Who are we
About us
Medias Maris was born from the recognition that ocean monitoring and protection have long been dominated by powerful institutions, leaving many coastal communities without access to vital tools or data. The idea grew from conversations between scientists, community leaders, and ocean advocates who saw the urgent need to shift power back to the people living closest to the sea.
Medias Maris began as a vision to create a federated network — one that is decentralized, democratic, and rooted in respect for local knowledge and sovereignty.
Since its inception, the network has grown to include pilot projects in Indonesia, the Pacific Islands, and beyond, demonstrating that when communities are equipped with the right tools and partnerships, they become powerful stewards of their marine environments.
Medias Maris is more than technology; it is a movement to rewrite who tells the ocean’s story and who gets to protect its future.
A Mutualistic Network for Ocean Justice
Medias Maris is more than a project — we are a living, breathing network of ocean guardians. We connect coastal communities, researchers, technologists, and storytellers across the globe in a spirit of mutual support, shared knowledge, and collective growth.
We believe that caring for our oceans is a responsibility shared by all, but the tools, knowledge, and power to do so have often been reserved for a few. Medias Maris exists to change this. We create a cooperative space where every node — whether a fishing village, a school, an NGO, or a research lab — can access the technologies, training, and partnerships needed to observe, protect, and celebrate their marine heritage.
“Federated networks of community-based monitoring offer a scalable and equitable approach to environmental stewardship."
— Sofie Boggio Sella
Our Core Values
Equity over Extraction
We reject extractive research models. Communities are not “sites” — they are sovereign collaborators.Openness with Intention
We believe in open data, but even more in open dialogue. Access must be paired with understanding and consent.Repairability and Resilience
We support technologies that can be fixed, adapted, and owned — not locked away behind patents and price tags.Listening First
Our work begins with listening to the knowledge, needs, and lived experiences of those who are closest to the sea.Interconnection
We recognize the ocean as a shared system — ecological, social, and technological. Collaboration is not optional. It's essential.