Aegean Marine Life Sanctuary
Overview
The Aegean Marine Life Sanctuary (AMLS), currently under development on the island of Lipsi in Greece, is a pioneering initiative by the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation and its international partners, aiming to redefine marine mammal care and rehabilitation. It is designed as a solution-based approach to the care of marine mammals and turtles, offering short- and long-term rehabilitation in a natural, biodiverse environment with minimal human impact, through both indoor and sea-based facilities, while upholding the highest standards of animal welfare.
In its next phase of development, it will also serve as a model sanctuary for rehabilitating dolphins formerly held in captivity and displaced by marine park closures.
Set in a pristine natural environment, the sanctuary will offer a high-standard, sustainable, and cost-effective model for marine mammal sanctuaries that can be replicated globally. As the world’s first sanctuary of its kind, AMLS also honours the ancient Greek legacy of dolphin protection, where dolphins were revered as messengers of Poseidon and their killing was punishable by death.
Partners
A pioneering sanctuary where expert care and rehabilitation will be offered in the Wildlife Care Centre to injured marine animals from the Greek seas. At a later stage, formerly captive dolphins are given the chance to heal and rediscover life in a natural environment. This innovative project will serve as a long-term rehabilitation and retirement solution for these remarkable animals.
Aegean Marine Life Sanctuary
Aims & Mission
- Establish a first-of-its-kind veterinary clinic and rehabilitation centre for dolphins, sea turtles, and monk seals, providing critical care in a pioneering teaching marine mammal hospital.
- Provide a long-term sanctuary for displaced dolphins affected by marine park closures, offering refuge in a biodiverse natural environment.
- Advance marine conservation through habitat restoration, including artificial reefs and seagrass replanting to enhance biodiversity.
- Deliver expert, compassionate care, addressing both physical and psychological needs while setting new global welfare standards
Our Values
Rescue & Rehabilitation
Providing high-standard care for marine mammals and turtles in a natural setting
Pioneering Research
Advancing ethical marine research in a natural, regulated setting
Sustainability
100% renewable-powered, setting a standard for environmental responsibility
Replicability
A scalable, cost-effective model for marine sanctuaries
Innovation
Advancing new standards in animal welfare and ecosystem-based conservation
Community Engagement
Engaging local communities in conservation and long-term marine stewardship
Sanctuary Location
The Ideal Sanctuary Location
The first major challenge was to identify a location that meets all the criteria for the establishment of a marine sanctuary, including geomorphological, environmental, and social factors, as well as minimal anthropogenic impact.
This process took six years of research across the Aegean, involving extensive consultations with local authorities on multiple islands. Following this thorough assessment, Vroulia Bay on the island of Lipsi was selected as the ideal location.
Situated in an area with minimal human presence, no light or sound pollution, a small local population, and a long tradition of eco-friendly practices, the site ensures minimal disturbance to animals undergoing rehabilitation.
The long, fjord-like bay provides safe shelter from rough seas and is characterised by ideal physicochemical conditions and sea currents. Its gentle gradient creates shallow areas suitable for rehabilitation, as well as deeper zones reaching up to 40 metres.
The AMLS aims to provide:
Individualised care tailored to each animal’s life history, in accordance with accredited standards for marine mammals and sea turtles.
Sufficient space for animals to swim freely, explore, and interact in an environment that closely resembles their natural habitat.
Innovative, sustainable approaches to the rehabilitation of marine animals in need.
A long-term rehabilitation and retirement solution for formerly captive dolphins.
Rehabilitation Care for Wild Marine Animals in Need
Marine mammals and sea turtles face growing threats from pollution, entanglement in fishing gear, boat strikes, habitat loss, and the depletion of their food sources.
With a significant lack of adequate rehabilitation facilities in Greece, the launch of AMLS will address a critical need. Located in the heart of the Aegean—one of the Mediterranean’s most important biodiversity hotspots for marine mammals and sea turtles—the sanctuary is strategically positioned where it is most needed.
Whether animals are injured, stranded, or affected by human activity, the sanctuary’s mission is to provide rehabilitation at the highest standards, improving their chances of recovery and return to the wild.
AMLS aims to achieve this by:
- Providing immediate medical care, safe shelter, and a low-stress environment to support recovery from injury, stress, or trauma.
- Preparing animals for a successful return to the wild by helping them regain essential survival skills, including hunting live prey, navigating natural waters, and forming social bonds.
- Offering a permanent, naturalistic habitat for animals that cannot be returned to the wild, prioritising their long-term health and well-being.
- Collaborating with international researchers to advance marine mammal rehabilitation, welfare, and conservation practices.
- Raising awareness of ocean conservation and the threats facing marine life, from pollution to noise disturbance.
Care for Formerly Captive Dolphins
Dolphins in captivity live in artificial environments, deprived of their natural habitat and social structures, and often suffer from stress-related conditions known as zoochosis. These can include behavioural abnormalities such as self-harm, repetitive behaviours, and increased aggression.
For decades, the commercial exploitation of dolphins was widely portrayed as an acceptable form of entertainment for humans and as the only viable option for the survival of captive dolphins, leaving the public largely unaware of the serious welfare concerns associated with captivity. Today, however, public perception is shifting across Europe and internationally, and there is a growing need for sanctuaries that offer ethical alternatives.
Once fully operational, AMLS aims to provide a sustainable, long-term solution for dolphins displaced by the increasing closure of marine parks worldwide.
Ethical Guidelines
AMLS is grounded in animal welfare of the highest standards in compliance with the Standards for Cetacean Sanctuaries for the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), environmental stewardship and responsible human interactions.
