Activity category: Marine protected areas
Year: 2021
Type: Advocacy, Awareness raising, Scientific research
Status: Ongoing
Target areas: Erimitis
Target organisms: Posidonia
Project website:
Activity category: Marine protected areas
Year: 2021
Type: Advocacy, Awareness raising, Scientific research
Status: Ongoing
Target areas: Erimitis
Target organisms: Posidonia
Project website:
Objectives
The actions in Erimitis aim to protect and highlight the biodiversity of the peninsula, with particular emphasis on marine ecosystems and the Posidonia meadows. The main objectives include the identification of critical habitats and protected species, the recording and assessment of threats to the area, such as anchoring pressure, the awareness and education of the local community and visitors, and the support of Posidonia meadow conservation and the ecosystem services they provide, including long-term blue carbon storage. Finally, the development of a Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA) aims to preserve Erimitis peninsula as a whole, keeping the local stakeholders at the heart of management and protection.
Description
Erimitis peninsula, located on the northeastern coast of Corfu, hosts a rich ecosystem that includes terrestrial, freshwater, and marine areas, while preserving a unique natural landscape.
iSea has been active in the area since 2021, in collaboration with the local association “Erimitis Plous” and the Save Erimitis campaign, aiming to highlight the significance of Erimitis’s marine environment.
Actions include mapping Posidonia meadows, assessing their extent and distribution, evaluating their health status using indicators such as the Conservation Index (CI) and the Biotic Index for Posidonia oceanica (BiPo), estimating the storage capacity of of blue carbon, and recording anchoring pressure through aerial drone surveys.
In parallel, awareness campaigns and questionnaires have been conducted in collaboration with Aristotle University of Thessaloniki to inform policy decisions and build knowledge regarding ongoing conservation and bottom-up management efforts in the area.
Results
Blue carbon estimation showed that the meadows store approximately 3,384 tons of carbon, with a variance of 2,933 tons, serving as a significant long-term carbon sequestration system. Aerial surveys revealed that over 65% of recorded vessels were anchored on Posidonia meadows, with the majority being small rental boats, while the areas with the highest pressure were Arias Bay (21.6%), Vrachli (18.3%), and Akoli (15.8%).
Data collected through questionnaires and community engagement contribute to understanding the value of ecosystem services provided by Posidonia meadows and the peninsula as a whole, and support the development of protection strategies and sustainable management of the area.