ABOUT FORMICULA

Formicula (or Fermiculo) is a small uninhabited islet in the Inner Ionian Archipelago, a small "drop" in the middle of the Eastern Ionian Sea of only 800 sq.m. that hosts a remarkable biodiversity. Although small in size, the islet is a powerhouse of biodiversity, teeming with a stunning variety of creatures that thrive in its unique environment.

Marine habitats around Formicula Islet are as diverse as they are breathtaking. From rocky reefs and Posidonia meadows to underwater caves and sandy bottoms, each habitat provides a home for a variety of species, each contributing to the delicate balance of this underwater ecosystem. The Posidonia meadows, often referred to as the lungs of the sea, are quite extended and offer a nesting site for a vast amount of marine species but also play a vital role in maintaining water quality, providing oxygen and sequestration carbon, constantly supporting our fight against the climate crisis.

These unique habitats are the home for threatened and yet remarkable megafauna species, like the threatened groupers (Epinephelus marginatus and Epinephelus costae) and more importantly the Mediterranean monk seal, one of the most endangered mammals globally.

The marine life of Formicula Islet is a reminder of the resilience and wonder of nature. It inspires us to protect these precious habitats, ensuring they continue to thrive for generations to come. The sea around Formicula is not just a body of water; it's a living, breathing entity that sustains and nurtures a rich tapestry of life. By exploring, understanding, and conserving these marine habitats, we not only preserve a vital part of our planet's natural heritage but also our connection to the incredible world beneath the waves.

ABOUT THE MEDITERRANEAN MONK SEAL

The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is one of the world's most endangered marine mammals, with fewer than 700 individuals remaining in the wild. This rare species, known for its smooth, dark fur and characteristic whiskered face, is native to the Mediterranean Sea, particularly in areas around Greece, Turkey, and parts of the Eastern Atlantic such as the coasts of Morocco and the Madeira Archipelago. As a top predator in the marine food chain, the Mediterranean monk seal plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and balance of its ecosystem. Their presence in an area is often a good indicator of the overall health of the marine environment. Monk seals require clean, unpolluted waters with abundant food supply and undisturbed resting and breeding sites. Despite its importance, the Mediterranean monk seal faces numerous threats. Human activities such as overfishing, pollution, and habitat destruction have severely impacted their populations. Seals are often victims of accidental entanglement in fishing nets and deliberate killings by fishermen who view them as competitors. Coastal development has also reduced the availability of safe resting and breeding caves, further endangering the species.

Ionian Dolphin Project of Tethys Research Institute, has been systematically monitoring the marine mammal population in the Inner Ionian Sea since the 90s and it was only after 2014 that monk seal sightings started being regular in the area. Since then a total of 41 different seal individuals have been recorded in the area while in 2023, more than 20 Mediterranean monk seal individuals were found in Formicula. Whereas according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) it is estimated that overall, in the Mediterranean there are 400-600 adult individuals of Mediterranean monk seals, the island of Formicula is an extremely important place for the conservation of the species.

The Formicula and the broader area of the Ionian Sea have been recognised for their importance and uniqueness and thus included in the Natura2000 Network. Natura 2000 is a network of protected areas across Europe established to ensure the long-term survival of Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats. This network is a cornerstone of the European Union's (EU) nature conservation policy and is designed to protect biodiversity by safeguarding natural habitats and species of wild fauna and flora that are of European importance. Formicula is part of the ''Esoteriko Archipelagos Ioniou (Meganisi, Arkoudi, Atokos, Vromonas)'' with site code GR2220003 based on 11 EU protected habitats and 6 EU protected species.

In addition, the importance of the area for marine mammals has been highlighted by the delineation of the area as Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMAs). These are regions in the world's oceans and seas identified as critical for the survival and well-being of marine mammals. These areas are prioritized for conservation due to their significance to marine mammal species. The concept of IMMAs was developed by the Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, part of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), to help guide conservation efforts and protect marine mammal habitats globally.

Formicula in the summer months is characterized by heavy traffic of boats, which often stop for leisure purposes. The regular presence of Mediterranean monk seals on the island has made it a destination for their observation which is done in an uncontrolled and often intrusive way. Some of the human activities regularly seen during the summer months include tourists chasing the seals, attempting to swim with them and entering the breeding or resting caves. Tethys Research Institute report has manifested the urgency of this situation and advocates for immediate measures, as there are cases of monk seal pups, leaving the caves after a tourist enters and never seen again in the area.

