After the successful outcome of the first LIFE Pinna networking event, which gathered Pinna nobilis experts from the Adriatic region in mid-June, another significant event took place in Valencia from July 10 to 12. This event attracted dozens of researchers from across the Mediterranean basin, including representatives from institutions such as SPA RAC and IUCN. The Spanish event, organized by Triton Italy and the Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir as part of ISMS24, the International Symposium on Marine Sciences, marked the culmination of the synergy between the two European projects, LIFE Pinna and LIFE Pinnarca.

The first day featured a session with 15 oral presentations and several posters, disseminating the latest data and research on Pinna nobilis. For LIFE Pinna, Stefano Picchi from Triton Italy and Daniele Grech from the IMC Foundation International Marine Centre showcased the effectiveness and results of communication tools used to engage citizens in the search for surviving individuals of the large bivalve, as well as the GIS platform managed by Arpal. Chiara Locci from the University of Sassari reconstructed the evolutionary history of Pinna nobilis through genetic investigations, highlighting the implications for current conservation and repopulation efforts. Saul Ciriaco from Shoreline discussed the latest developments in transportation, captive breeding, and transplant actions conducted in collaboration with the University of Genoa, and provided an in-depth look at larval collectors and juvenile maintenance techniques used with the National Institute of Biology in the Gulf of Trieste.

On the second day, researchers traveled to the town of Calpe, where they visited the marine station of Imedmar – Instituto de Investigación en Medioambiente y Ciencia Marina. They then participated in a roundtable discussion to review the current state of Pinna nobilis research, covering topics such as the recruitment of new individuals, captive breeding techniques, reproduction, and genetic and pathological aspects. Professors Abdulmaula Hamza from the University of Tripoli and Joseph Borg from the University of Malta also joined via videoconference to share their findings. During the event, biologists discussed the need to establish a task force for Pinna nobilis and the creation of a shared document outlining future actions to ensure the survival of this large bivalve in the Mediterranean, with support from major organizations like SPA RAC and IUCN.