New scientific publication on the knowledge and attitude of Greeks in relation to marine plastic pollution and the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive

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In the context of #zeroplastic, an awareness raising campaign against pollution from plastics and microplastics in the Greek seas, the knowledge and attitude of the Greek public towards marine plastic pollution and the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive were investigated by interpreting the results of a questionnaire.

The issue of marine plastic pollution has been highlighted by scientists and in Greece, consultation and resolution about the implementation of the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive have already been carried out. However, the results of our study showed that participants were not informed about the issue of marine plastic pollution nor the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive. Nevertheless, they expressed positive attitudes, including their willingness to pay and act in order to reduce their plastic waste.

Taking into account the findings of the study, it is recommended that more actions should support the publicity of the Directive so that the Greek public would be able to actively participating in the decision-making process and its effective implementation. In addition, the topic of microplastics is suggested to be integrated into the context of formal education.

Find the full publication and results here.

Strengthening Angel Shark Conservation in the Southern Aegean Sea – Layman’s report

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The three angel shark species found in the Mediterranean and Greece, the sawback angelshark (Squatina aculeata), the smoothback angelshark (S. oculata), and the angeshark (S. squatina) are classified as “Critically Endangered (CR)” in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Recent angel shark records in Cyclades and Dodecanese island groups indicate that the South Aegean region is very important for their Mediterranean populations.

In this context, the project “Strengthening Angel Shark Conservation in the Southern Aegean Sea” aims to identify important areas for the three angel shark species, to submit proposals for the improvement of the current legislation, and organise workshops for the training of competent authorities, local bodies and fishers.

In order to identify areas of high possibility of angel shark occurrence, a modeling approach was employed which revealed three critical areas for the three species:

the region of Cyclades island group,
the southeastern part of the Aegean and especially the zone between the islands of Samos and Rhodes,
the northern coasts of Crete.

Based on the outcome of the above analysis, a Layman’s report was issued that includes the results obtained as well as a few guidelines aimed at improving the conservation and protection of Aegean angel sharks.

The project is implemented by iSea, in collaboration with the Shark Trust, the support of the Angel Shark Project, and funding of the Shark Conservation Fund.

You can find the Layman’s report here.

 

 

Approval for the implementation of iSea’s educational program regarding aquatic litter by the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs.

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The educational activities implemented by iSea in all levels, of mainstream  and special education, acquired official  approval by the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs

The educational activities aim to inform and raise awareness among students about the issue of marine plastic pollution and its impact, as well as to promote a zero-waste lifestyle.

More than 2000 students from schools across Greece have participated in iSea’s educational activities about aquatic litter during the previous years..

The educational materials and activities created in the context of #zeroplastic, awareness-raising campaign against plastic debris and microplastics in the Greek Seas, are presented and implemented during the school visits.

The educational materials were created with the support of Ocean Care.

 

Approval for the implementation of «Become kookoonari: An experiential project to create zero-waste schools» by the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs

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The program “Become kookoonari: An experiential program to create zero waste schools” has been approved by the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs for its implementation in primary education.

The program aims to promote waste reduction through experiential workshops and educational activities for adults and children!

Last year the program was piloted at the 10th Komotini Kindergarten with the participation of students, teachers, and parents. Participants took part in actions, to adopt zero waste practices at school, but also at home! Students participated in games and actions, by hosting zero-waste events and by composting. Parents participated in the experiential workshops as well, in order to get waste reuse ideas.

Sharks and rays at extinction risk in the Mediterranean Sea

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An international team of marine biologists published today a Letter entitled “Mediterranean sharks and rays need action” in the prestigious Science magazine. The article presents some food for thought for policy makers and the general public on a topical issue for the entire Mediterranean region: the fight against illegal unregulated and unreported fishing and the protection of sharks and rays at risk of extinction.

“Social platforms have succeeded where political pressure and diplomacy had not yet managed to” says Prof. Marco Milazzo, professor of Ecology at the University of Palermo, and first author of the article. “The recent publication on social media of images and videos of protected sharks sold in chunks in the markets of Monastir and Kelibia in Tunisia, has led several local and international organizations to raise a formal protest against the Tunisian government. Fortunately, the answer was not long in coming, and pending a review of national legislation, a ban on fishing, landing and marketing of various sharks and rays species at high risk of extinction in the Mediterranean was promulgated”.

