PROJECTS | Smart Bay Santa Teresa

Underwater Smart Bay Santa Teresa Observatory

ChiLomb — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 15:41:42 +0000

Smart Bay Santa Teresa Underwater Observatory is an infrastructure of Smart Bay Santa Teresa cooperation platform, empowered through the fundings of Recovery and Resilience Plan dedicated to strengthening of EU research infrastructures, such as EMBRC-UP project (Unlocking the potential for health and food from the seas) and Regional Innovation Ecosystems, such as Ligurian RAISE (Robotics and AI for Socio-economic empowerment). Furthermore, the observatory is the result of a collaboration between Smart Bay Santa Teresa and local stakeholders, including the Natural Regional Park of Porto Venere and Navy commands.

Based on Internet of Underwater Things technology (IoUT) for data transmission, the observatory includes five stations, one in the bay of Santa Teresa (green), two in the shellfish farming area (red) and two in the Regional Natural Park of Porto Venere (blue) (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Stations of the Smart Bay Santa Teresa underwater observatory and their connection with EU infrastructures (eLTER and JERICO).

The observatory is divided into three subsystems to ensure optimal data transmission management: Santa Teresa, Porto Venere and Tinetto. All subsystems are equipped with underwater acoustic modems (nodes) for data transmission, equipped with a temperature sensor and high-precision probes for acquiring physical and chemical parameters:

N° 2 ProOceanus CO2-Pro CV sensor measuring the partial pressure of CO2 gas dissolved in water using infrared detection; this sensor is ideal for carbon capture storage monitoring and deep ocean CO2 fluxes;
N° 4 YSI EXO 2 model multiparametric probes providing real-time data on water quality by measuring: temperatures, conductivity, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and Chlorophyll;
N° 5 Z-Pulse Doppler current meters, single-point current sensors, based on the backscatter acoustic Doppler principle, for measuring current speed and direction in the sea;
N° 1 SeaBird SBE19plus V2 CTD multiparametric probe with oxygen sensors SBE43 and SBE63 and added Optode optical sensor for oxygen measurement, which will provide vertical profiles on the water column with measurements of temperatures, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and Chlorophyll. It is also used to calibrate sensors that remain fixed at sea. Optode is designed to measure absolute oxygen concentration and % saturation and is based on the ability of selected substances to act as dynamic fluorescence quenchers;
N° 1 Noretk AWAC ADCP, measuring direction and speed current profiles along the water column;
N° 2 Seabird SeaPhOx, SBE37-SMP- ODO multiparametric probes with SeaFET sensor for pH measurements, which will provide measurements on sea water temperatures, conductivity, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and Chlorophyll;
N° 1 GUARD-ONE, image acquiring autonomous system that will provide underwater images from the shellfish farming.

Santa Teresa system (Figure 2) is located within the Gulf of La Spezia, between 3 and 10 metres of depth. Comprising 10 data transmission nodes, it is the most complex system of the observatory and includes one station inside Santa Teresa Bay and two stations within the shellfish farming, inside the dam. All 10 nodes are equipped with a temperature sensor, six of of them are connected to high-precision probes for the acquisition of parameters such as temperature, salinity, oxygen, chlorophyll, turbidity, pH and current. One node is equipped with a pCO2 sensor. Specifically, the stations S6 and S10, S02 and S09 are located in the shellfish farming area, whereas S05 and S07 are deployed in Santa Teresa Bay. The probes acquire data once per hour and, thanks to the network of nodes, they are acoustically transmitted to the GSM modem (Gateway). The gateway receives the marine data through a hydrophone (S00, Figure 2) and it is kept in the Cooperativa di Mitilicoltori Associati (Mussel Farmers’ Cooperative).

Figure 2. Santa Teresa system: transmission nodes (10), high-precision probes (8) with related acquired parameters, and gateway with hydrophone.