As a result of uncontrolled boat tourism in the islet, uncontrolled anchorage within the boundaries of Posidonia meadows is also a major issue for the preservation of Formicula. During our visits, we have recorded fragmentation and degradation of the Posidonia meadows, with characteristic signs of anchorage at the upper (shallow) boundary of the existing meadow while on the main beach of the island, where boats normally concentrate, the meadow has receded completely. Currently, we are working with aerial drones to quantify this threat for the summer months and understand better its impact on the marine habitats of the area.

Based on our work with the local fishing communities, and through the use of questionnaires we manage to map the fishing activity in the wider area of the Inner Ionian Sea Archipelago. Despite the large biomass of fish that Formicula sustains, the area is not a fisheries hotspot. However, both Tethys Research Institute and iSea have witnessed illegal beach seining taking place right outside of the monk seal caves and on top of the Posidonia meadows. Beach seining is a fishing method that involves dragging a long net with a weighted bottom and buoyed top (known as a seine) along the sea floor from the shore, encircling fish and other marine organisms, and then pulling it back to the beach. While this method can be effective for catching a wide range of fish, it also has significant environmental impacts (high bycatch levels, destruction of habitats etc.), which have led to its prohibition in the European Union (EU), since 2006, while in Greece this prohibition transposed only in 2015. However, still, in Formicula we see this practice.

iSea is working systematically in the area since 2022 with the aim of protecting Formicula islet and contributing to the effective science-based management of the area by empowering the Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency (NECCA). Since 2023, the work has been expanded in the near uninhabited islands, Atokos and Gaidouri. However, Formicula is at the center of our attention and is a top priority for its immediate protection which will benefit Posidonia meadows and the Mediterranean monk seal population. Below you can find the core actions that iSea is implementing in Formicula islet.

Formicula is a stronghold of biodiversity, hosting unique habitats and megafauna species. Through our work, we aim to quantify this information, highlight the importance of the site at a Mediterranean level and set the basis for science-based management in collaboration with the local community.

Up to date and exclusively in Formicula we have managed to map 0.63 km² of Posidonia meadows surrounding the islet, extending below 35m of depth. The conservation status of the meadows based on the Conservation Index (CI) was estimated at 0.98 and assessed as “Very Good State” in the sampled locations. Conversely, the shoot density and total image of the meadows portray a different picture, with shoot density ranging from 170-180. Our estimations indicate that this comprehensive meadow has sequestered 2,512.63 MgC or 39.88 Mgc/ha of Blue Carbon. This is the first estimate of Blue Carbon in the wider region. However, we continue samplings in the area to come up with more accurate conclusions, while in the future we plan to quantify the impact of different threats like pollution. It is worth noting that fragmentation due to uncontrolled anchorage and illegal beach seining was observed at the site in many cases and this is the major threat to the meadows of Formicula.

Further, we monitor the species and work to estimate the biomass of fish that the meadows are sustaining. Up to date, 80 different marine species have been recorded and identified at the species level, belonging to 20 different taxa highlighting the rich biodiversity of the islet. Apart from fish, marine phanerogams (other than Posidonia), sea algae, sponges, echinoderms, molluscs, and marine mammals have been recorded, while recently we monitored the presence of the invasive lionfish (Pterois miles) and the rabbitfish (Siganus sp.).

You can find more results in the following reports.

The strict protection of Formicula islet is a top priority on the agenda of iSea, also reflected in the 5-year strategic plan of the organisation. For this, since 2022, we joined forces with Tethys Research Institute that works in the area for more than 2 decades and with Blue Marine Foundation, and we actively advocate together for the strict protection of the islet.

The three entities together have produced a vast amount of reports and have consistently communicated the results and their proposals for the area to the policymakers primarily the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy and the Municipality of Lefkada, which governs Formicula. Through these efforts, we have jointly managed to incorporate our proposals in the Special Environmental Study (SES) concerning the Natura 2000 sites of the Ionian and Western Greece, which will lead to issuing the Presidential Decree for the strict protection of Formicula. This was our first win, towards the protection of Formicula, while during the OurOceans Conference, the Ministry of Environment confirmed that Formicula will be part of the broad National Park of the Ionian Sea that Greece announced its creation.

However, the creation of a Presidential Decree and the National Park that would permanently protect Formicula are a complex and time-consuming processes. However, time is not on our side. The harassment of Mediterranean monk seals and the overall degradation of the area around Formicula may lead to seals abandoning the island. Therefore, we partnered with 32 entities and tourism businesses of the local community advocating for the urgent issuance of a Joint Ministerial Decision that will provide for the implementation of the proposed measures until the issuance of the Presidential Decree.

You can find all our proposals and communications with authorities below.