The recent measures taken by the Tunisian government could finally help to change the Mediterranean fisheries policy scenario, triggering a cascading effect on the lethargic action of other coastal countries, including many EU ones, which are among the main exporters and importers of shark meat globally. The actions, in accordance with the roadmap of the European Green Deal, must concern the effective fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, controls in ports and processing industries, and increase traceability and seafood security (sharks are sold as swordfish in various markets in Italy and Greece), but also the creation of international sanctuaries for the protection of sharks and rays at risk of extinction.

“North African waters host elasmobranch aggregations and high diversity of species, many of which are at risk of extinction. Contrasting deliberate fishing of sharks and rays in these areas represents a crucial step for the effectiveness of conservation action”, says Dr. Carlo Cattano, researcher at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnologies in Sicily.

Sharks and rays that are listed as Endangered (EN) or Critically Endangered (CR) in the Mediterranean Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are landed in ports and marketed in Mediterranean countries. The rare guitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos) (A) in Libya, the spiny butterfly ray (Gymnura altavela) (B) and mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) (C) in Greece.

“According to the FAO official statistics, Tunisia has the largest North African fishing fleet, second only to Libya for shark fishing in the Mediterranean, and North African countries land 70% of Mediterranean elasmobranchs catches. However, these data are largely overlooked”, adds  Ioannis Giovos, researcher of iSea and the University of Patras in Greece.

The continuing political instability and armed conflict in some countries along with the recent pandemic have drastically shrunk the economy of North African countries, with tourism collapsing. “There is an evident increase in illegal fishing in these countries due to the higher demand for shark meat globally and subsistence fishing. All the above, set Mediterranean elasmobranchs in a greater risk of extinction than before and we must act before its too late” concludes Sara Al Mabruk, researcher at the Marine Biology in Libya society.

Milazzo M., Cattano C., Al Mabruk S.A.A., Giovos I. (2021) Mediterranean sharks and rays need action. Science, 371(6527), pp. 355-356. DOI: 10.1126/science.abg1943
LINK: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/371/6527/355.2

The “Fishing For Litter” project continues in 2021!

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Following the successful course of the “Fishing For Litter” project, the A.C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation and iSea announce its continuation for the year 2021 in all the ports where it has already been implemented (Alexandroupoli, Volos, Thessaloniki, and Kavala), as well as its expansion to the ports of Heraklion, Lesvos, Patra, Chania, and Chios.

In 2019, from October to December, “Fishing For Litter” was piloted at the ports of Nea Michaniona and Kavala with the participation of 8 fishing vessels. In 2020, the project continued, with the active participation of 18 fishing vessels, in the ports of Alexandroupoli, Volos, Thessaloniki, and Kavala.

The main objectives of the project are to raise awareness within the fishing industry and change the industry’s waste management, to remove marine litter, and to collect data on marine pollution on the seabed at depths that cannot be reached easily. The collected data contribute to the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC).

Find more about the project here.

About 1/3 of sharks and rays worldwide are facing extinction

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A total of 128,918 species are included in the recent IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; 35,765 of these species are listed as Endangered.

The populations of more than 420 species were assessed, 154 of which are listed as Endangered. Among them, there are species that can be found in the Mediterranean Sea and in Greek waters such as the Galeorhinus galeus (GAG) Tope shark, and Chimaera monstrosa (CMO) Rabbitfish. Out of the 200 species that were listed as Not Evaluated in 2014, due to a lack of data, 57 are now evaluated as Endangered in the most recent report.

One species of shark (Carcharhinus obsoletus), which was only formally described in 2019, enters the Red List as Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) since its most recent record dates back to 1934. Nevertheless, further research is required.

The Greek Red Book was published in 2009 and it included 63 Chondrichthyan species, 50 of which were listed as Not Evaluated due to the absence of data. According to recent research, it is estimated that the majority of the species that belong to the Data Deficient (DD) category, i.e. the majority of the species found in the Greek seas, belong to the threatened categories and thus are facing extinction.

                                      

iSea and the IUCN Shark Specialist Group have undertaken the preparation and compilation of the National Chondrichthyans Checklist in Greece in collaboration with Greek researchers. However, this is only an initial step as, considering the information presented above, it is imperative to re-compile the Red List for Chondrichthyans in Greece.

