A new photo exhibition dedicated to the marine megafauna of the Mediterranean is hosted by ARCHELON at our Environmental Station in Agiannakis, Messinia, within the framework of the LIFE MareNatura project, co-funded by the EU and the Green Fund. The exhibition is a visual narrative about nine emblematic species of the Mediterranean, highlighting their beauty, uniqueness and the need for protection. Through the photographs, visitors will learn about the life and challenges they face:

• Marine mammals: the Mediterranean Monk Seal, Cuvier's Beaked Whale, the Sperm Whale, the Harbour Porpoise, and the Common Dolphin.
• Sea turtles: Loggerhead and Green turtle.
• Seabirds: the Yelkouan Shearwater and Audouin’s Gull.

The Exhibition will remain at the Environmental Station and will be open to the public every Saturday 18:00 - 21:00, throughout the summer. Visitors can also browse ARCHELON's educational exhibition, discuss with volunteers and learn more about the sea turtles, our conservation actions and the importance of preserving marine ecosystems.

If you are in the area, you can also meet our volunteers at the new Information Station for the LIFE MareNatura project operating on the beachfront of Kyparissia town. The station will be open for the summer every Sunday and Wednesday, 18:00 - 21:00, with information on local marine biodiversity and conservation measures.

Kyparissia Bay: An area of great importance for marine life

The choice of the area is not accidental. Kyparissia Bay is an area of international importance, as it hosts the largest breeding population of the loggerhead sea turtle in the Mediterranean. ARCHELON has been active in the area since the early 1980s, implementing actions to monitor and protect the reproduction of sea turtles. In 2018, the area was declared a Nature Protection Area and joined the NATURA 2000 ecological network, with the aim of preserving the natural coastal ecosystem and the critical nesting habitat.

With financial support from the European Commission and co-financing from the Green Fund, the LIFE MareNatura project aims to strengthen species protection through scientifically documented management, habitat conservation and expansion of the NATURA 2000 marine network in Greece.

Information as a bridge between science and society

Awareness-raising activities are a key part of the project, bringing citizens closer to modern scientific knowledge. “Through the photo exhibition and the information activities of the LIFE MareNatura project, we invite young and old to become the new “ambassadors” of our sea. Come and experience first-hand the richness of Greek marine life and the need for its protection. Knowledge is the most powerful tool for the protection of the species that make our Mediterranean unique,” notes Anna Karatsori, ARCHELON's Public Awareness Officer.

All ARCHELON volunteers participating in the activities have received special training regarding the LIFE MareNatura project, so that they can convey valid information to the public and strengthen the dialogue around the protection of the Mediterranean.

With the contribution of the Green Fund