The National Marine Park of Alonissos, Northern Sporades is the first Marine Park of Greece and the largest marine protected area (also including islands) in the Mediterranean, with a total surface of approx. 2.200 km2. This area is well known for its very rich biodiversity and the great number of rare species of fauna and flora that it hosts, among them, the unique and most iconic seal species in the Mediterranean, the monk seal Monachus monachus.
In the past few years Thalassa Foundation, in collaboration with MOm and the Management Authority of the Marine Park supports a number of conservation actions for the protection and the scientific monitoring of the local natural environment.
During 2017, Thalassa Foundation decided to actively support scientific monitoring and recording of key parameters of the local marine ecosystem and more specifically: the mapping of Posidonia Oceanica, the assessment of fish stocks and the quality of sea-water, through a number of chemical and biological indicators. MOm/The Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal is the coordinator of the Project whereas the study of fish stocks and sea water is undertaken by researchers of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki under the supervision of Dr. Thanasis Tsikliras and Dr. Dimitra Bobori, respectively. The outcomes of the above mentioned actions will produce important knowledge and comparative data which will be a point of reference for the monitoring of the Marine Park’s condition now and in the future.