The Porto Venere system (Figure 3), deployed between 2.5 and 7 metres of depth, consists of three data transmission nodes (P01-P03), each one equipped with a temperature sensor. Specifically, two nodes (P01 and P03) are equipped with high precision probes acquiring: temperature, salinity, oxygen, chlorophyll, turbidity and pH. Node P01 is located in the shellfish farming area towards Palmaria Island, whereas node P03, equipped with a current meter acquiring surface current speed and direction, is located at Porto Venere, near the gateway. The probes acquire data once per hour and, thanks to the network of nodes, they are acoustically transmitted to gateway (P00, Figure 3), kept in Porto Venere.

Figure 3. Porto Venere system: transmission nodes (3), high-precision probes (3) with related acquired parameters, and gateway with hydrophone.

The Tinetto system (Figure 4), deployed between 8 and 22 metres of depth, represents the “blank” of the observatory, as it is located in the Porto Venere Regional Natural Park, outside the Gulf. This subsystem consists of two components: one on land, located on Tino island (fully protected site) and equipped with a gateway and hydrophone (T00), and the other one at sea, positioned on the buoy of the marine protected area (T01). T01 is equipped with high precision probes acquiring: temperature, salinity, oxygen, chlorophyll, turbidity, pH and pCO2. This system is also provided with a profiler (ADCP) measuring the speed and direction of the current through the water column. The probes acquire data once per hour and, thanks to the network of nodes, they are acoustically transmitted to gateway (T00, Figure 4), powered by a solar panel.

Figure 4. Tinetto system: transmission node (1), high-precision probes (3) with related acquired parameters and gateway with hydrophone.

Smart Bay Santa Teresa underwater observatory is part of European research infrastructures and networks. Specifically, all the observatory’s systems are included among the services of the EMBRC (European Marine Biological Resource Centre) infrastructure, which is present in the area with the ENEA Marine Environment Research Centre in Santa Teresa. The Porto Venere and Tinetto systems are part of the Eastern Ligurian Sea site of the eLTER network, and the Tinetto system alone will contribute to the JERICO infrastructure, together with the smart observatory developed by the CNR (SmartOb) as part of the PNRR ITINERIS “Empowering Italy’s Environmental Future” project. All acquired data are available on data centres with CC-BY licence according to EU Policy on Open Data.

The data acquired through Smart Bay Santa Teresa underwater observatory are analytically validated. Seawater samples are collected monthly through campaigns conducted by ENEA and carbonate systems, oxygen, chlorophyll and nutrients are analysed via instrumentation empowered through EMBRC-UP and ITINERIS PNRR programmes.

Smart Bay Santa Teresa underwater observatory represent a centre of excellence for marine environmental monitoring in the Mediterranean. Thanks to its integration into the European research networks EMBRC, eLTER and JERICO, the data collected contributes to our understanding of climate change and the protection of marine biodiversity, providing valuable information for the sustainable management of marine resources.

Observatory’s data in the form of tables and graphs, are available at the following sections:

Credits: Smart Bay Underwater Observatory management and drawings: Andrea Bordone (ENEA)

Mimesis – Biodiversity and the use of the World. Residential experience: emotion, thinking, action (28-31 August 2025)

ChiLomb — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 15:19:01 +0000

‘Man is the most mimic of all beings and by means of mimicry he acquires all knowledge’ – Aristotle poetics (IV,2).

With more anthropological precision, man is integrally mimicking animal. That is to say, only man “understands” the interactions of the Real. We must start with interaction: we are nothing more than receptors of Interactions, of which the Cosmos resonates in that immense universal echo of which we can never know all the vibrations in its infinite whirlwind of energy. We do not perceive vibrations below or above a certain intensity. Of the waves normally selected, the most important are the light waves through which we perceive objects, the elements of Nature. These objects reverberate in us, thanks to the eyes that replay them, microscopically or macroscopically, becoming more or less vividly aware of them. There are vibrations that we also pick up through air, heat and a few other vibrational currents that we receive and that we can by analogy build up in us in what we call our invisible world.

