July 15, 2025
As the LIFE MareNatura documentary approaches its final chapter, the production embarked on one last field mission—this time from above.
The director Roberto Lo Monaco joined an aerial marine mammal survey led by Panos Dendrinos from MOm, the Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, offering a rare look at how aviation can support marine conservation.
The team took off from Syros island in a small aircraft, following a pre-defined transect over the central Aegean. Over the course of a three-hour flight—reaching as far as Ikaria and returning without landing—the goal was to visually identify and photograph marine mammals across expansive open waters.
Aerial surveys like this are a crucial scientific method, enabling researchers to cover large areas in relatively little time. When a pod is sighted, the plane descends to a lower altitude, allowing the team to capture high-resolution images for photo-identification—an essential tool for tracking population dynamics and species presence.
This non-invasive approach is particularly valuable for monitoring elusive species in areas that are difficult to access by boat. It enhances existing datasets and contributes to a broader understanding of marine mammal distribution in Greek waters, directly supporting the conservation planning goals of the LIFE MareNatura project.
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