Marilles Foundation now has a head of the strategic habitats and species area. Marine biologist Tatí Benjumea has joined the team and will lead projects to recover and protect key species and habitats in the Balearic Islands.
The new area coordinator will focus primarily on conservation projects for three types of habitats and species: shallow bays, sharks and rays, and corals and gorgonians. As she points out, these three lines of work complement each other: ‘Sharks are the top predators that shape the ecosystems, corals and gorgonians form the deepest underwater forests, and shallow bays are like a mosaic of many different habitats.’
Tatí is a specialist in the marine restoration of seagrass meadows and has extensive multidisciplinary experience in marine research and conservation. In addition to having been a fishing observer, she is co-founder of MedGardens and recently led marine meadow restoration projects with the Cleanwave Foundation.
Born in Algeciras, Tatí's relationship with the sea began at a very young age. ‘My roots are in the Strait of Gibraltar and, therefore, in a larger, rougher sea, but when I discovered the Balearic and Mediterranean seas, I fell deeply in love with them,’ she explains.
As she says, ‘Every type of sea is special,’ but the serenity and tranquility of the Mediterranean give it a special charm.
Welcome to the team, Tatí!
