June 3, 2025
As part of the ongoing production of the LIFE MareNatura documentary, the MEDASSET team, together with director Roberto Lo Monaco, travelled to Alonnisos, joining the MOm – Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, to document conservation activities focused on Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus monachus) and cetaceans in the National Marine Park of Alonissos Northern Sporades.
Fieldwork included coastal and offshore surveys, during which multiple groups of dolphins were sighted. The team was fortunate to observe common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), a species that is increasingly rare in the Mediterranean, offering valuable footage for the film and meaningful ecological insight.
Specialized equipment was also deployed during the mission:
- A hydrophone was used to record underwater acoustic data, capturing vocalizations of cetaceans in the area.
- Underwater filming was carried out to document marine species and habitats.
- Cameras were installed in seal caves, with the aim of recording pupping and behavior inside important breeding habitats.
One key moment was the visit to Zone A of the protected area around Piperi Island, where the MOm team installed a remote camera system powered by solar panels. This setup enables the continuous, non-invasive monitoring of seal activity in a highly restricted and sensitive zone—providing critical long-term data on the presence and behaviour of monk seals in the wild.
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