On the 30th and 31st of May 2025, the creation and training of the Zante Cetacean Drift Management Team (Zante Cetacean Drift Management Team) of the Ionian Sea Cetacean Drift Management Network was successfully completed at the Department of Environment of the Ionian University. The MMSR project is a collaboration between “ARION” and the Ionian Environment Foundation (IEF), and was carried out under the auspices of the Department of Environment of the Ionian University with significant participation and support of citizens, representatives of the Ionian Islands Region, the Vice-Region of Zakynthos and the Municipality of Zakynthos as well as local government services.
Particularly involved were: the OFYPEKA / MPA of Zakynthos, the Department of Environment and the Veterinary Service of the Municipality of Zakynthos, the Port Authority of Zakynthos, the Diving Centres of the island, “ARCHELON”, the representative of the Hydrobiological Station of Rhodes / ELKEΘE, the Administration, the faculty members and the students of the Ionian University. The team was formed by 12 volunteer members from the above mentioned institutions as well as by ordinary citizens who committed themselves to the goals and importance of the team regarding the marine mammal megafauna of Zakynthos, especially since Zakynthos is one of the parts of the country with little official information about cetacean strandings and strandings. All members of the team reside and contribute to the local community and economy of the island by covering the island in case of future strandings on any of the island’s coasts.
The lectures and the training of the members of the Zante Wildlife Management Organisation were held by the President of the Scientific Committee of the National Network for Monitoring and Recording of Marine Wildlife Species Extinctions of the Ministry of Environment, Dr. Anastasia Komninos (DVM, PhD, Professor of Exotic and Wildlife Surgery-Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medicine) and President of the Research Centre for Cetacean Rescue and Care “ARION”, the Biologist, Geologist-Oceanographer, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Directorate of Natural Environment and Biodiversity Management and co-founder of “ARION”, Dr. Emilia Drougas and the Marine Biologist and MMRS Project Manager, Elena Akritopoulou (Scientific Member of “ARION”, BSc, MSc, PhD(c) Marine Mammal Biomonitoring Unit – Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture – Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Marine Ecology), Elena Akritopoulou (Scientific Member of “ARION”, BSc, MSc, PhD(c) Marine Mammal Biomonitoring Unit – Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Aquaculture). Aquatic Environment – University of Thessaly).
The Zante Rescue Team is ready to respond to incidents of cetacean strandings and strandings on the island and the next steps are already being planned in terms of equipping the team. We would like to thank for the support and greetings, Mr. Charalambos Dimitriadis, Dr. Marine Ecology from OFYPEKA / Management Unit of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, Ainos and protected areas of the Ionian Islands, and from the Ionian University, Department of Environment, Assistant Professor of Marine and Coastal Biodiversity, Dr. Vasilios Gerovassiliou, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Mr. Dionysios Panagiotaras and President of the NWP/OFYPEKA of the Western Peloponnese and Associate Professor Dr. Christos Karydis, President of the Department of Environment and Director of the MSc – Conservation and Management of Cultural Heritage.
