Τα Κοραλλιγενή Οικοσυστήματα των Φούρνων-Κορσεών Αποκτούν Θεσμική Προστασία
Τα παγκόσμιας περιβαλλοντικής σημασίας κοραλλιγενή οικοσυστήματα στο νησιωτικό σύμπλεγμα των Φούρνων Κορσεών χαρακτηρίστηκαν πλέον με ΦΕΚ ως “προστατευόμενος φυσικός σχηματισμός και προστατευόμενο τοπίο”. Αυτό αποτελεί ένα πολύ σημαντικό προηγούμενο για την προστασία των θαλασσών, καθώς είναι η πρώτη φορά που στην Ελλάδα θεσμοθετείται η προστασία αυτών των παραγωγικών και εν μέρει άγνωστων οικοσυστημάτων. Η ισχύουσα […]
Coralligenous Ecosystems around Fourni Island Officially Recognised and Protected
Coralligenous Ecosystems around Fourni Island Officially Recognised and Protected “The globally significant coralligenous ecosystems in the Fourni island complex have now been officially designated as a protected natural formation and landscape.” This marks a key milestone for marine conservation efforts in Greece, as it is the first time coralligenous ecosystems have received formal legal protection. […]
Beneath the Surface: Conservation Challenges in the Aegean’s Mesophotic Zone
May 20, 2025 Beneath the Surface: Conservation Challenges in the Aegean’s Mesophotic Zone At a depth of 69.4 meters: a glimpse into our ongoing extensive research at the Archipelagos Institute in the mesophotic zone of the Aegean Sea. While we document spectacular images of rare biodiversity, the human footprint remains distressingly visible even at these […]
Safeguarding the Hidden Reefs of Fourni: A Call to Protect the Mediterranean’s Underwater Treasures
May 12th 2025 Safeguarding the Hidden Reefs of Fourni: A Call to Protect the Mediterranean’s Underwater Treasures The research vessel Triton and its crew are currently operating in the waters of the Fourni Archipelago—a truly unique region of the Mediterranean made up of over 20 islands and islets, known for their remarkable underwater geomorphology. Beneath […]
Strong Southern Winds in the Aegean, but Life Beneath the Surface Carries On
March 13th 2025 Strong Southern Winds in the Aegean, but Life Beneath the Surface Carries On Despite today’s intense southern winds sweeping across the Aegean, life in the deeper waters continues undisturbed. In the marine region around Fournoi, a close collaboration between the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation, its scientific partners, local fishers, and the […]
Triton Anchors Briefly in Wintery Ikaria Before Returning to the Depths
March 10th 2025 Triton Anchors Briefly in Wintery Ikaria Before Returning to the Depths “Triton” made a short stop earlier today in the village of Armenistis in wintery northern Ikaria. A few hours before the strong south winds start, we make the most of the temporary calm to continue our research in this special sea […]
International Women’s Day – Celebrating Women in Science!
March 8th 2025 International Women’s Day – Celebrating Women in Science! Today, we honour the incredible women working to protect our planet. From marine conservation to biodiversity research and environmental advocacy, women play a crucial role in shaping a more sustainable future. For 26 years, women have comprised the majority of the driving force of […]
Curious Dolphins, Fragile Depths: A Call to Protect the Aegean
January 4th 2025 Curious Dolphins, Fragile Depths: A Call to Protect the Aegean An unexpected encounter occurred between humans and dolphins in the waters of the Fourni Island archipelago. After the deep divers from UNDER THE POLE completed a dive to survey coralligenous habitats at a depth of 100 meters, their slow ascent, lasting over […]
Information meeting with fishermen, the municipality and the local community of Fourni island. Topic: the progress of the research aimed to promote the urgent protection of the coralligenous habitats in the deep waters of the area.
The collaboration between the French UNDER THE POLE and the Archipelagos Institute revealed for the first time high resolution imagery of the coralligenous ecosystems of international environmental importance that still survive in the deep waters of the Fourni island complex. This research required over 120 difficult dives by eight deep-sea divers from Under the Pole […]
Collaborations at Fourni: Archipelagos Marine Institute of Conservation, Pure Ocean Fund, Hellenic Rescue Team of Samos, and UNDER THE POLE, along with close cooperation of the Municipality of Fournis and the Local fishermen of the island
The common goal of all remains the urgent and effective protection of this area of unique biodiversity and global environmental importance, which supports significant populations of rare marine species and is characterised by unique geomorphological features, as well as adverse weather conditions that make research in deep depths particularly difficult. Rare species and ecosystems are […]
