The Madeira Ocean 2026 Expedition, featuring national and international teams, officially launches tomorrow, October 2nd, at 9:30 AM at Pier 6 of Funchal Port. The initiative, promoted by the Madeira Ocean Program, aims to support the assessment and management of Madeira's Marine Protected Areas network through the production of robust scientific knowledge.
From October 2nd to 28th, 34 partners, approximately 200 participants, and over 10 vessels will be involved in a multidisciplinary operation combining science, technology, and local community participation. Work will be conducted in Madeira, Porto Santo, and the Desertas Islands, covering different habitats and depths to characterize biodiversity, ecosystems, and pressures on the marine environment.
The main objective is to produce comparable and replicable scientific information to assess the ecological status of Marine Protected Areas and better understand the ecosystems. The collected data will inform future management and conservation decisions and strengthen the scientific basis for an integrated long-term monitoring program.
