Working to effectively manage and protect the marine area of Erimitis peninsula, Corfu

To support the long term protection of Erimitis peninsula in north east Corfu, iSea in collaboration with Blue Marine Foundation, Ionian Environment Foundation and Erimitis Plous has been working in the area since 2021 focusing on showcasing the importance of the marine area of Erimitis. For yet another year, iSea enriched its knowledge on the local biodiversity through scientific research and moved on to a management-focused effort based on science and integration of bottom-up approaches with the participation of key local stakeholders in the heart of the development of an adaptive management plan for Erimitis. Educational actions and community engagement also enhanced the highlighting of the significant ecological and socioeconomic value of Erimitis, while providing new tools for its long-term protection. Some of the year’s key results and actions include:

Posidonia meadows: Proving the habitat as essential fish nurseries and their connectivity with rocky reefs that supports local biodiversity

Through scuba diving surveys across Erimitis marine area, researchers recorded at least 36 fish species inhabiting Posidonia meadows and rocky reefs. The results confirmed the role of Posidonia meadows as critical nursery habitats for numerous species and the functional connectivity with the rocky reefs as fish grow and shift their ecological needs suggesting that the area’s conservation and management should not be focused on individual species or habitats, but on the overall marine environment as a connected, living system!

With the aim to share our knowledge on the fish species of Erimitis marine area and highlight the area’s ecological value among the scientific community, this study’s results were also presented at the 12th Conference of the Hellenic Ecological Society.

Blue Carbon: Quantifying the climate regulation value of Erimitis.

‘Blue carbon’ is the term for carbon captured by the world's ocean and coastal ecosystems including mangroves, salt tidal marshes, and seagrass meadows. Through this process, these ecosystems act as climate regulators by controlling atmospheric carbon load assisting in against the climate crisis. As part of the broader effort to understand and protect coastal Blue Carbon ecosystems, iSea collaborated with the Aristotles University of Thessaloniki to quantify the Blue Carbon absorbed and stored in the biomass and sediment of Erimitis Posidonia meadows. Based on the results, across 62.1 hectares of Posidonia meadows in the area, a total of 12,428 tons of CO2 is estimated to be stored in their sediments.

The figures underscore the significant contribution of Posidonia ecosystems to climate crisis mitigation and as a next step the results will be paired with data from questionnaires to evaluate the overall ecosystem services of the local marine environment. This approach aims to support evidence-based decisions and future management actions in the area.

Educational Outreach: Inspiring the next generation

Recognizing the importance of public awareness and early environmental education, iSea developed new educational material focusing on the marine ecosystems of Erimitis designed for young students aged 5–15, and shared with 160 schools in Corfu. The material brings marine science into classrooms and proposes outdoor activities that support experiential education and kids’ deeper engagement and appreciation of their local environment, the threats it faces, and help foster a culture of stewardship.

The educational materials include an activity booklet and accompanying resources that teachers can use in the classroom or in the field. Download them here.

Since 2012, active citizens and local groups in Corfu have played a central role in protecting Erimitis. Building on these long-standing efforts, the project worked to widely share findings, collaboratively plan next steps and increase local engagement while strengthening community participation. This long term effort was interpreted in a proposed Management Plan for the Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA) of the Erimitis Peninsula that reflects the proposals of the local association and takes into account the results and findings of the existing scientific research on the terrestrial and marine habitats of the area.

For its completion and implementation, the Management Plan is under public consultation in which you can still participate here

Find more about the area here

Explore the area’s biodiversity and threats here

For more information: Ilektra Athinaiou, Project Manager, Environmental Organisation iSea, 2313090696, ilektra.athinaiou@isea.com.gr