Subject Area
Biological Oceanography, Marine Ecology
Activities
Currently leading the project named COASTWISE, Coastal Opportunities for Climate Change Adaptation through Sustainable Tourism, Cetacean Research, and Integrated Marine Ecosystem Management, aimed at carrying out a comprehensive assessment of the presence of bottlenose dolphins in coastal areas and habitat use. In particular, the study focuses on:
● The ecological significance of bottlenose dolphins.
● The protective benefits of SACs.
● Sustainable management practices.
Key activities include assessing the distribution and habitat use of bottlenose dolphins up to 6 nautical miles (NM) from Malta’s baseline and exploring their responses to climatic pressures. The project is conducted under the MCAST Research Fellowship Scheme, in collaboration with the economic partner Discover the Blu, a sustainable tourism company.
Sea regions of study
Mediterranean Sea - Western Basin
Skills
My research focuses mainly on cetacean species and the influence of oceanographic and physiographic variables on the distribution and habitat use in the Mediterranean Sea. I am building my expertise in habitat modelling, behavioural ecology and assessing the impact of anthropogenic pressures on marine ecosystems.
