We are proud to fund Alnitak’s research conducted under the MEDTOP program, contributing to one of Europe’s largest datasets for cetacean and marine turtle conservation. In 2023, the team deployed satellite transmitters on loggerhead turtles and collected valuable sighting data on Risso’s dolphins. Alnitak also monitored short-beaked common dolphins and long-finned pilot whales in the Alborán Sea due to concerns about their shrinking populations. The primary objective remains mitigating the impact of abandoned fishing gear in the open sea, with over 40 m3 of marine garbage, mostly ghost gear, removed from the Mediterranean in 2023.

With the support of Ocean Born Foundation, Alnitak has also expanded their impact through increased media visibility, particularly on the issue of illegal drift net activities in the Alborán Sea. Ongoing efforts include improving protocols for reporting of ghost gear and entangled turtle rescues, developing intelligent anchored fish aggregating devices (aFADs) to improve the sustainability of fisheries, and expanding operations into Morocco in 2024.