The major scientific research interest of the Blue World Institute is the study of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Adriatic Sea, implemented through the Adriatic Dolphin Project (ADP). Initiated in 1987, the ADP is now the longest ongoing study of a bottlenose dolphin population in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the longest in the world. It is recognised as an example for best practice, reflected in the international cooperation it has created. Over the years The Blue World Institute is using a wide spectrum of research methods to increase scientific knowledge on the ecology of the Adriatic marine environment, and on the anthropogenic impact on ocean health. Please look at the sections below to find out more about specific research methods. The Blue World Institute has expanded the scope of its research to include other species (such as loggerhead sea turtles and sharks), other topics (such as Marine Protected Areas and Marine Spatial Planning), new locations (such as Vis, Murter, Italy, Montenegro and Albania), and the partners with whom we collaborate.
The Adriatic Dolphin Project is now the longest ongoing study of a bottlenose dolphin population in the Mediterranean Sea