MEDASSET and HOS advance Marine Conservation in the Eastern Mediterranean

On the 1st of July 2023, the LIFE MareNatura project officially launched its ambitious efforts for the conservation of marine biodiversity across a vast marine corridor extending from the Aegean to the Ionian Sea and the Southern Adriatic. With a total budget of nearly €11 million, LIFE MareNatura is the largest initiative of its kind ever implemented in Greece. Notably, two members of MIO-ECSDE are among the key partners of this landmark project: Mediterranean Association for the Protection of the Sea Turtles (MEDASSET) and Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS).

Over its six-year duration (until June 2029), the project aims to implement a wide range of actions in 44 Natura 2000 sites—41 in Greece and 3 in Italy—focused on safeguarding nine emblematic and vulnerable marine species: The Mediterranean Monk seal, the Loggerhead turtle, the Green turtle, the Sperm whale, the Harbour porpoise, the Cuvier’s beaked whale, the Common dolphin, the Yelkouan shearwater and the Audouin’s gull. The project’s overarching objective is to strengthen the protection of these species and their habitats, contributing meaningfully to the expansion of the Natura 2000 network and aligning with the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, which calls for at least 30% of marine and terrestrial areas to be placed under protection.

Until now, most conservation efforts have concentrated on breeding areas, leaving the offshore habitats of key marine species largely unexplored. To address these existing knowledge gaps, the project aims to collect robust data on migratory routes, feeding and breeding areas, as well as threats faced by marine species. The identification of marine biodiversity hotspots will support the proposal of new marine protected areas. Furthermore, innovative tools will be developed for the systematic monitoring of species and habitats, including early warning mechanisms for environmental pressures and decision-support tools for marine zone designation.

Key Achievements to Date by MIO-ECSDE Members:

• Mediterranean Association for the Protection of the Sea Turtles (MEDASSET): MEDASSET will be leading the communication and policy activities by building on its already well-established network in the Mediterranean and international fora. In April 2025, MEDASSET launched the production of the LIFE MareNatura documentary series in the Tremiti Islands, off the coast of Italy. By June 2025, six of the planned thirteen episodes had been filmed at various locations, including Lipsi Island, the National Observatory of Athens, the Thracian Gulf, and the National Marine Park of Alonissos Northern Sporades. The sixth episode focuses on the translation of scientific knowledge into policy and biodiversity management. It features an in-depth interview with Nadia Andreanidou (MEDASSET) and Ioli Christopoulou (The Green Tank) on the important role of advocacy and policy tools in supporting this process. This evolving documentary series, which presents key insights into the project’s goals and milestones, can be followed on MEDASSET’s website.
• Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS): In May 2024, the HOS team undertook satellite tagging of Audouin’s gulls in Skyros, Kythira, and Fournoi. It was confirmed that following the breeding season, the gulls migrated to the North African coast for the winter, before returning to their Greek breeding grounds a year later. This long-term monitoring effort provides vital data for the protection of breeding, feeding, and wintering habitats, contributing to the designation of new Important Bird Areas crucial for the species’ survival.

With the project continuing through 2029, we invite you to follow these remarkable journeys and discoveries as they unfold on the LIFE MareNatura website.

Read in French here