The Usage as a Cure. Certainly not consumption, nor abuse. Care as “original totality” implies that man’s noblest inclination, being there, comes before all behaviour and all situations. The use of places. In the marvellous setting of the Bay of S. Teresa di Lerici, we propose 3 days of contemplation, play, dialogues, workshop practices. The temporal dimension of the residence is structured on the rhythm of community and conviviality. In contrast to a noisy and agitated society, the Mimesis residency proposes an immersive experience in which to practice an emptying of time within a collective dimension. Each day is marked by three activities accompanied by corresponding moments of absence, individual spaces of emptiness to be experienced in the places, in the natural heritage that surrounds it. The activities and meals are the spaces of conviviality, understood as the experience of living together in a different place and time. The guests and participants will stay overnight in the Scuola di Mare with the intention of creating a temporary community that interacts and confronts for the duration of the seminar.

‘Free use of one’s own is the hardest thing’- F. Holderlin

Course programme:

Thursday: Arrival and welcome, Dinner, Introduction to the site and walk around St. Teresa’s Bay, Evening Dialogue

Friday: * Breath, Breakfast, Workshop ‘The Use of Bodies’, Lunch, ‘The Way of Water’, * Breath, Dinner with ‘Night Boat Drift’

Saturday: * Breath, ‘The Way of Water’, Breakfast, Workshop ‘The Use of Bodies’, Lunch, ‘The Way of Land’, * Breath, Dinner

Sunday: * Breath, Breakfast, ‘Ways of Water and Earth’, Lunch, Closing Dialogue

Use of bodies workshop. The use of bodies is not a system, it is perhaps a way, more a subtle way of constructing a process of deactivation from one’s own automatisms, from the (ordinary) risk of systematic stiffening and from the repetition of oneself and one’s “relational repertoire”. Gestures, breaths, glances, sounds, stumbling, will lead to the awakening of an other tactile world of trust and listening to oneself, to the other, to Nature, contributing to the discovery of hidden potentialities and unexpected tastes. The game is to integrate this approach in the multiple paths proposed: of water, of earth and of sky in the gamble of a new being, together.

….A continuous line separates the realm of the sea from the land: two distinct worlds, two modes of existence, two forms of breathing….

The Way of the Earth: In this experience we will observe the world “above”, the one that has chosen the solidity of the earth, the balance of the air, and apparent stability as a condition for life. We will move among the adaptive forms of plants that have evolutionarily decided to remain still. In that stillness, they have developed complex strategies of resistance, learning to inhabit extreme spaces, such as those found along the coasts: salty, hot, arid, windy and changeable deserts. Through a sensory approach we will gather information and impressions from the landscape. This process will allow us to connect more deeply with the earth, rediscovering that “indistinct green” that forms a constant – and often forgotten – backdrop to our existence. This workshop invites an attentive, respectful, corporeal exploration: to understand how the earth can be inhabited, touched, listened to. To learn to read the traces of plant life and grasp its silent power.

The Way of Seawater: This experience will be dedicated to the world “below the tide line”, populated by those organisms that have adapted to live in an environment of constant change, where air and water alternate in a rhythm driven by the tide. Sunrise and sunset represent two important moments, of awakening and preparation for rest, in which the species, both in movement and on the seabed, manifest themselves, and their attentive observation, in a moment of peace and quiet free from human disturbance, allows us to create a profound connection with the environment and the life that populates it. We will try, in these moments of alternating light and shadow, to observe the species that live in the bay of St. Teresa, discovering the wonder of a biodiversity that takes up space, that lives and adapts when everything around, outside, changes. This workshop will be an exploration of life at sea through feeling, through personal perception, through an immersive experience in an environment – water – that we perceive as distant but from which we originate.

The teaching staff includes researchers with backgrounds in ecology, both terrestrial and marine, psychologists, philosophers and drama teachers, role-playing experts and trainers, and sea practitioners, all with proven experience and from nationally accredited research institutions, training organisations and associations.

