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 Archipelagos Institute and its international partners aiming to redefine marine mammal care and rehabilitation. It is designed as a solution-based approach for 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.
The next phase of development will focus on serving 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
Mission & Key Objectives
The Aegean Marine Life Sanctuary aims to provide a safe, natural, and science-driven environment for the rehabilitation, care, and protection of marine wildlife, while advancing marine conservation, education, and research in the Aegean Sea and beyond.
Key Objectives
- Raise awareness and promote ocean conservation, highlighting the impacts of human activities such as pollution, overfishing, and noise disturbance on marine life.
- Advance marine conservation through habitat restoration, including artificial reefs and seagrass replanting to enhance biodiversity.
- Support scientific research and knowledge exchange, collaborating with international experts to improve marine mammal welfare, rehabilitation methods, and conservation strategies.
For the future
- Establish a first-of-its-kind veterinary clinic and rehabilitation centre for dolphins, sea turtles, and Mediterranean monk seals, providing individualised critical tailored 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.
- Deliver expert, compassionate care, addressing both physical and psychological needs while setting new global welfare standards.
- Offer lifelong care for non-releasable animals, ensuring a permanent naturalistic habitat that prioritises long-term welfare.
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 Location
The Aegean Marine Life Sanctuary (AMLS) is located in Vroulia Bay on the island of Lipsi, in the eastern Aegean Sea. This site was selected following six years of extensive research across the Aegean, including environmental assessments and close consultation with local communities and authorities.
The bay offers an exceptional natural setting, characterised by minimal human presence, the absence of light and noise pollution, and a strong local tradition of environmentally responsible practices. These conditions ensure minimal disturbance for animals undergoing rehabilitations and long-term care.
Vroulia’s Bay unique geomorphology further enhances its suitability. Its long, fjord-like formation provides natural protection from strong winds and waves, while its gentle slope creates a range of depths, from shallow waters ideal for rehabilitation to deeper areas reaching up to 40 metres. Combined with favourable water quality and current patterns, these conditions create a safe environment for marine life.
Sustainable & Self-Sufficient Infrastructure
The sanctuary has been designed as a fully energy self-sufficient facility, demonstrating how remote infrastructure can operate sustainably in sensitive environments.
The main building, an 800m2 facility converted from an abandoned industrial structure, operates entirely on renewable energy. A specially designed 10kW autonomous photovoltaic system, comprising 32 solar panels, covers 100% of the sanctuary’s energy needs, including laboratories, refrigeration units, and daily operations for up to 40 researchers and staff year-round.
Despite challenging conditions, including limited sunlight due to the building’s location within a north-facing canyon, the system has proven highly efficient, with its cost recovered within just three years. Additional systems, including desalination, wastewater treatment, and biomass heating, are also fully powered by solar energy.
This model demonstrates that energy independence can be achieved even in remote locations with limited resources, offering a practical and replicable solution for sustainable infrastructure across the Mediterranean.
Innovative Design & Materials
Sustainability is integrated into every aspect of the sanctuary’s design. Underwater enclosures utilize antibacterial copper alloys as an alternative to conventional materials. This approach enhances water circulation, reduces maintenance, and prevents biofouling, while also offering natural antimicrobial properties that help minimise disease transmission.
The AMLS will also host the first veterinary clinic to incorporate antibacterial copper surfaces, contributing to improved hygiene standards and animal health.
Ecosystem Restoration & Biodiversity Enhancement
Beyond rehabilitation, the sanctuary is designed as a “hospital of the sea”, supporting the restoration and protection of marine ecosystems.
Since 2018, Archipelagos has been developing experimental methods for restoring Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows within the sanctuary bay. Using fragments uprooted by anchors, as well as seeds collected from shorelines, new plants are cultivated and replanted under controlled conditions. This long-term effort aims to reverse the degradation of seagrass habitats, which play a vital role in carbon storage, coastal protection, and marine biodiversity.
In parallel, efforts are made to enhance natural ecosystem processes within the bay. Small-scale artificial reefs constructed from natural materials support biodiversity, while the selective presence of native species helps regulate organic matter. Where necessary, a low-noise, solar-powered water circulation system supports natural currents, maintaining water quality and ecological balance.
Left: Day 1 of monitoring
Right: Day 50 of monitoring
Future Operations
Rehabilitation & Care
Marine mammals and sea turtles in the Mediterranean face increasing threats from pollution, entanglement in fishing gear, vessel strikes, habitat degradation, and the depletion of their natural food sources. Despite these pressures, there is a significant lack of specialised rehabilitation facilities in Greece.
AMLS is being developed to address this critical gap. Located in the heart of the Aegean Sea, the sanctuary is strategically positioned to respond to marine wildlife in need across the region.
Whether animals are injured, stranded, or impacted by human activities, the sanctuary will provide rehabilitation at the highest standards, with the primary aim of supporting recovery and, whenever possible, facilitating a successful return to the wild.
Sanctuary for Formerly Captive Dolphins
Dolphins held in captivity are often confined to artificial environments that restrict natural behaviours and social structures. As a result, many individuals develop stress-related conditions, commonly referred to as zoochosis, which can manifest as repetitive behaviours, self-harm, or abnormal aggression.
For decades, the commercial use of dolphins for entertainment was widely accepted, while the associated welfare concerns remained largely overlooked. Today, however, public awareness is increasing across Europe and globally, leading to the gradual closure of marine parks and a growing need for ethical, long-term care solutions.
Once fully operational, the AMLS will provide a sustainable refuge for dolphins displaced by these closures, offering a natural, sea-based environment that prioritizes their physical and psychological well-being.
Ethical Guidelines
The AMLS is founded on the highest standards of animal welfare, environmental stewardship, and responsible human interaction. All operations are aligned with the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) Standards for Cetacean Sanctuaries.
The welfare of each individual animal is the guiding principle of the sanctuary. Any transfer of dolphins from other facilities will be based solely on the needs and well-being of the animal, rather than logistical or institutional convenience. Habitats are designed to replicate natural conditions as closely as possible, supporting both the physical and psychological health of the animals.
Particular emphasis is placed on providing an environment that allows for natural behaviours, social interactions, and autonomy, while also giving animals the necessary time and space to recover from past stress or trauma. Direct human interaction is strictly limited and permitted only when essential for medical treatment or welfare purposes.
Research, Education & Visitation
The AMLS will serve as a centre for marine wildlife research, offering scientists, researchers, and students opportunities to conduct non-invasive studies on marine mammals and sea turtles in a carefully managed environment.
To ensure minimal disturbance to animals under care, public access to the sanctuary will remain limited and controlled. Visits will be conducted on an invite-only basis and will follow strict guidelines to safeguard animal welfare.
Educational outreach will be supported through online platforms and an information centre in Lipsi, providing resources on marine conservation, research, rescue efforts, responsible tourism, and Mediterranean biodiversity. Additional tools, such as livestreams, acoustic recordings, and interactive content, will enhance public engagement, while a hillside viewing platform will allow visitors to observe marine life from a respectful distance.
