Research expedition: Whales of the Aegean

Archipelagos’ marine research team’s autumn research expedition for the recording of east Aegean marine mammal populations was completed at the end of November. The expedition was carried out in cooperation with expert scientists from European universities and its subject was the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). This species has been migrating for thousands of years, cruising across the Aegean, embellishing the Greek seas.
The Archipelagos’ research boats ‘’Nireas’’ and ‘’Pinelopi’’ were used for the purposes of the expedition, as well as a local boat, which voluntarily participates from time to time in the Archipelagos’ activities. The research areas included Central, North and East Aegean and in particular the area from Amorgos up to the pass between Mykonos and Ikaria islands (west of Chios). The deep sea canyon in the area between Chios and Ikaria was also included. During the expedition, more than 2000 nautical miles were covered, and 27 individual sperm whales were recorded in 49 sighting surveys.

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Environmental crime at Rethymno, Crete

The marine research team of Archipelagos was faced with pictures of destruction and extreme environmental degradation at the coastal area of Latzima at Rethimno. Archipelagos rushed to the area, together with scientists from the Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry Laboratory of the National Technical University of Athens following complaints from residents, citizen bodies and the “Rethimno Observatory of Archipelago”, for extensive pollution to the land and marine environment in the specific area.

Sampling and analysis of water specimens from wells and boreholes at the Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry laboratory of the National Technical University of Athens preceded the arrival of the research team at Rethimno, as well as microbiological analyses at the Archipelagos laboratory, which revealed, without any obvious cause, levels of pollution in excess of the legal limits.

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Completion of the 2009 Oceanographic Research by Archipelagos

The 2009 Oceanographic Research that Archipelagos held for the third year in a row in eastern Aegean was successfully completed a few days ago.
This research is part of the continuous research that Archipelagos carries throughout the year, in many places of the Greek seas. In association with the Marine Department of Cardiff University of Wales, Archipelagos I.M.E.R.A.S. carried out for one week, scientific research and analysis in 5 different areas of interest of marine and coastal ecosystems’ physiology. The starting point was Archipelagos’ new research base in Samos, and with the help of 3 boats, the research covered the area between Samos – Fourni – Agathonisi.

The research team, including 65 scientists and many students who specialize in marine biology and geography, took on challenging tasks which they completed with success and which will be used by Archipelagos in its upcoming petition for the creation of a sustainable fisheries management area and of the construction of an underwater technological park, both in the Samos region.