The Carabinieri of Palermo and the Institute for Mediterranean Studies of the National Research Council sign an agreement for environmental protection activities:
the “QUALIMARE” project is launched

26/01/2026

This morning, at the headquarters of the Carlo Alberto dalla Chiesa Barracks, the Commander of the Carabinieri Legion “Sicilia”, Major General Ubaldo Del Monaco, and the Director of the Institute for Mediterranean Studies of the National Research Council (CNR-ISMed), Dr Gabriella Corona, signed an agreement to implement the “Qualimare” project, under which the military personnel of the Provincial Command of Palermo and researchers from the Institute’s Palermo office will collaborate.

In particular, the Carabinieri of the Palermo-San Lorenzo Company will host researchers, researchers and technicians from the Palermo branch of CNR-ISMed on board the Carabinieri’s new naval units, the Palermo offshore patrol boat and the Ustica inflatable boat, in order to monitor the health of the waters and marine fauna in the province of Palermo, as well as to detect and remove polluting debris in the sea that is dangerous to wildlife, such as ghost nets, hooks and waste.

The project, which will also involve the Carabinieri Diving Unit of Messina, also includes dissemination, scientific communication and “citizen science” activities.

The work carried out by the researchers will be summarised in a periodic report on the progress of the activities carried out, which will be presented during public events to raise awareness among citizens.

The initiative confirms the Carabinieri’s constant focus on environmental protection and ISMed’s commitment to the local area.

“It is an honour for the Institute to be able to collaborate with the Carabinieri in Palermo” – said Gabriella Corona, director of the CNR’s Institute for Mediterranean Studies – “This agreement enhances our commitment to scientific knowledge of the phenomena that threaten natural resources, an issue that has been at the heart of our Institute’s research activities for many years. The collaboration also has a strong symbolic value, in line with the principles and objectives of the Barcelona Convention.” The Director went on to thank Dr Angela Cuttitta and Dr Vito Pipitone, the scientific managers of the project.

General Del Monaco stated that today’s signing of the agreement represents added value for the Palermo Carabinieri, which will be able to make its excellent personnel, equipment and cutting-edge facilities available to the Institute to support research and protection of the ecosystem. Environmental protection has been one of the distinctive features of the Carabinieri since 2017, when the institution absorbed the staff of the State Forestry Corps.

“We are particularly proud” – General Del Monaco concluded – “of this collaboration with CNR-ISMed, aware that defending the sea means not only protecting nature, but also protecting a strategic asset whose impact is directly reflected in the economic fabric and prosperity of our country.”