The Regional Agency for the Development of Research, Technology and Innovation (ARDITI) is promoting a new scientific campaign in Porto Santo from July 3 to 14, 2026. Dedicated to the study of the island's coastal marine ecosystems, this initiative continues the Madeira Marine Biodiversity Monitoring Program — BioMa, initiated in 2016.
The campaign includes high-resolution bathymetric surveys using the autonomous surface vehicle DRIX, operated by the Madeira Ocean Observatory/ARDITI. With the support of the Institute for Forests and Nature Conservation (IFCN), the action strengthens the link between research, environmental monitoring, and conservation in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.
This initiative marks 10 years of BioMa, a program that has been building a consistent time series on coastal marine biodiversity in Portuguese island systems. Over the past decade, teams have returned to specific locations to observe and record fish, macroinvertebrates, and marine habitats, allowing for the tracking of ecological changes.
Work in Porto Santo includes scientific dives and seafloor mapping to assess the ecological status of coastal habitats and detect possible changes in marine communities. The combination of direct observation and autonomous technology represents an important step towards an integrated approach to marine conservation in the Region.