Chiara Lombardi. PhD in experimental marine ecology since 2008, ENEA researcher since 2010, she studies the responses of calcifying marine organisms forming underwater architectures threatened by climate change and their role within climate change adaptation strategies. Author of more than 80 publications and coordinator of national and international research projects. Since 2021 she has been coordinating Smart Bay Santa Teresa, a cooperation platform for the creation of the first fully sustainable “Nature human ecosystem” established by ENEA, CNR, INGV, the Municipality of Lerici, Scuola di Mare Santa Teresa and Cooperativa di Mitilicoltori Associati. A scuba diving and snorkelling guide, she has been carrying out Citizen Science activities for over 20 years, participating in and coordinating residential training courses on the theme of the sea, in collaboration with Parks and Marine Protected Areas and Associations, both for the general public and Universities.

Patrizia Menegoni. Researcher, naturalist, PhD in Botanical Sciences, she deals with the analysis and monitoring of environmental transformations as a result of anthropic pressures and impacts through the use of plants as bio-indicators; with plant ecology applied to territorial planning and the enhancement of the natural, agricultural and landscape heritage; with emerging pollutants and the relationship between the ecosystem, the technosystem and the economy. She has been: director of Environmental project soluzioni per l’ambiente srl, a service company for scientific publishing and environmental studies; Head of the ENEA ‘Sustainable Management of Agroecosystems’ laboratory, a research area dedicated to environmental analysis for a concrete application of sustainability principles. Author of more than 100 articles, responsible for various scientific communication projects for the promotion of Flora d’Italia, she works on the construction of research places oriented towards confrontation, co-design, creativity and collective growth.

Andrea De Magistris. Philosopher, educator and theatre director active for more than 15 years in theatre research and performing arts. Artistic director of Dynamis, he collaborates with architects, scientists, urban planners, sociologists, philosophers, theologians, with training projects, performances, situational events, dialogues and workshop practices in theatres, festivals, museums, universities, monasteries and many other unconventional spaces. The work starts from a conceptual approach with a theatrical matrix, makes use of a bodily relational framework and may employ some techniques and practices derived from dance, martial arts, and the influences of oriental philosophies, all aimed at critical thinking. In recent years, he has focused his work on the connection between art and science, aimed mainly at an inner conversion and the creation of temporary communities of conviviality.

Giovanna Nisi. Pedagogist and clinical psychologist, specialised in mindfulness and emotional management. She has gained experience in school, health and socio-legal contexts, accompanying individuals and groups on paths of growth and awareness. In ENEA she deals with health and safety, psychological wellbeing, psychosocial research and training, also offering a psychological listening space dedicated to employees. He conducts courses on leadership with emotional intelligence, social skills management and relational awareness, with a constant focus on personal and collective improvement. She collaborates with the European Institute of Positive Psychology in training projects that focus on the development of personal and relational resources. Specialised in working with groups, she considers them a powerful transformative tool for observing, reflecting, confronting and developing; contexts in which relational dynamics, words and even silences become fertile ground for evolving, creating meaningful connections and nurturing awareness.

Marco Bonin. Software developer, geologist and amateur creator of board and role-playing games. For over twenty years he has been combining technical rigour, creative thinking and passion, moving between the worlds of programming, nature and imagination. Trained as a geologist with a master’s degree in Geological Sciences, he has delved into subjects such as sedimentology, micropaleontology and geological mapping, also collaborating on the cataloguing and management of museum exhibits. At the same time, he built a solid career in the IT sector as an analyst and team leader, developing complex software projects. Passionate about storytelling and game design, he has always cultivated an interest in role-playing games, understood as tools capable of generating empathy, collective imagination and awareness.

Created within Smart Bay S. Teresa, the initiative is part of the Biodiversity Gateway of the National Biodiversity Future Centre (NBFC) and is included in the LTER Long Term Ecological Monitoring Network Pathways for the Eastern Ligurian Sea Site; the course is also being implemented in collaboration with the European Institute of Positive Psychology (IEPP) and with the involvement of the CUG, which promotes psychological wellbeing to encourage reflection processes and to explore new forms of awareness and human-nature relations.

