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Overview

Save the Aegean is an initiative of Archipelagos  Institute of Marine Conservation that aims to form an alliance between environmentalists, scientists, businesses, and consumers.

The common goal is working towards an effective reduction of environmental footprint caused by our daily life, which is having detrimental repercussions on our planet at its seas.

Save the Aegean aims to contribute to the protection and preservation of the Aegean Sea’s rare biodiversity, through filling in knowledge gaps via research and awareness raising, as well as through the implementation of effective conservation actions.

One aspect of this initiative includes the development and promotion of new products that are truly eco-friendly.

The Aegean Marine Life Sanctuary bay

Participating in "Save the Aegean"

Consumers

Consumers are given the opportunity to have a greater say towards what products are available to them. By being the demand that triggers the supply, the power to request sustainable and environmentally friendly products lies in the hands of the consumers. Save the Aegean is a platform that further facilitates the ability to reduce personal environmental footprints, while having their desire to do so heard by companies and manufacturers.

Companies

Companies improve both their products and impact on the environment by offering consumers more eco-friendly alternatives. By doing so they will help promote to the public the need for environmentally conscious decisions to be made when purchasing every-day items. In addition, they will support targeted actions of protection and conservation by donating some of their profits

Actions supported by "Save the Aegean"

The Aegean Marine Life Sanctuary which is currently under construction on the island of Lipsi aims to: • Provide for the first time in the world rehabilitation in a natural environment to dolphins rescued from captivity. • Provide expert veterinary medical care to stranded marine species such as dolphins, seals and sea turtles, using the highest standard of animal welfare. • Serve as a research and educational facility, that allows study without human disturbance to the animals. It will provide professional training in marine animal welfare, as well as practising conservation and fieldwork. • Serve as a innovative prototype model for the development of future sanctuaries

Marine Mammal Conservation

Marine mammal research and conservation has been a key area of focus for Archipelagos Institute since its establishment. Work in this field aims to fill important knowledge gaps on the population distribution of marine mammals, whilst also recording and understanding the key factors that impact the survival of these populations, of rare and endangered species. Key factors that we assess include fisheries interactions, depletion of prey stocks, shipping traffic as well as pollution (plastic, chemical and noise pollution). The close cooperation with the local communities and authorities in all phases of this research and conservation is a key asset contributing to their protection.

Replanting the Forests of our Seas

The continued destruction of Posidonia seagrass meadows that takes place in the Greek seas, where no efficient conservation measures are applied, does not only cause important consequences to fisheries (as fish stock productivity is reduced) and in tourism (as beach erosion phenomena are caused) but also deprives us from the valuable services that these important ecosystems provide globally to limit the effects of climate change. After 3 years of experimental application of different methods for the replanting of Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows on the island of Lipsi in the northern Dodecanese, through "Save the Aegean" Archipelagos is now initiating a new action for the habitat restoration method of seagrass meadows using storm fragments and biodegradable replanting methods.

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