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.

The scientific team noted that the first results of the research demand urgent attention and further analysis, as the drastic changes that the marine habitats of the area have undergone in only a short period of time, confirm what Archipelagos I.M.E.R.A.S is constantly worried about, which is the degradation of the Greek seas and their ecosystems.

More specifically:

• The use of state of the art technological equipment (sonar, high definition underwater cameras) has helped in the detailed chartography and the depiction of the current status of Posidonia seagrass beds and coralliegene reefs. Although extensive areas of the aforementioned habitats were recorded, they were severely degraded. This is due to overfishing, as well as coastal zone erosion caused by the uncontrolled construction and forest fires. In depths exceeding 100m, the degradation was less severe.
• In shallower ecosystems, the biodiversity of productive coastal habitats was recorded through snorkelling (underwater visual census methods). This showed rich biodiversity throughout the study area, but at the same time revealed extended areas of desertification and degradation, due to anthropogenic impacts.
• While observing and recording marine mammals populations by using audiovisual digital equipment, 2 species of dolphins (Bottlenose dolphin and Common dolphin) were studied. It must be noted that the Common dolphins pot is one of the last remaining in the eastern Mediterranean, and is constantly under surveillance throughout the year by the Archipelagos research team. We must also emphasise the fact that the population of Bottlenose dolphins has radically decreased over the last few years, also due to anthropogenic factors. 
• Water samples from 40 different regions of the eastern Aegean were analyzed in Archipelagos lab, in order to check the quality of the drinking water. Despite the fact that in some cases high quantities of arsenic or microbes were detected, on the whole, the quality of the water can be characterized as good.
• During the integrated coastal zone management study, emphasis was given on the salt-marshes ecosystem in Samos (Alikes) and especially on its extensive degradation. Owing to many anthropogenic impacts throughout the last couple of decades (such as road constructions), the hydrodynamics of the water have changed and the habitat dries out completely during the late spring and summer months. This has driven away many protected migratory species that used the salt-marshes as a reproduction area and migratory pathway, leading to the desertification of the salt-marshes for a period of over 6 months every year. The fact that not even a single reproduction incident of flamingos has been recorded since 2002 in the area is quite remarkable.
  
  The conclusions of the research were presented in detail in one of the Archipelagos’ scientific team’s meetings with Cardiff University and Samos’ prefectural authorities and certain measures of marine and coastal management were discussed. The prefecture expressed its will to adopt and implement these measures, in order to secure and even restore up to a point, the health and the balance of these rare ecosystems.
  
  The 2009 Oceanographic Research was once again an amazing educational field for the scientists and the students who participated, but also offered important information which will be included in the perennial research that Archipelagos is carrying out in the eastern Aegean, throughout the year, aiming to implement sustainable management and conservation measures.
  

Sonar submersion and hydrographic depiction of Posidonia seagrass beds, through a monitor












Observation and acoustic recording of marine mammals













Recording Posidonia seagrass beds by diving



















High definition, underwater camera submersion and collection of Posidonia samples





















Conclusions of the research were discussed in a meeting with the prefectural authorities of Samos














In addition to the Oceanographic research, and during their limited spare time, the 65 scientists and students, along with some local volunteers, cleaned the port of Marathokampos and the surrounding areas, using diving equipment.