General information: Check-in on Thursday 28 from 18:30, Check-out on Sunday 31 from 16:00

What to bring: Santa Teresa Bay is a special ecosystem that Scuola di Mare together with Smart Bay S. Teresa (https://smartbaysteresa.com) are trying to maintain and protect in a context of strong human pressure. The guests of the Bay are called to integrate themselves in this spirit and try to live the bay and the experience at Scuola di Mare in an eco-sustainable way, similar to a boat experience whose fundamentals are: collaboration and sharing, conscious use of resources (water), reduction of waste and pollution (plastic and soap). For this reason, each participant is requested to bring: personal water bottle: drinking water from the base is used, environmentally friendly soaps (no courtesy kits are provided), personal bathrobe/shower towel, sleeping bag/blanket

For sea activities: participants are requested to bring personal mask, snorkel and fins. Swimming trunks will be provided by the organisation for those who need them.

For land activities: comfortable shoes and clothing for walking.

Clothing: windproof, hat, swimming costume, sun cream.

Accommodation: The accommodation at Scuola di Mare is all arranged with bunk beds in rooms of 2 to 8 beds. Each room has its own private bathroom. Hair dryers are not provided.

Participation fee: 300.00 euro per person. Fee includes: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners, 3 nights, lectures, workshops and excursions (snorkelling and walking), membership fee and insurance coverage for the activities. There may be fuel fees to be shared (25.00 – 30.00 euro per person), which will be better specified at the start of the curse depending on the number of attendees. Receipt: Scuola di Mare will issue a receipt. It is necessary to provide data (name + surname, place of residence, tax code and email address).

To register for the course please fill in the following online form

Registration will be open until 31/07/2025. Acceptance to the course will be communicated via email by Scuola di Mare by 10/08/2025 together with the instructions for the payment of the participation fee

Parking instructions: For those coming by car, it is possible to park the car in the vicinity of Scuola di Mare in a dedicated space, specifically a shared parking space with a gravel surface (P). On the other hand, it is NOT PERMITTED to park or park in the small space in front of the white Scuola di Mare gate (PROHIBITION), which must be left free and available for Scuola di Mare vehicles.

Here to better understand the philosophy of Scuola di Mare and the approach this very special place to live all the best experience possible; How to reach Scuola di Mare,Tel.: +39 348 8183008

PLACALA Project- Plastic and Climate Change

ChiLomb — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 14:19:54 +0000

Plastic pollution and climate change are seriously treating aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity but the how these two anthropogenic stressors jointly affect the Ocean and its ecosystems is still poorly understood. The plastic contributes to GHGs global emissions throughout its entire life cycle, from the production to the treatment; as consequences of climate change, extreme events exacerbate plastic pollution by increasing plastic dispersal with serious effects on ocean, ecosystems and ultimately on humans. The ecological impact of microplastics on marine environment and, specifically on plankton and nekton communities, is one of the objectives of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD 2008/56/EC). Furthermore, plastic beachcombing (i.e. the collection of the plastic waste on the beach) is a method for reducing plastic incomes and testing its efficacy according to the Circular Economy Action Plan and the European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy. PLACALA project (Plastic and Climate Change), funded by the Foundation “Compagnia San Paolo” through the call “Re:Actions: Protect the environment, Contribute to future wellbeing”, is promoted by Associazione per il Mare applying Citizens Science approaches to gain didactic, educational and research objectives. On board of the boat ‘Moby Dick’, the participants will: 1. Discover and learn the natural beauties and the anthropogenic threats on the Gulf of La Spezia; they will learn the techniques and tools for ocean monitoring and the available knowledge and data from Smart Bay S. Teresa research institutes; 2. Monitor the ocean health by actively collecting data ‘in the field’ and thus contributing to the knowledge gap of the interaction between marine organisms, microplastic pollution and other anthropogenic stressors. Data and samples collected seasonally will be successively analyzed by ENEA (Casaccia Research Centre (Rome)- Lab. of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) with aim to understand the presence and diffusion of micro and nano plastic within the Gulf of La Spezia. PLACALA will contribute to knowledge and dissemination of the natural peculiarities of the Gulf, where Nature and People coexist within a scenario of high naturalistic value (UNESCO heritage, Priority Protection Sites, Regional and Natural Parks) and highly anthropic areas (marinas for recreational boating, commercial and navy harbors). The ultimate goal of the project is to make youngers and adults aware that this dualistic aspect can persist as long as virtuous behaviors and actions will be developed. Such actions have to focus on knowledge and protection of the marine ecosystems of the Gulf of La Spezia, which represent the Past, with ancient sea-trades such as mussel farming, but also our Future (UNFCCC 2030 Agenda, 14 SDG).

