TecMAReco
High-resolution marine litter monitoring
An INTERREG Sicily-Malta project developing advanced technological solutions for monitoring and managing marine litter across the central Mediterranean.
An INTERREG Sicily-Malta project developing advanced technological solutions for monitoring and managing marine litter across the central Mediterranean.
TecMAReco is a cross-border research and innovation project funded under the INTERREG Italy-Malta programme. It brings together Żibel and the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn in Naples to develop and deploy high-resolution technologies for marine litter monitoring across the Sicily-Malta channel.
The project addresses a fundamental limitation in current marine litter management: the lack of high-resolution, spatially accurate data about where debris accumulates, how it moves, and what it consists of. Without this data, clean-up and policy responses remain reactive and inefficient.
Running for 30 months, TecMAReco will generate a comprehensive regional dataset and a transferable monitoring methodology applicable across Mediterranean member states.
Deployment of advanced optical and acoustic sensors to map marine litter distributions across the Sicily-Malta channel at resolutions not previously achievable.
A shared data infrastructure between Italian and Maltese institutions enabling coordinated monitoring and response across national boundaries.
Converting monitoring outputs into actionable recommendations for national authorities and EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive reporting.
Training and knowledge transfer between partner institutions to build lasting technical expertise in both countries.
Project Partners
Lead Partner, Italy
Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn Napoli
Malta Partner, Malta
Żibel