Beneath the surface of the sea, nature is renewing itself. The period from spring through early summer is the most important time of the year for the reproduction of hundreds of marine species.

 Over the past few months, and continuing to this day, Archipelagos researchers have been recording increasing numbers of spawning fish aggregations of various species in the coastal waters of the Aegean Sea. Each afternoon, the same schools return to shallow waters above Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows, where they perform remarkable “spawning dances.” Every day, millions of eggs are released and fertilized, giving rise to the next generations of fish.

The images we record give us hope. Hope that our seas still have a chance, provided that we protect this vital natural process.

Every time a spawning fish is removed from the sea, we eliminate the chance of survival for hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of eggs that will never become fish. A bluefin tuna, for example, can release up to 30 million eggs, while a white seabream can produce up to 1 million eggs during a single spawning season.

At the same time, commercial and recreational fishers continue to intensively target spawning aggregations, while even the most basic protection measures during the reproductive period remain absent, measures that fishers themselves have been calling for for decades.

Protecting fish reproduction is not a luxury. It is a prerequisite for the future of our seas. Without the protection of spawning aggregations, any measure announced for the recovery and conservation of our marine ecosystems is destined to fail.
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