S&R4Seas- Sailing and Research for Monitoring the Ocean

ChiLomb — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 14:42:50 +0000

Observing, measuring and quantifying the change occurring in the ocean is one of the global challenge with the highest priority (UNESCO Agenda 2030). The extension, diversity and depths characterizing the ocean and its ecosystems, most of them still unexplored, as well as the use expensive technological devices for ocean monitoring are limiting factors in ocean data acquisition. Thus, cooperation among research, high technology sectors and sustainable ocean users is a priority for implementing BIG data acquisition in the ocean.

Sailing&Research4Seas is an example of common project linking sport- sailing- with research and technology with the overall aim to implement the acquisition of physics chemical data in the ocean across the world. Based on the collaboration between the sailor Giovanni Soldini and his Orca srl and Smart Bay S. Teresa, the high-tech core of the project is the multi-parametric monitoring system OceanPack – RACE, produced by subCtech. The system is installed on the trimaran Maserati Multi70, lead by Giovanni Soldini, and it acquires physics chemical data such as temperature, salinity, oxygen and pCO₂ (sampling depth: 1 m) along the route. Acquired data are validated and analyzed by Smart Bay Santa Teresa research institutes performing the data quality check by using in situ high resolution instruments and Smart Bay S. Teresa underwater monitoring network and analytic measurements.

S&R4Seas ultimate objectives are data sharing within the scientific community and the dissemination of the status of the occurring ocean change to the general public. Ocean protection starts from its monitoring and only the cooperation among sectors will allow to acquire BIG data and thus identifying sustainable solutions for the ocean and our future.

Figure. Intensity maps of temperature (°C), salinity (PSU) and CO₂ concentration (ppm) acquired along Maserati Multi70 route in June 2022. Sampling depth: 1m, number of measurement stations: 95970; sampling rate in operating conditions: 1 data every 10 s.

Test of the LongTerm intelligent imaging device GUARD1

ChiLomb — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 11:36:39 +0000

The marine science community is engaged in the exploration and monitoring of biodiversity dynamics, with a special interest for understanding the ecosystem functioning and for tracking the growing anthropogenic impacts. The accurate monitoring of marine ecosystems requires the development of innovative and effective technological solutions to allow the remote and continuous collection of data. To achieve this goal, novel technologies for the continuous monitoring of natural ecosystems are urgently needed and video-based observations are increasingly being considered among the most promising tools for a non-invasive environmental monitoring. Within this context, the GUARD1intelligent imaging device (European Patent EP 2863257 B1 [1]) has been specifically conceived for long-term deployments as equipment of mobile platforms (e.g. AUV, USV, Argo Float, drifter buoys) as well as stand-alone and wired observatories (e.g. oceanographic moorings, landers, cabled observatories). The system has been developed in cooperation with OnAIR srl software company expert in AI-based solutions and co-owner, together with CNR, of the European Patent EP 2863257 B1 on which the GUARD1 imaging device is based and OEngeenirieng srl, licensed developer of the hardware components of the imaging device GUARD1.

Tests of the LongTerm intelligent imaging device GUARD1 has been performed within ENDURUNS project and has been focused on the autonomous image acquisition, the onboard detection and classification of fishes and the transmission of the image-content relevant data to a land station. The activities mainly integrates within the Smart Bay S. Teresa objectives especially for the study, design and development of autonomous and intelligent marine observing systems based on innovative hardware and artificial intelligence solutions in collaboration with local and other SMEs collaborating with Smart Bay S. Teresa.

