Aegean Marine Life Sanctuary
Overview
The Aegean Marine Life Sanctuary (AMLS), situated on the island of Lipsi, represents a pioneering initiative and supportive effort by the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation and its international partners to redefine marine mammal care and rehabilitation. The sanctuary aims to provide a solution-based alternative, offering long-term care for wild marine mammals and turtles in need at the highest animal welfare standards, as well as – in the next phase of development – refuge and long-term care for dolphins displaced due to the closure of marine parks.
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 internationally. As the world’s first sanctuary of its kind, the AMLS honours the ancient Greek legacy of dolphin protection, where killing a dolphin once carried the death penalty, reflecting their revered status as messengers of Poseidon.
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
Aims & Mission
- Establish a first-of-its-kind veterinary clinic and rehabilitation centre for sick and injured marine animals including dolphins, sea turtles, and monk seals, offering critical clinical care in a pioneering “teaching marine mammal hospital” set in a pristine, low-impact environment.
- Provide a long-term, sanctuary solution for displaced dolphins affected by the closure of marine parks, offering them refuge and a chance to live the rest of their lives in highly biodiverse natural environment.
- Advance applied marine conservation through innovative habitat restoration, including the creation of artificial reefs and the replanting of seagrass meadows to enhance local biodiversity.
- Deliver expert care with empathy, addressing both the physical and psychological needs of each animal, while setting new global standards for welfare in marine sanctuaries.
Our Values
- Rescue & Rehabilitation
Committed to rescuing marine mammals in distress and providing a safe, natural refuge for their recovery and healing.
- Pioneering Research
Home to an international research centre where dolphins and other marine species can be studied ethically in a regulated, naturalistic setting.
- Sustainability
Powered entirely by renewable energy, the sanctuary operates with a minimal plastic and carbon footprint, demonstrating true environmental responsibility.
- Replicability
Designed as a scalable, cost-effective model that can be adapted and implemented in marine ecosystems around the world.
- Innovation
Driving global progress in marine conservation through groundbreaking protocols, technologies, and animal welfare practices.
- Community Engagement
Actively involving local communities in hands-on conservation efforts, education, and awareness to foster long-term stewardship of the marine environment.
Our Sanctuary
Why Is The Bay Ideal?
The bay will provide a natural environment highly biodiverse flora and fauna which is intended to be enriched over time by adding fish and invertebrates and planting sensitive Posidonia oceanic seagrass. This provide the marine mammals in care with opportunities for natural behaviours such as hunting live fish and interaction with multiple other species.
The Aegean Sea is a natural habitat for Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), the species of dolphin most often held in captivity. The sanctuary bay contains all of the natural conditions and stimuli essential for their physical and psychological well-being.
Vroulia Bay was chosen as the ideal location after six years of thorough research. Situating the AMLS in an area with minimal human presence or disturbance, no light or sound pollution, a small local population and a long tradition of eco-friendly practices minimises any anthropogenic impacts which could disrupt the animals in rehabilitation.
The long fjord provides safe shelter from rough seas, while the bay is characterised by ideal physiochemical conditions and sea currents to host marine animals in need of care. The gentle gradient provides a shallow section perfect for rehabilitation and deeper areas of up to 40 meters in depth. The AMLS aims to provide:
- Individualised care to each animal based on life and learning history in accordance with all accredited standards for the care of marine mammals and sea turtles.
- Enough space for the animals under care to swim freely, explore and interact with one another, by being located in a coastal area which resembles the animals’ natural habitat.
- Innovative and sustainable alternatives to the rehabilitation of marine animals in need, in a natural environment.
- A long-term rehabilitation and retirement solution for formerly captive dolphins.t
Rehabilitation Care for Wild Marine Animals in Need
Marine mammals and sea turtles face threats from pollution, entanglement in fishing nets, boat strikes and habitat loss. With a complete lack of adequate rehabilitation facilities in Greece, the start of the AMLS operation will address a pressing need. Whether these animals have been injured, stranded, or affected by human activity, the sanctuary’s mission is to offer them rehabilitation at the highest possible standard, enhancing chances of recovery and release back to their natural environment
AMLS aims to achieve this by:
- Providing immediate medical care, safe shelter and a stress-free environment to help these mammals recover from injury, stress or trauma.
