, the Northernmost Scientific Community in the World” , available by clicking the link.