TRACE is a marine conservation research project led by Nina Vérité—Taulet and supported by the MCAST Research Fellowship Scheme. The project explores a non-invasive approach to monitoring Malta’s loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) population, using innovative genetic tools to gather insights from the nesting environment. TRACE aims to contribute to long-term turtle conservation efforts by testing whether individual turtles can be identified through environmental traces they leave behind, without disturbing the animals or their habitat.

ALTITUDE is a behavioural research project focused on bottlenose dolphin populations in Malta. Through innovative drone-based observations, the project explores how human-made structures, particularly fish farms, may influence maternal teaching behaviours. By analysing feeding strategies and social learning patterns, ALTITUDE aims to understand whether dolphins are adapting their cultural transmission of hunting techniques in response to anthropogenic pressures.

This project aims to map the distribution and health status of Cladocora caespitosa, a reef-building coral species native to the Mediterranean and classified as vulnerable.

Through systematic SCUBA diving surveys, we will identify and monitor coral colonies around the Maltese Islands to establish a comprehensive spatial baseline.

This data will support future research into the species' resilience in a warming ocean, its ecological role, and the pressures it faces—from coastal development to climate stressors.

By shedding light on one of the Mediterranean’s quietest reef-builders, Coralis hopes to contribute to regional conservation strategies and foster greater awareness of the hidden complexity beneath Maltese waters.

NudiBANK is a citizen science initiative designed to monitor nudibranch biodiversity in Maltese waters. In close collaboration with local dive centers, the project mobilizes divers to document sightings of these colourful and ecologically sensitive creatures. As potential indicator species for climate change, nudibranchs can offer early warnings about shifts in marine ecosystems. NudiBANK aims to build a long-term biodiversity database while promoting awareness around microfauna conservation and the subtle signs of oceanic change.

SPINA focuses on mapping the distribution of purple sea urchins (Paracentrotus lividus) in the Maltese Islands. With a national moratorium on their harvesting nearing its end, the project aims to assess whether their populations are recovering and what ecological role they may now play. By understanding their return patterns, SPINA hopes to inform future conservation strategies and support sustainable marine management policies.

REVIVE is a restoration-focused research project investigating optimal sites and methodologies for seagrass restoration in the Maltese Islands. By studying environmental variables and stress factors, the project aims to identify where restoration efforts are most likely to succeed and how to enhance long-term ecosystem resilience in the face of human and climate-induced pressures.