17–18 November 2025 – Sea Turtle Rescue and Research Center (INSTM), Monastir, Tunisia
SPA/RAC organized a two-day sub-regional training workshop to strengthen national capacities for monitoring the interaction between marine litter and sea turtles, specifically the ingestion and entanglement. The workshop brought together representatives from Algeria, Egypt and Libya participating in the Marine Litter MED PLUS project funded by the European Union.
Hosted by the Sea Turtle Rescue and Research Center of INSTM Monastir, the training combined theoretical and practical sessions delivered by Dr. Olfa Chaieb, Coordinator of the Centre and national focal point for the stranding network of marine turtles and cetaceans in Tunisia, and her team.
Participants were trained on the implementation of the standardized Mediterranean protocol for monitoring interactions between marine litter and sea turtles (SPA/RAC-INDICT Protocol), with the objective of ensuring harmonized data collection and assessment methods across the region, for the monitoring of the IMAP Common Indicator 24.
Following the workshop, the trained participants will share their knowledge and train their respective teams to contribute to the operationalizing of the national IMAP common Indicator 24 monitoring programme.
About the Marine Litter MED PLUS project
Funded by the European Union, Marine Litter MED PLUS (2024–2027) builds on previous phases of the Marine Litter projects to strengthen the implementation of the Updated Regional Plan on Marine Litter Management across the Mediterranean, with a focus on Southern Mediterranean countries.
The project contributes to Ecological Objective 10 (EO10) of IMAP, aiming to reduce and prevent marine litter and enhance regional cooperation.
Its ultimate goal is a Mediterranean where marine litter no longer harms marine life or coastal ecosystems.
Within this project, SPA/RAC supports Algeria, Egypt and Libya in setting up and operationalizing their national monitoring programmes for IMAP Common Indicator 24.
This support includes developing national operational strategies, establishing and guiding monitoring teams, assisting with implementation, and data submission to the IMAP Info System.