Mussel and Oyster shells for Regeneration

ChiLomb — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 17:16:18 +0000

Mollusk shells, such as those of mussels and oysters, are made of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), thus representing precious biomaterials that, once recycled, can bring important environmental and economical benefits. Nowadays, waste management (shells) derived from the food sectors represents a considerable problem worldwide, with very high costs. Although the well known exploitation potential of shell recycling in terms of economic, social and environmental benefits, sustainable and systemic circular solutions in marine environments are missing. Most of the waste from mollusk productions are used in agriculture and animal food industry, not often respecting sustainability criteria. There is another sector, with few virtuous projects around the world, still poorly investigated, which is based on the reuse of shells from the production in marine environment to create sustainable and regenerative solutions (i.e. habitat restoration).

The Oyster Project. Based on a cooperation among research, mollusk farming, fisheries, textile SMEs, administration, associations on sustainable tourism and education, the project aims at realizing and testing solutions built on bio materials (hemp, jute) and/or re-cycled fishing gears and waste (shells) derived from oyster production (Crassostrea gigas). The data will serve as preliminary information on the efficacy of materials to create circulation solutions to regenerate part of the bay, rich in biodiversity but highly impacted. Based on three main objectives: 1) to reuse of waste from oyster production to create circular solutions in marine environment; 2) to test of biomaterials (hemp, jute) and recycled fishing gears for regeneration; 3) to engage different actors, mollusk farmers, fishermen, stakeholders and citizens in order with practical activities (waste collection, recycling, reuse and reshaping for creating new gears for restoration) and thus making them aware about the importance of adopting circular solutions and reducing waste to protect the Ocean.

Carbon Blue Sink

ChiLomb — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 14:36:17 +0000

Coastal areas need to adapt to climate change, whose effects at economic and social levels are becoming critical (e.g. sea level rise, extreme events, heat waves, O2 and pH decreases). It is necessary re-design the management of the coastal areas, integrating production, blue economy strategies with benefits deriving from protection and sustainable use of natural resources and ecosystems (ecosystemic approach). Most of the opportunities to guarantee sustainability and to regeneration are within the coastal environment, hosting a wide variety of sectors (maritime, touristic, cultural, residential, productive,..). AMA (Mediterranean Association of Aquaculture) in cooperation with Smart Bay proposes a pilot project aiming to quantify the balance between carbon fixation and carbon production of the mussel farming of La Spezia to define a pathway for carbon credit recognition for the shellfish farming. Blue Carbon Sink project is divided in 4 phases:

1- Analyses of CO2 absorption and emission due to the whole activities of Cooperativa Mitilicoltori Associati (AMA, ENEA)
2- Physiologial responses and ecosystem services (regulation and support) provided by mussels from acquacolture and natural systems (ENEA)
3- Extensive monitoring of marine environment (GREEN STAR project)
4- Identification of LCA model for the local production (ENEA, University of Bologna)

Ecosystem Services of Santa Teresa Bay

ChiLomb — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 12:11:43 +0000

Coastal ecosystems, located at the interface between marine an terrestrial ecosystems, include different ecological communities providing a wide variety of services extremely important for humans such as protection from flood and waves, food provisioning, water quality, pCO2 absorption, recreational and cultural services. Terrestrial vegetation is a key component in providing such services, especially those related to regulation and maintenance. Through photosynthetic processes, plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere by fixing and transforming it into biomass within leaves, branches, trunk and roots, promoting its stock in the ground and thus contributing to climate change mitigation. In urbanized areas, vegetation, especially trees and endemic species characterizing narwal ecosystems, are able to reculate the micro-climate and thus influencing the energetic balance of the buildings. Thus, vegetation contributes to climate change adaptation, GHGs reduction and air quality improvement, thus reinforcing the ecological network of the territory and supporting the biodiversity. Coordinated by ENEA, this project aims to quantify the main services provided by coastal ecosystems of the Santa Teresa bay by using InVEST models- Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs – in particular the carbon stock in terrestrial vegetation, and providing an ecosystem-based management model to improve the biodiversity of the bay.

How are you aware about the Services provided by Nature?

