A new volunteer-based program has been launched with the aim of collecting data on affected species and pollution hotspots in Greece's marine protected areas.
The Sea Guardians program is coordinated by the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (HELMEPA) and implemented in collaboration with Aenaos Thalassa, the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA), and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki/Ichthyology Laboratory of the Department of Biology.
The program will entail training of maritime professionals in various sectors including fishing boat crews, workboat crews, and maritime security personnel such as those of the Hellenic Coast Guard. Training will cover subjects such as marine environmental awareness, fishing, and sea tourism.
The program also seeks to introduce an online app-based portal through which users can collect scientific data for the protection of marine life and pollution prevention. Among other things, the portal will help users identify and record marine protected species and/or sources of pollution that they encounter during their work or voyages and then forward this information to the scientists in charge of the project.