May 20, 2025
Beneath the Surface: Conservation Challenges in the Aegean’s Mesophotic Zone
At a depth of 69.4 meters: a glimpse into our ongoing extensive research at the Archipelagos Institute in the mesophotic zone of the Aegean Sea.
While we document spectacular images of rare biodiversity, the human footprint remains distressingly visible even at these depths.
Tangled and abandoned fishing gear, alongside long-lasting plastic debris, have steadily invaded large portions of these delicate ecosystems.
Even when removal is possible, it must only be performed after careful assessment and with precise technical approaches, ensuring we don’t cause further harm to the organisms that now live among these materials.
In these largely unexplored waters — after all, only 5% of the world’s oceans have been thoroughly studied — sweeping declarations about “marine protection” ring hollow without meaningful, on-the-ground (and underwater) action. Effective conservation demands more than promises; it requires presence, precision, and long-term commitment.
