Report and social map of CoSeaLab research now unveiling data and results

[photo G.Lupinacci]

The results of the CoSea_Lab research describing the state of the sea and the coast of Anzio (Rome, Italy) as a result of a participatory social geography research and mapping.
The CO>SEA project proposes an interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral approach to analysing the socio-environmental transformations of marine and coastal ecosystems, with particular reference to the Gulf of Anzio (Lazio, Italy). Drawing on the theoretical framework of Critical Ocean Studies and Marine Social Geography, the initiative combines natural and social sciences, participatory citizen science, political ecology, and visual documentation to promote innovative models of environmental governance.
Starting from the systemic crisis of the global ocean (pollution, overexploitation, acidification, biodiversity loss), the project criticises the inadequacy of technocratic approaches typical of the Blue Economy. It promotes a relational, situated, and multispecies vision of the sea, understood as an ecological, cultural, and political space.

Through a local laboratory called CoSea_Lab, the research group initiated a process of knowledge co-production based on qualitative and participatory methods: interviews with local stakeholders, collaborative mapping, chemical-biological sampling, observation at sea, and testing of the Sailing Lab as an operational geo-ethnographic research tool.
The main critical issues that emerged included coastal erosion, microplastic pollution, impacts of tourism and fishing, fragmented governance, and poor ocean literacy. The methodological approach adopted was based on analysing wicked problems through adaptive and co-creative practices (punk strategies) and on valuing the situated knowledge of local communities.
The results demonstrate the validity of a replicable model of socio-environmental action research capable of strengthening a sense of belonging to the sea, improving the dialogue between science and society, and guiding public policies towards forms of just and ecologically aware sustainability.

The full report is available on Zenodo as Certomà, C., Pozzobon, C., Salari, C., Bertocci, L., Boldrini, A., Valente, T., Fornaro, F. (2025),CO>SEA nel Golfo di Anzio. Report tecnico-scientifico, Zenodo, https://zenodo.org/uploads/16679626

The map is available here:
CoSeaLab mappa

Press release (in Italian):