May 15th 2025
The 36th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society Takes Place in the Azores with Key Participation from the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation
The 35th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society (ECS) is currently underway in the Azores, Portugal, gathering 745 specialised scientists from 51 countries. Under the theme “Navigating Waters of Change,” the conference highlights the urgent need to protect marine mammal populations worldwide.
The participation of the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation in this major international event is part of our long-standing effort to establish the Aegean Sea as a region of global significance for marine mammals. Until recently, the importance of this region was largely unknown to the international scientific community. When we began our work 25 years ago, knowledge of cetacean populations in Greek waters was limited to fragmented evidence and sporadic sightings.
At this premier international forum on cetacean science, Beatriz Tintoré, Head of Marine Mammal Research at the Archipelagos Institute, is presenting a study on the complex interactions and resource competition between fisheries and dolphin populations in the central Aegean, with a particular focus on the common dolphin (Delphinus delphis). This ongoing research is being carried out in collaboration with Brunel University London.
With nearly continuous presence in the open sea for over two decades, Archipelagos’ marine mammal researchers have played a pivotal role in bridging significant gaps in knowledge about populations in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean. To date, we have published 19 scientific papers, helping to place this ecologically critical marine region on the global map of marine ecosystem research.
Each year, by covering thousands of nautical miles with specialised equipment and a multinational research team, we expand our efforts to monitor marine mammal populations and the threats they face. Our goal remains the effective protection of these rare species in waters increasingly endangered by human activity.
Human pressure on the Aegean coastline has reached unsustainable levels. More than 70 million seasonal visitors descend on its shores and islands annually, without corresponding infrastructure. In addition, an uncontrolled maritime route for commercial shipping sees over 3 million tons of oil and thousands of tons of other hazardous materials transported through these waters daily. Tens of thousands of recreational vessels occupy every stretch of coastline, often in violation of even the most basic international pollution prevention standards. These are just a few of the many threats this unique sea faces.
As we continue to demand so much from the Aegean, it is vital to recognise that it is our generation’s responsibility not only to address the many existing knowledge gaps but also to act decisively to safeguard what remains of the region’s exceptional marine biodiversity—before it’s too late.
