Environmental Hotspots

Modern facilies for the study and protection of marine mammals

The Mediterranean Sea is the home of unique marine life. A remarkable variety of fauna and flora can be observed in the Greek waters. Among them a number of rare marine species like common dolphins, monk seals and sperm whales are threatened with extinction. Despite the extremely high value of our sea life only 2% or less of local marine areas are protected. It is urgent that we act against such an unprecedented loss of biodiversity. The aim of this initiative is the study, and protection of rare marine species so as to enhance their chances of survival before they have vanished once and for all.

NAUTILUS

Study and Protection of Marine Mammals

PROJECT OVERVIEW

  • Location : Alonissos, Sporades
  • Status : Land acquisition [phase I]
  • Focus Sector : Marine Life Conservation, Research & Education
  • Description : Creation of a state of the art environmental centre under the name “Nautilus” for the protection of the monk seal, which will also suggest a point of reference for the study of marine mammals in Greece and the Mediterranean in general.
  • Beneficiaries : Local community, environmental associations and institutes, researchers, academics and students.
  • Implementing Partners : The Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal

Alonissos is a small island in Northern Sporades, Aegean, where MOm a Greek not for profit orgnization founded in 1988, undertakes considerable action for the protection of the Mediterranean monk seal, an endangered species according to the IUCN. Thalassa Foundation has already allowed MOm a large area of 850m2 for the construction of  “Nautilus”, a centre for the study and protection of endangered marine species, located only 3km away from the port of the island. Thalassa undertakes this ambitious project in order to promote marine life protection and environmental education and sensitization activities that will have a positive impact on the local community and will expose a large number of visitors to marine conservation, not to mention researchers, students and academic institutes all over the world.

PROJECT STATUS

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