Antonia Scicluna – Fisheries Scientist

With a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree specializing in local artisanal fisheries, Antonia’s understanding of Malta’s fishing communities extends beyond academia.

Living in Marsaxlokk, Malta’s main fishing village, and with a background in environmental volunteering and activism, she has spent countless hours at sea alongside fishers, learning directly from their knowledge, traditions, and daily realities.

These experiences have shaped her belief that sustainability succeeds when cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and science work hand in hand.

By bringing this approach into conservation, Antonia supports thriving fishing communities while protecting the marine ecosystems they have depended on for generations.

Because the future of our oceans is strongest when it is built together.

Our partner Filicudi Wildlife Conservation has deployed innovative fishing gear equipped with scientific monitoring devices as part of the LIFE OASIS project.

This work will contribute to improving our understanding of sea turtle ecology while supporting collaborative solutions for marine conservation and sustainable fishing.

Our home port for the 2026 LIFE OASIS survey is Marsaxlokk, a beautiful fishing village in Malta.

We have spent 10 days at sea in Malta aboard R/V Onda, conducting the 2026 LIFE OASIS survey.

Our captain is Jacky, who first joined us as a volunteer during the LIFE Migrate project in 2013. Now she is our skipper, the most passionate ocean conservationist.

After five days at sea as part of the 2026 LIFE OASIS survey in Malta, today we joined Vince Attard and the sea turtle rescue team from Nature Trust Malta to release four turtles back into the Mediterranean.

Now healthy again, they are ready to continue their transoceanic life.

LIFE OASIS had the pleasure of welcoming Mohamed El Andalusí, representing the AZIR Association in Al Hoceima.

The visit was an opportunity to remember the work carried out by Mohamed and Xisco Avella on monk seal conservation in Morocco.

Together, we discussed strategies to tackle illegal fishing and ghost fishing, while planning future collaboration under the umbrella of LIFE OASIS and the MedSea Alliance.

We look forward to continuing this journey together.

Lluís Ballell Valls – Project Admin & Consultant

Lluís has more than 20 years of experience at the intersection of marine science, fisheries sustainability, and strategic project management.

He holds a degree in Marine Sciences and a Master’s degree in Aquaculture, with expertise in innovation, fisheries sustainability, and business management. He led the first loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) research campaigns in Cabo Verde, and has helped dozens of organisations secure funding by taking on and simplifying all the administrative processes needed to bring their projects to life.

A man of the sea and an experienced sailor, Lluís brings this multidisciplinary vision to LIFE OASIS, ensuring that we always have the wind at our backs.

On 9 June, LIFE OASIS brought together fishers, sailors, scientists, NGOs and public authorities in Palma de Mallorca.

Together, we explored key challenges facing the Mediterranean, including ghost fishing gear, marine observation, sustainable fisheries and innovation.

A special thank you to Mohamed El Andalousi for sharing his experience working with fishing communities across North Africa and highlighting the importance of cooperation to protect our shared marine ecosystems.

Thank you to all speakers, participants and partners for making this event a success.

concurso LIFE OASIS 2026

Un concurso práctico para reconocer y poner a prueba las ideas propuestas por pescadores profesionales para mejorar la pesca de la llampuga mediterránea (corífaga) mediante dispositivos de agregación de peces anclados (aFAD). El objetivo es lograr una pesca más sostenible, segura y eficiente, respetando al mismo tiempo los conocimientos y las tradiciones pesqueras locales.

Una competizione pratica per individuare e mettere alla prova le idee proposte dai pescatori professionisti per migliorare la pesca del mahi-mahi (corifaga) nel Mediterraneo mediante l’utilizzo di dispositivi di aggregazione del pesce ancorati (aFAD). L’obiettivo è quello di realizzare una pesca più sostenibile, sicura ed efficiente, nel rispetto delle conoscenze e delle tradizioni locali in materia di pesca.

Toca  la foto para participar / Tocca la foto per partecipare