Marine Mammal Research & Conservation
Overview
The conservation and protection of marine life has been at the forefront of the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation since its foundation in 1998. The Aegean Sea is home to some of the most important remaining populations of marine mammals and turtles in the Mediterranean Sea, including:
- Four species of dolphins: bottlenose dolphins, striped dolphins, common dolphins and Risso’s dolphins
- Three species of whales: sperm whales, Cuvier’s beaked whales and occasionally fin whales
- Three species of sea turtles: loggerhead, leatherback and green turtles
- One species of seal: the highly endangered Mediterranean Monk seal
These species can reside in the Aegean permanently as resident populations, or migrate through in search of food or breeding areas. However, research into these populations and how they use the Aegean Sea is severely lacking, even with the increasing threats they face from climate change and anthropogenic stressors. Anthropogenic stressors in the Aegean Sea include: high levels of marine traffic, pollution (including noise, chemical and plastic), interactions with fisheries, effects of overfishing and habitat destruction. The research conducted by the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation aims to understand the distribution, dynamics and abundance of marine mammal populations in response to the effects of anthropogenic activities in the north eastern Mediterranean.
Despite the existence of national and international legislation for the protection of marine mammals, including EU laws to limit cetacean by-catch and 4.6% of Greece’s marine area designated as protected, there is a lack of effective and enforced action to conserve marine life in the Aegean. Overfishing has diminished prey availability; noise pollution has impacted cetacean communication and sociality; while coastal development has destroyed beaches used as turtle nesting sites and seal resting grounds. The Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation, in cooperation with local communities, aims to contribute to the development and establishment of long-term solutions to address and mitigate the threats faced by these charismatic creatures.
Partners
The Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation has been active in the protection and study of marine mammals for over two decades, with a year round presence in the open sea.
Research & Conservation
In order to develop effective conservation actions, such as establishing marine protected areas to protect essential habitats and managing fishing activities, it is important to understand the characteristics, dynamics and trends of cetacean populations.
The Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation collects data on the biodiversity and abundance of cetaceans in the Aegean Sea. With the use of three research boats, active year round, these populations can be monitored for changes over time and their use of important habitats.
In recent years, Archipelagos observers have recorded the presence of common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, striped dolphins, Risso’s dolphins, sperm whales, Cuvier’s beaked whales and Mediterranean Monks seals in the north- eastern Aegean Sea. The Marine Mammal Team’s constant and committed research has revealed this area as an important hotspot for marine mammal biodiversity.
In order to develop effective conservation actions, such as establishing marine protected areas to protect essential habitats and managing fishing activities, it is important to understand the characteristics, dynamics and trends of cetacean populations.
The Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation collects data on the biodiversity and abundance of cetaceans in the Aegean Sea. With the use of three research boats, active year round, these populations can be monitored for changes over time and their use of important habitats.
In recent years, Archipelagos observers have recorded the presence of common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, striped dolphins, Risso’s dolphins, sperm whales, Cuvier’s beaked whales and Mediterranean Monks seals in the north- eastern Aegean Sea. The Marine Mammal Team’s constant and committed research has revealed this area as an important hotspot for marine mammal biodiversity.
In order to develop effective conservation actions, such as establishing marine protected areas to protect essential habitats and managing fishing activities, it is important to understand the characteristics, dynamics and trends of cetacean populations.
The Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation collects data on the biodiversity and abundance of cetaceans in the Aegean Sea. With the use of three research boats, active year round, these populations can be monitored for changes over time and their use of important habitats.
In recent years, Archipelagos observers have recorded the presence of common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, striped dolphins, Risso’s dolphins, sperm whales, Cuvier’s beaked whales and Mediterranean Monks seals in the north- eastern Aegean Sea. The Marine Mammal Team’s constant and committed research has revealed this area as an important hotspot for marine mammal biodiversity.
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Species
Latest News
Scientific Publications
Niche overlap between monk seal (Monachus monachus) and small-scale fishery fleet of Marathokampos Bay in Samos Island (North Aegean Sea, Greece)
Ingrosso, M., Tintoré, B., Macrina, L., Cipriano, G., Tsimpidis, T., Miliou, A., Carlucci, R., Pietroluongo, G. Niche overlap between monk seal (Monachus monachus) and small-scale fishery fleet of Marathokampos Bay in Samos Island (North Aegean Sea, Greece). 2023 IEEE International Workshop on Metrology for the Sea; Learning to Measure Sea Health Parameters (MetroSea).
A deep learning approach to photo–identification demonstrates high performance on two dozen cetacean species
Patton, P. T., Cheeseman, T., Abe, K., Yamaguchi, T., Reade, W., Southerland, K., Howard, A., Oleson, E. M., Allen, J. B., Ashe, E., Athayde, A., Baird, R. W., Basran, C., Cabrera, E., Calambokidis, J., Cardoso, J., Carroll, E. L., Cesario, A., Cheney, B. J., Corsi, E., Currie, J., Durban, J.W., Falcone, E.A., Fearnbach, H., Flynn, K., Franklin, T., Franklin, W., Galletti Vernazzani, B., Genov, T., Hill, M., Johnston, D.R., Keene, E.L., Mahaffy, S.D., McGuire, T.L., McPherson, L., Meyer, C., Michaud, R., Miliou, A., Orbach, D.N., Pearson, H.C., Rasmussen, M.H., Rayment, W.J., Rinaldi, C., Rinaldi, R., Siciliano, S., Stack, S., Tintore, B., Torres, L.G., Towers, J.R., Trotter, C., Tyson Moore, R., Weir, C.R., Wellard, R., Wells, R., Yano, K.M., Zaeschmar, J.R., Bejder, L. A deep learning approach to photo–identification demonstrates high performance on two dozen cetacean species. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 2023.
Cetaceans in the Mediterranean Sea: Encounter Rate, Dominant Species, and Diversity Hotspots
Gnone, G., Bellingeri, M., Airoldi, S., Gonzalvo, J., David, L., Di-Méglio, N., Cañadas, A.M., Akkaya, A., Awbery, T., Mussi, B., Campana, I., Azzolin, M., Dede, A., Tonay, A.M., Monaco, C., Pellegrino, G., Tepsich, P., Moulins, A., Arcangeli, A., Labach, H.,
Environmental variables influencing occurrence and distribution of Delphinus delphis in the eastern Aegean Sea (eastern Mediterranean Sea)
Ingrosso, M., Tintoré, B., Cipriano, G., Ricci, P., Grandjean, T., Tsimpidis, T., Nomikou, P., Carlucci, R., Miliou, A. Environmental variables influencing occurrence and distribution of Delphinus delphis in the eastern Aegean Sea (eastern Mediterranean Sea). Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater
