The MarPITIUS study of the IbizaPreservation Blue Crime Classroom at Jaume I University is conducting workshops this week with research staff and practical fieldwork activities for students
Ibiza, 5 June 2026 – Students from several schools in Ibiza participated this week in a marine science workshop organised by the IbizaPreservation Classroom of Blue Crime at Jaume I University to mark World Environment Day, which is commemorated today. The activities, which began last Monday as part of the 2026 campaign of the MarPITIUS study gave local students the opportunity learn about the work carried out by researchers to analyse the state Ibiza and Formentera’s marine ecosystems and contribute to their conservation. The initiative is a collaborative effort with the Town Hall of Santa Eulalia and the Santa Eulalia Sailing Club, and is supported by IMEDEA-UIB; the MarLab-Dénia Marine Laboratory of the University of Alicante; and the Baleària Foundation.
As a closing event to this week dedicated to the conservation of the marine environment, IbizaPreservation and the Santa Eulalia Sailing Club are also carrying out a joint beach cleanup open to the general public this Sunday, 7th June, in Sol d’en Serra, next to Cala Llonga, to mark World Oceans Day.
The activity will take place between 10:00 and 12:00 and is open to anyone interested, with no prior registration required. The meeting point will be located directly on the beach. Additionally, the Amante Ibiza restaurant will offer coffee to participants at the end of the day. The organisers recommend wearing closed shoes or sandals, as the beach is pebbly.
“The sea is part of our identity and our well-being. With these events, we want to bring marine science closer to the public and continue demonstrating that everyone can contribute to the conservation of our environment. I especially want to thank the students and teachers who participated in the MarPITIUS activities these past few days, and encourage residents and visitors to join us this Sunday for the cleanup of Sol d’en Serra to bring to a close a week dedicated to learning about and protecting the marine environment,” says Inma Saranova , director of IbizaPreservation.
For her part, Virginia Tirador, head of the P02idonia project at the Santa Eulalia Sailing Club, highlighted that “participation in environmental projects and initiatives is fully aligned with the objectives and values of our club,” a commitment that, as she explained, materialises in initiatives such as P02idonia, through which they promote “the conservation, awareness and protection of the marine environment.”
From knowledge to action
The MarPITIUS_26 campaign, promoted by the IbizaPreservation Blue Crime Classroom at Jaume I University, has carried out various scientific and educational activities this week in Santa Eulària des Riu with the participation of students of secondary school, high school and vocational training. The initiative, which this year incorporates fish census techniques within the framework of the Horizon Sea4Future project led by the Marine Laboratory of Dénia, MarLab, of the University of Alicante, has allowed participants to become familiar with some of the methodologies that research teams routinely use to study the conservation status of the marine ecosystems of the islands.
The campaign has also included fieldwork at various points along the Ibiza coastline and in the Freus Marine Reserve of Freus to gather information on the conservation status of Ibiza and Formentera’s marine ecosystems.
The event held this Thursday brought together students from IES Isidor Macabich, IES Xarc, and CIFP Can Marines at four scientific workstations located in Cala de Ses Estaques, Santa Eulalia beach, and the Santa Eulalia Sailing Club. The students participated in visual fish censuses using scientific snorkeling equipment, learned how to operate remote underwater cameras used for monitoring marine fauna, analysed coastal sediments , and learned about the procedures used for sampling phytoplankton and microplastics.
“We wanted students to experience how a scientific team really works when they go out to sea. It’s not just about observing fish or collecting samples, but about understanding how the information is generated that then allows us to assess the state of ecosystems and make decisions for their conservation,” explained Esteban Morelle-Hungría, director of the Blue Crime Classroom.
The program also included practical workshops on marine sediments , the ecological importance of Posidonia oceanica and other seagrasses, as well as the threats posed by invasive species to coastal ecosystems. “Marine conservation needs scientific knowledge, but also an informed and engaged citizenry. Bringing these tools closer to young people helps to spark interest in science and strengthen their connection to the sea and the need to protect it for future generations,” said Morelle-Hungría.
The collaboration between IbizaPreservation and the Santa Eulalia Sailing Club has enabled the development of a programme focused on marine conservation and education. While the MarPITIUS campaign has introduced students from islands to the research being conducted in local waters, the Sol d’en Serra cleanup invites the public to participate directly in coastal conservation. These two different but complementary initiatives share a common goal: to strengthen the bond between society and the sea, which is an integral part of the islands’ identity.