- Focusing of preparing these mammals for a successful return to the wild by helping them regain essential survival skills such as hunting live fish, navigating natural waters, and forming social bonds.
- For those that cannot be retuned to the wild, the sanctuary will offer a permanent home in an enclosure that is as close to their natural habitat as possible, prioritising their health and well-being.
- Working with international researchers will help in advance science in marine mammal rehabilitation, welfare and conservation practices.
- The sanctuary aims to raise awareness about the importance of ocean conservation and threats to marine life, from pollution to noise disturbances.
The Aegean is a biodiversity hotspot that has long been home to dolphins, seals, turtles and other marine species. The sanctuary aims to honour the regions ecological significance and work closely with partners and authorities to protect its natural heritage.
Care for formerly captive dolphins
Dolphins in captivity spend their lives in an artificial environment, deprived of their natural habitat and social groups and often suffer from stress related disorders, known as “zoochosis”. These include behavioural abnormalities such as self-mutilation, self-inflicted trauma, repetitive behaviours and excessive aggressiveness.
For decades, the media portrayed the commercial exploitation of dolphins as an activity enjoyed by both animals and humans. Consequently, the public was largely unaware of animal welfare concerns associated with holding dolphins in captivity. However, public perception is changing and sanctuaries are urgently needed to offer a solution for dolphins relocated from captivity. The AMLS, once fully operational, plans to provide a sustainable solution for dolphins displaced due to the growing 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.
Innovation
Sustainability
POWERED BY RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES
Α specially designed, 10 kW autonomous photovoltaic unit powers the AMLS building using state-of-the-art technology for efficient energy production. Comprising 32 solar panels covering 100% of the current needs for the sanctuary building and the anticipated future requirements.
On site, two electrical generators and a biodiesel converter will operate as a backup for tasks requiring higher amounts of electricity. The generators will run on biodiesel from recycled cooking oil provided by local restaurants. This offers a sustainable solution to the local community, eliminating the need for management of this waste.
WATER & ENERGY SUPPLY
Water is provided to the AMLS building through the collection of rainwater, and at a later stage, this will be coupled with the installation of a solar-powered desalination system. Grey water will be recycled and used for irrigation. In this way, the building will be completely autonomous with a zero carbon footprint. All needs are covered by renewable sources, educating and inspiring both on-site and online visitors. We aim for this system of operation to become a model for electricity and water supply, with a relatively small cost and zero impact on the landscape.
ANTIBACTERIAL COPPER
Sustainable antibacterial copper alloy is the chosen material for underwater fencing as an alternative to plastic. It is efficient for water circulation, easy to maintain, long-lasting, recyclable, non-corrosive and prevents biofouling, e.g. algae growth.
Copper has been used throughout millennia, and more recently, its natural antimicrobial properties are also being widely acknowledged. The AMLS will host the first veterinary clinic in the world to use antibacterial copper surfaces to minimise the transfer of diseases.
NATURAL ENRICHMENT PROCESSES
Our goal is to employ only natural processes to maintain a healthy habitat for the marine life under our care. The bay will be selectively populated with native detritivore species to help manage organic waste from large marine mammals.
If required, a noise-reducing solar pump will complement natural sea currents leading in and out of the bay. It will also assist the provision of nutrient enrichment that is necessary to maintain a balanced and healthy ecosystem, whilst preventing organic waste build up.
Biodiversity enrichment
Targeted enrichment efforts will enhance the bay’s biodiversity and support the growth of marine life. An experimental seagrass garden will help improve water quality and create a thriving natural habitat, using affordable, scalable methods with biodegradable material. To counteract the loss of marine species from human activity, artificial reefs tailored to specific species will be installed, providing essential habitats and encourage ecological recovery.
Scalability, expansion & replicability
The AMLS aims to become a model sanctuary that can be globally replicated and scaled to local conditions and different budgets, facilitating and promoting the creation of new sanctuaries. Once completed, the AMLS plans to be extended to additional sites that have already been identified on nearby islands, allowing the sharing of important resources locally.