- Animal transfers from other facilities will be based upon the dolphin’s welfare, not convenience.
- Their environment will replicate that of their natural habitat as much as possible
- The mental and physical well-being of the dolphins will be a main priority, with opportunities for stimulation, social interaction and autonomy, as well as allowing them the time and space to recover from past traumas and stress.
- There will be no direct contact with the dolphins unless crucial to the medical or psychological welfare on the dolphins
Education & Visitation
As a global hub for marine mammal and sea turtle research, the AMLS will provide scientists, researchers and students with opportunities for non-invasive study in a controlled setting. Public access will be limited to “invite-only” visits, with strict guidelines to protect animals in care.
Education for visitors and the local community will be promoted through online resources and an information centre in Lipsi, covering topics like conservation, research, rescue efforts, responsible tourism and marine biodiversity. Livestreams, dolphin sound recordings, and interactive tools will support learning, while a hillside viewing platform will allow visitors to observe marine life from a respectful distance.
Progress
A once derelict building has been transformed into a state-of-the-art rehabilitation and research centre. Initial efforts have focused on making the facility fully operational as a marine animal rehabilitation centre, including the installation of a veterinary clinic and specialised rehabilitation pools. Major structural upgrades, such as new flooring, windows, doors, and interior fittings, have been completed, and both the office spaces and the general laboratory have been fully functional since May 2020.
Future aspirations
In collaboration with the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, University of Toronto, the project integrates coastal rehabilitation, marine rejuvenation, and building reuse to transform the AMLS site into a sustainable system. The design emphasises water retention, erosion control, minimal visual impact, and shared spaces for wildlife and human stewardship. Combining advanced material with traditional techniques, the team at UofT continues to refine the design through each construction phase.
A Sustainable Sanctuary
An energy self-sufficient building
A specially designed 10 kW autonomous photovoltaic unit has powered the AMLS building for the past seven years. It utilizes state-of-the-art technology to ensure efficient energy production. The system comprises 32 solar panels, covering 100% of the current energy needs of the sanctuary building, as well as anticipated future requirements.
The building, converted from an abandoned industrial structure, is located in an isolated area, 7 km from the nearest settlement. At the time of its discovery, it lacked electricity, water supply, mobile phone coverage, and many other basic amenities. Situated within a small north-facing canyon, it receives limited sunlight – only from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in winter, and slightly longer in summer- making the use of solar energy particularly challenging.
Today, the 800 sqm facility operates entirely on solar power and accommodates up to 40 people year-round, including researchers and staff. It includes energy-intensive laboratories, refrigeration units, kitchen facilities, and essential infrastructure. In recent years, additional systems such as desalination, wastewater treatment, and biomass heating have been installed—all powered by electricity from the photovoltaic unit. Notably, the system’s cost was recovered in less than three years.
A replicable model
Despite the challenges, this relatively small and carefully designed renewable energy system—implemented in an isolated building in the Aegean—has achieved full energy self-sufficiency. It demonstrates what can be accomplished in most buildings across the Mediterranean, many of which benefit from significantly greater solar exposure. By adopting similar solutions at the scale of homes, communities, or businesses, energy independence can be achieved with relatively modest investment.
Innovation
Underwater seagrass restoration
AMLS is being developed not only as a rehabilitation centre for marine mammals and sea turtles, but also as an innovative “hospital of the sea”, dedicated to the protection and restoration of marine ecosystems as a whole.
Since 2018, in collaboration with scientists from leading European universities, the Archipelagos Institute has been developing and implementing experimental techniques for planting underwater Posidonia seagrass gardens in the AMLS bay. Using fragments uprooted by boat anchors, as well as rare seeds collected from shorelines (typically produced only once every 4–8 years), new seagrass plants are cultivated and replanted underwater under controlled conditions.
Over the past seven years, multiple planting methods have been tested at different depths in order to identify the most effective restoration practices. This is a highly demanding process, requiring continuous care by specialised scientific divers, particularly during the early stages of growth.
Despite the challenges, including slow growth rates, environmental conditions, and ecological pressures, these efforts are critical. Posidonia meadows play a vital role in carbon storage, protection against beach and coastal erosion, and the support of marine biodiversity, among many other essential ecosystem functions.
Our goal is to help reverse the ongoing degradation of seagrass ecosystems in the Greek seas.
Natural biodiversity enrichment
Our goal is to rely exclusively on natural processes to maintain a healthy and balanced habitat within the AMLS bay for the marine life under our care. This includes the construction of small-scale artificial reefs using natural materials, as well as the selective introduction of native detritivore species to help manage organic waste that will be produced by large marine mammals.
Where necessary, a noise-reducing, solar-powered pump will complement the natural sea currents flowing in and out of the bay. This system will support the circulation of nutrients essential for sustaining a balanced and healthy ecosystem, while also helping to prevent the accumulation of organic waste.
Antibacterial copper
Sustainable antibacterial copper alloy has been selected as the primary material for underwater fencing, offering an environmentally responsible alternative to plastic. It allows for efficient water circulation, is easy to maintain, long-lasting, recyclable, and resistant to corrosion, while also preventing biofouling such as algae growth.
Copper has been used for millennia, and in recent years its natural antimicrobial properties have been increasingly recognised. AMLS will host the first veterinary clinic in the world to incorporate antibacterial copper surfaces, helping to minimise the transmission of diseases.
Left: Day 1 of monitoring
Right: Day 50 of monitoring
