Dolphin conservation in Greece

The work carried out by this project is producing science-based information, aimed to contribute towards dolphin conservation in the Mediterranean Sea. In 2003 and 2005, the Mediterranean common dolphin population was listed as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and included in Appendix I of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species. You will be part of a scientific team and will learn about marine conservation priorities, apply advanced dolphin investigation methods and help with research at sea.

During your days at the project's field station you won’t feel like a tourist. You will be part of a scientific team sharing the same commitment and conservation goals. You will learn about marine conservation priorities, apply advanced dolphin investigation methods and get a feeling of research at sea while enjoying the beautiful landscape and lifestyle of one of the most beautiful historical villages in Greece.

Participants are informed about marine ecosystem damage caused by human activities and provided with sets of solutions ranging from personal changes of behaviour (e.g. responsible consumption of seafood) to collaboration with NGOs active in environmental protection. Ways to address the main threats facing cetaceans and the marine environment are discussed in the context of informal 'round tables'. The participation in this projects is - in itself - a way of supporting the work of a group committed to the conservation of marine biodiversity.

How this company makes a difference: We are a non-profit research organization partner to the Cetacean Alliance and to ACCOBAMS, the UNEP's Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans in the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area. We aim to protect the Mediterranean biodiversity by promoting the adoption of a precautionary approach for the management of natural resources.

Public awareness and conservation activities, coupled with education and capacity building, find their strength in our 20+ years of experience studying cetaceans in several Mediterranean countries. Our work seeks to prevent the decline of marine species and to encourage a sustainable use of the marine environment, particularly where habitat degradation makes it necessary. We have contributed over 300 scientific publications that substantially increase present understanding of Mediterranean cetaceans.

Over the past two decades we have trained and involved in our research activities thousands of people from around the world. We participated in countless management and conservation meetings and organized a number of actions to raise local and regional awareness on the need to protect whales, dolphins and the ecosystem that supports them.