SEATY, the local marine conservation and education model developed by Worldrise – a non-profit organisation committed for over 10 years to the effective protection of the sea – with the support of Fastweb+Vodafone, returns for the new summer season and consolidates its presence in Sardinia and Sicily as an active, year-round hub for the protection of the Mediterranean.
Since June, activities have resumed at full capacity at the four active SEATY sites in Golfo Aranci (SS), the Capo Testa – Punta Falcone MPA (SS), the Capo Milazzo MPA (ME) and Salina (ME), with a packed programme of free activities open to citizens, tourists and schools: from snorkelling accompanied by marine biologists to bio-walks, as well as educational workshops, clean-ups, informative meetings, wellness experiences in nature, and cultural and musical events.
Since its launch in 2022, the project has involved over 18,000 people in the journey of learning about and protecting the sea within the SEATY "marine cities" spread across more than 197,000 m² between Sardinia and Sicily: an expanding network where the protection of biodiversity is not an occasional activity, but a continuous experience built together with local communities, visitors and stakeholders, both inside and outside the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
Alongside participation and outreach activities, the project incorporates a structured system of scientific monitoring of marine ecosystems, which makes it possible to measure the effects of conservation actions on the areas involved over time.
Research activities carried out in 2025 through environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis and biological surveys at the SEATY Golfo Aranci site revealed an increase in species richness of up to +48%, with peaks of +75%. Over 5,000 individuals were observed, including fish, molluscs and crustaceans, with the presence of species of conservation interest and the absence of invasive alien organisms, confirming the SEATY areas as particularly resilient marine environments capable of fostering biodiversity.
In a Mediterranean where less than 1% of the waters is effectively protected, SEATY creates a local conservation system that combines biodiversity protection, scientific outreach and community engagement, reducing the distance between people and the sea.
Over time, the project has consolidated an ever-wider network of local stakeholders, including its patron bodies – the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, the Municipality of Golfo Aranci, the Municipality of Malfa, the Capo Testa – Punta Falcone Marine Protected Area and the Capo Milazzo Marine Protected Area – and has demonstrated how conservation can generate environmental, social and economic value. The model continues to expand, confirming its growing replicability across territories, and stands as an example of an alliance between science, community and business for the protection of the Mediterranean, contributing to the achievement of the international "30x30" target, which aims to protect at least 30% of the seas by 2030.
Since 2022, the SEATY project has been among the actions undertaken by Fastweb+Vodafone to safeguard the planet and its biodiversity. In line with the group's ESG strategy, the company has set the ambitious goal of becoming Net Zero Carbon by 2035.