The Blue World Institute of Marine Research and Conservation is a non-profit organisation which is dedicated to improving the protection and conservation of bottlenose dolphins, whales, sharks, giant devil rays and sea turtles in the Adriatic Sea. They were founded in 1999 and currently work from the Islands of Losinj, Murter and Vis. The Blue World Institute (BWI) was founded with the aim to carry out scientific research into the impacts environmental pollution has on the Mediterranean ocean and marine life, as well as finding solutions to protect and conserve the marine environment.
BWI offers volunteer programs during which members of the public can take part in beach clean-ups as shown in these images. Volunteers stay on the beautiful island of Losinj and take daily boat trips to record the marine life in the area.
The Institute has long been dedicated to improving public awareness. They opened the Lošinj Marine Education Centre in 2003 which hosts lectures and workshops to the public to discuss the findings from their studies and educate them on the impact plastic has on the ocean and marine life. BWI organises many activities to raise environmental awareness with local communities such as beach and sea clean ups. They have also started the Adriatic Dolphin Project, the longest ongoing study of the bottlenose dolphin, which carries out research to promote the protection of dolphins and their environment. The Institute has also recently expanded their research to include loggerhead sea turtles and sharks.