ChiLomb — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 11:34:45 +0000

Santa Teresa Bay hosts important marine end terrestrial ecosystems providing a strong natural character to the bay located in a highly impacted area: the port of La Spezia. Such ecosystems provides benefits to the territory: seafood, climate regulation, air and water purification, and cultural services. The impact of human activities – both direct (coastal exploitation, maritime traffic) and indirect (climate change) – are threatening this small oasis of biodiversity and naturality. Its ecosystems provide important services to Nature and thus to humans, but they are still poorly known and considered. Thus, for understanding the importance and the benefits provided by natural ecosystems of the Bay, the first step is to know them. The aim of this questionnaire is to make Smart Bay users aware about the ecosystems of the bay and the benefits they provide to Nature and thus to humans. This project of public engagement has been designed by ENEA in collaboration with the University of Pavia and aims to estimate the benefits, including the monetary ones, deriving from interventions to keep the naturally of the bay and protect its biodiversity. Knowledge and awareness are the trigger for changes to live and manage Natural resources, where everybody help is needed.

Clean Walk

Louise — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 09:53:49 +0000

Clean Walk

While lying on the rocks or climbing them looking for your special sun spot in the Bay, either close to the sea or close the bushes, you probably came across to cigarette butts, plastic objects and bottles, woods, or pieces of glass…And, disgusted, you have been complaining about someone else “bad behaviour”.

Do you know how much the waste – produced by human activities – is impacting the environment and the Bay you are frequenting? Waste is the fourth largest source sector of emissions, accounting for 3% of total greenhouse gas emissions in 2019. Most emissions come from combusting fuels (77%), followed by agriculture (10%) and industrial processes (8%) (source: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/DDN-20200123-1) .Changing the treatment of waste is just one example of how creating a more »circular economy » (source : https://ec.europa.eu/environment/topics/circular-economy/first-circular-economy-action-plan_en) helps to reduce emissions and fight climate change.

It is not always someone else responsibility. Smart Bay is everybody’s Bay and it is everybody’s duty to protect it and its ecosystems by reducing the impact that human activities are creating.

Do you know that our impact as GHG emissions is measurable? Carbon Foot Print is the total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and methane) that are generated by our actions such as food, shopping, travels, home…(calculate yours: https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/carbon-footprint-calculator/). And, globally, we are expected to became sustainable and reduce our carbon foot print by adopting sustainable actions including ‘limiting and recycling the waste’ (Source: https://europa.eu/youth/get-involved/sustainable-development/how-reduce-my-carbon-footprint_en).

Help us to reduce carbon foot print in Smart Bay Santa Teresa by joining the weekly “Clean Walk”.

The Clean Walk is a weekly initiative open to all Bay users to take a concrete action against the problem of marine litter and helping to reach Smart Bay goal: regeneration of its Natural Ecosystems and reducing the user’s carbon food print.

Under the guidance of a Smart Bay researchers, participants will be introduced to Bay activities, its ecosystems and to the Clean Walk activity. Divided into small groups, volunteers will explore some areas in the Bay, that will include beach, rocks, bushes and paths, and, supervised by a Smart Bay researcher, will follow a scientific protocol for collecting the waste. Participants will work in teams and be equipped with gloves and a bin liner to collect the waste safely. Once the waste will be collected and divided by re-cycling type (i.e. glass, wood, plastic,…), it will be weighed to evaluate how much has been found and where in the bay.

A concreate action to reduce the carbon food print. In order to limit and recycle the waste, it will be required to each participant to bring back a bag of collected waste to his/her bins or to deliver it to the Waste Collection Centre (Scoglietti) on the way home. The actions of removal and recycling is the one that produce a reduction of the carbon foot print on the Bay as well as the direct protection of its ecosystems.

Became a Smart Bay Ambassador. At the end of the activity, a discussion on the impact of each waste type will be done with Smart Bay researcher and the calculation of the reduction of the carbon foot print thank to the action of the participants will be provided and published on Smart Bay Web Site. The volunteers will become ambassadors of Smart Bay, by removing, recycling and then limiting the waste in the Bay.

Join the Clean Walk with your family or friends and help make the reduce the carbon foot print and protect the ecosystems in Smart Bay!