Happy New Year

New Year, Resolutions remain...

We continue to work towards understanding the changes in marine ecosystems and developing new technologies to advance science.

Research and Exploration Program 2026:

- A new mission on Iberian Orcas in April 2026, following a preparation phase for the sailboat "Alpha" and its crew, which will be equipped with highly efficient acoustic devices developed by the University of Toulon, to record the sound emissions of orcas, from the Gulf of Cadiz and Gibraltar towards the Alboran Sea; a second part during the second half of June and in July.

This campaign considers the migration of tuna, the preferred prey of Gibraltar' orcas, and could extend to August, in the Atlantic Ocean along the Portuguese coast. After analyzing recordings and observations, the aim is to design a non-intrusive navigation system to improve prevention against orca attacks on sailboats while preserving these remarkable cetaceans.

The Loro Parque located in the Canary Islands, along with researchers from the Aquatic Mammal Journal, a world-renowned American scientific publication, will share their expertise on the behavior of cetacean groups and the learning of sounds emitted in the form of dialects.

- Locally, the Nautilus Institute will launch an exploration of the mountains around Bessèges in February, with the help of researchers from the University of Lausanne in geology, paleontology, and botany and the Museum d'Histoire Naturelle. This investigation across several transitional geological eras between the continent and ancient seas will allow us to deepen our knowledge of the paleo-oceanography of the Vivarais border and the Cévennes, subject to several marine transgressions and regressions.

The training internship in maritime exploration for students (alternating internship), researchers (PhD in marine biology), assistant captain, and crew members (all levels) will start in May; highly motivated volunteers interested in maritime exploration are encouraged to contact us: