We’re excited to announce an important milestone in the SeaInsights project: the fieldwork phase of seawater environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling has been successfully completed by DBC, Shoreline and Morigenos, and samples are now undergoing laboratory analyses.
Between August 2024 and April 2025, 119 locations were sampled for eDNA 24 transects across the Northern Adriatic Sea, covering both the Italian and Slovenian marine areas. These transects were carefully planned to capture spatial and to a lesser degree also temporal biodiversity patterns using a standardized protocol developed by the project team.
Each sample was obtained by filtering 30 liters of seawater, targeting genetic material shed by marine organisms. This approach allows us to identify a wide range of species—from fish and crustaceans to marine mammals—without disturbing their natural habitats.
Now, these samples are in the capable hands of the genetics team at DivjaLabs, who are applying advanced metabarcoding techniques to extract and sequence the DNA. This work will reveal a detailed picture of the taxonomic richness in the region, detect possible invasive species, and establish a robust baseline for future biodiversity monitoring.
The use of eDNA is a game changer in biodiversity monitoring. It enables non-invasive, cost-effective, and comprehensive monitoring of ecosystems that are otherwise challenging to study. By harmonizing methods across borders, SeaInsights is creating a replicable and scalable model for transboundary marine biodiversity monitoring—critical in a shared ecosystem like the Northern Adriatic.
