Minister for Environment John Cortes recently met with three students whose Master’s at the University of Gibraltar are on subjects related to Nature and the Environment.

Emma Ocaña is looking at the colonisation of the Gibraltar coastline by the invasive Atlantic Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus. Her work will involve locating specimens and relating them to habitat while considering the possible impact on native species.

Anne Canepa is studying the uptake of artificial nests in Gibraltar by Common Swifts Apus apus and Pallid Swifts Apus pallidus. This will serve to compare the different types of nests and their locations and could improve the provision of these in the future.

Clare Sanderson is studying Ocean Literacy and taking the opportunity to promote the concept as widely as possible in the community.  Ocean Literacy relates to awareness of the impact we have on the Oceans and that the Oceans have on us, and is aimed at encouraging people to change habits in ways that will improve the health of the Sea.

Minister Cortes commented: “I was really keen to see their work, given my own research into ecology in the past, and I was very encouraged to see the interest that there is in young students, both from Gibraltar and abroad, in learning more about our ecology and promoting knowledge and action aimed at protecting and enhancing our biodiversity. The University and its students are playing an ever-increasing role in this and providing us with the means to make decisions based on science. I wish these, and all the other students, the very best.”

Emma Ocaña

Anne Canepa

Clare Sanderson