The 40th CIESM scientific congress took place last week in Marseille, France, during which Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation was able to present its important research findings related to the conservation of the Aegean Sea.
CIESM (Commission Internationale pour l’Exploration Scientifique de la Méditerranée – International Commission for the Scientific Exploration of the Mediterranean) was founded in 1910 and comprises a network that exclusively concerns itself with marine research in the Mediterranean and Black Seas.
Last week more than 5,000 scientists from the main research organizations in the Mediterranean met for five days in Marseille, where they presented their most recent research findings through working group meetings and special conference sessions, exchanging valuable experience and knowledge.
Five scientists represented the Archipelagos Institute, led by Anastasia Miliou, Archipelagos’ scientific director. Together they presented 7 scientific publications, which were a result of the research and conservation efforts of Archipelagos in a wide range of subjects. These included; management of artisanal fishery production and management in the Eastern Aegean, assessment of the concentrations of microscopic plastic fibers in the Greek seas, the photo-identification of the common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) populations, the alarming spread of invasive alien species (such as the algae Caulerpa racemosa) and the ways in which they affect Posidonia oceanica meadows.
Archipelagos Institute was one of the few non-profit NGOs taking part in this important congress, which was a significant opportunity to highlight its remarkable scientific work and its conservation efforts in the Greek seas. It was also a stepping-stone for new scientific collaborations and actions, which are aimed at further conservation actions of this marine region of international environmental significance.
