Archipelagos’ researchers follow the fishermen’s demanding time schedule, often during adverse weather conditions, under which their fishing activities take place. The researchers record the production and catch composition (both those fished legally, and those caught illegally) as well as record the prohibited and destructive fishing practices implemented in the region.
This research aims to create a picture of fisheries production and the impacts of coastal fisheries. A very important aspect of this process is the close and daily cooperation and participation of the local fishermen. Their collaboration is a prerequisite for the development and application of effective and sustainable management measures. The scientific data collected contributes to a study that Archipelagos implements for non-profitable reasons, with the aim to design a pioneering – for Greek standards – management framework.This pilot fisheries management model will focus on applying co-management measures to protect fishstocks and the marine environment,with the active participation of fishermen and local communities. The aim is that this management model will eventually be applied in other parts of Greece and the northern Mediterranean.
In this effort, the contribution of the Department of Information and Communication Systems Engineering, University of the Aegean, is of great importance. For the purposes of this research, the department has developed a database for recording fishing activitie susing Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which also allows the creation of predictive models to combat overfishing.
