The San Paolo Dolphin Refuge is being established in Taranto, on a seven-hectare stretch of sea and with a 1,600-square-meter saltwater pool. Once fully operational, it will be the first institution in the Mediterranean and Europe dedicated to dolphins from dolphinariums, aquariums, or research facilities who cannot be promptly released into the open sea. Located in the Gulf of Taranto, it covers roughly seven hectares and is sheltered by the Island of San Paolo (Cheradi). The entire marine area is surrounded by floating constructions that produce vast natural pools, allowing dolphins to live in far more natural surroundings than they would in captivity. They will be allowed to swim alongside comparable cetaceans. The San Paolo Dolphin Refuge is managed by Jonian Dolphin Conservation (JDC), the scientific group that spearheaded the initiative. This non-profit organization was created in Taranto with the mission of saving cetaceans and studying the ocean. Carmelo Fanizza, its founder, is in charge of the initiative, which is made possible by the Fondazione con il Sud and the Spanish Embassy working together. JDC will recruit marine biologists, veterinarians, and cetacean professionals, as well as a network of worldwide collaborators, to administer the project on a daily and scientific level. The entire region is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week by cameras, sensors, and buoys that collect data on water quality, temperature, animal behavior, and other variables. This information is then relayed in real time to the control center at the Kètos Center in Taranto.