On July 27, 2023, a workshop with fishers, members of Co.Ge.P.A. of Catania and operating in the Gulf of Catania, was held at the OPEN hall in the city center of Catania, offering them the opportunity to gain an overview of the current project results, with a particular focus on the action of the “Sentinels of the Sea” fishers, part of one of the SEA MARVEL WPs. Various topics were discussed during the meeting, and a lot of space was given to the participants in order to provide a complete picture of the project context. Drs. Clara Monaco and Enrico Giarrusso explained all the distinct work phases planned, the activities completed so far by team members, and the various expected results. Starting with a description of the general organization of the project and then proceeding with more details, some preliminary results were presented to the participants, which also included reports provided by them. These, in photographic format, were collected during the fishers’ activities at sea and then sent to SEA MARVEL researchers. After this introductory overview, the discussion focused on the issue of fishing regulations, with a reference to those related to bluefin tuna, swordfish, and albacore. In this context, special attention was paid to the periods when fishing is allowed and the restrictions associated with it. At the end of the workshop, members of the project team delivered information and dissemination materials to the fishers: They distributed gadgets including illustrative posters on vulnerable marine species and guide booklets regarding the main alien or rare species that might be sighted or caught accidentally. Thanks to Co.Ge.P.A. of Catania, the representatives of WWF Northeast Sicily also present, and all other members for their active involvement!