Wheeled vehicles in the Protected Area of Elafonisos during popular TV show

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Οn the 7th of December, thousands of TV viewers watched wheeled vehicles moving on the Protected Areas of Elafonisos island during the TV show of the STAR channel “Greece’s Next Top Model (GNTM) 3”.

Elafonisos, due to its particularly high ecological value, is a Special Protected Area according to the Natura 2000 Network (GR2540002 site, PERIOCHI NEAPOLIS KAI NISOS ELAFONISOS). Since off-road vehicles moving on sand dunes and the seashore are prohibited by law, 17 environmental organisations denounce the event asking its further examination from the corresponding authorities. We hope for the positive response of the authorities in charge, as well as for the promotion awareness among the public about the importance of the area’s preservation and respect to the protection measures.

 

iSea’s participation in the consultation of the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy on the bill entitled “Integrated Maritime Policy in the Island Area and other provisions”.

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iSea participated in the consultation of the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy on the bill entitled “Integrated Maritime Policy in the Island Area and other provisions”.

We highlighted the fact that this bill does not have a truly integrated approach in regards to island and maritime areas, as it is not fully in line with the goals of Blue Growth. More specifically, it appears that the bill does not take into account the Integrated Maritime Policy of the European Union, nor United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, or the European Green Deal. Therefore, we propose that a number of changes should be made to this bill for it to better incorporate the goals of sustainable development and blue growth. Please find all of iSea’s comments here.

Reforms in the management of alien species

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A new study with the participation of iSea, led by Cypriot and Greek scientists, proposes major changes in the management of marine alien species in the Mediterranean Sea

Non-indigenous species (also known as alien or non-native) are species introduced outside their natural past or present range, which might survive and subsequently reproduce. There are more than 800 non-indigenous species in the Mediterranean, and the number has been exponentially growing in the recent decades, particularly through the Suez Canal. They are characterized as a major threat to ecosystems due to their potential impacts on the environment, economy, and even human health. However, there are non-indigenous species that can offer benefits e.g. replacing lost ecological functions, enhancing ecological redundancy and providing fishery balance. Stopping the spread of such species is virtually impossible especially with the tools we have today.

A new study published in the ‘Journal of Environmental Management’ – led by the Marine and Environmental Research (MER) Lab, in collaboration with scientists from Greek organizations such as iSea, the University of Patras, HCMR, the University of Plymouth (UK) and the University of Queensland (Australia), is proposing institutional changes in the approach and management of marine alien species in the Mediterranean. In order to address such issues, the study proposes cost-benefit analysis, as well as a series of institutional reforms that will guide whether each species should be managed in a sustainable or unsustainable way.

For example, where there are negative impacts, the study proposes legislation to actively promote commercial over-exploitation and the creation of specific licences for recreational fishers targeting non-indigenous species. It also recommends investment in the market and valorisation of NIS products, the development of novel products, and fishery-related tourism. The study also highlights the importance of investing in natural-based solutions such as the protection of native predators, the enhancement of marine protected areas (MPAs), and allowing SCUBA divers to remove invasive species from MPAs.

Periklis Kleitou, lead author of the study and researcher at MER Lab, said: “The Mediterranean is heavily overexploited. It is unwise to perceive all the effects of non-indigenous species in the region as negative. Some species have been established in the basin for decades playing a major role in ecosystem and fisheries balance. In some parts of the eastern Mediterranean, they might account for over half the fishery catches in some parts of the eastern Mediterranean. Others are harmful and we do not actively promote their overexploitation. The solutions we propose would create an ecosystem-based framework to promote fishery sustainability in the region”.

Co-author Ioannis Giovos, from the environmental organization iSea and researcher at MER Lab, added: “We cannot talk about fighting alien species without, at the same time, protecting their potential native predators, many of which are endangered in the Mediterranean due to overfishing. With the right measures and institutional changes, alien species can be a driving force for the sustainable management of stocks and a breath can be given to the Mediterranean ecosystems, but this requires courageous moves at national, Mediterranean and European level.”

Find the full study here: Kleitou et al: Fishery Reforms for the Management of Non-Indigenous Species – can be found at the Journal of Environmental Management, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111690