Baħar Wieħed is a recently set up Voluntary Organisation which aims to to empower people to appreciate the value of the marine environment and enable them to take action to safeguard the seas around us. 

Baħar Wieħed is registered with the Office of the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations (VO/2640)

Citizen Science Campaigns

Elasmobranch Sighting. 

A citizen science campaign conducted by Sharklab-Malta. Sharklab-Malta is a Malta-based NGO working to protect elasmobranchs in Mediterranean waters. Its main objectives are to raise awareness about sharks, skates and rays, increase research efforts, and contribute to conservation on all levels. Any sightings of elasmobranchs can be registered on the below link 

https://www.sharklab-malta.org/report-a-sighting 

The Spot the Alien and Spot the Alien Fish . 

Citizen science campaigns from the Oceanography Malta Research Group, Department of Geosciences University of Malta. They aim to promote the submission of reports of Non-Indigenous Species (NIS) spotted within Maltese waters by citizen scientists. The Spot the Alien Fish campaign focuses only on non-indigenous fish species, while the Spot the Alien campaign focuses on all other non-indigenous species. 

https://campaigns.ocean.mt/index.php/about/ 

Dolphins, Whales, Turtles, Sharks, Jellyfish blooms and Alien species 

The Conservation Biology Research Group of the University of Malta is conducting research on marine biodiversity within the Central Mediterranean Region around the Maltese Islands (from coastal to offshore) in respect of:

1. Dolphins, Whales and Turtle sightings.

2. Sharks, Rays sightings.

3. Jellyfish blooms sightings.

4. Alien species sightings or caught during fishing.

Mariners are requested to cooperate and support the research by reporting sightings immediately as following: Email: Prof. Adriana Vella on adriana.vella@um.edu.mt SMS/phone on mobile/WhatsApp: +356 99429592 

The information required includes the following:

1. Date and time of observation.

2. Number of Dolphins/Whales/Turtles/Sharks/Blooms of Jellyfish/Alien species.

3. Location of sighting (including GPS coordinates if possible).

4. Photos/videos whenever possible to allow for identification of the species.

The participation of mariners in this long-term initiative is very much encouraged and necessary to ensure regular updates supporting the monitoring of Maltese waters to devise an early warning system for bathers and to assist in Mediterranean-wide marine conservation.

Ċirkewwa Marine Park Species Survey

You can also be a part of this data collection exercise by submitting any information relating to your sightings during your dives in Ċirkewwa.  How can you do this? Simply go for a dive, take photos or notes of the species you encountered and let us know what you saw and when by filling out this form.