The Aita Mari is a ship of the Maydayterraneo maritime rescue project, launched by Salvamento Marítimo Humanitario (SMH, Humanitarian Maritime Rescue) in 2017, in view of the European migrant crisis in the Central Mediterranean. SMH, a non-governmental organization, refurbished the Stella Maris Beria (an old tuna fishing boat) to rescue people from the waters of the Mediterranean. The project has saved the lives of dozens of migrants in the Mediterranean, as well as the lives of some fishermen. Sometimes it did so despite clashes with governments.