ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROGRAM FOR CRITICAL HABITATS - BIODIVERSITY

Α detailed monitoring and recording for Critical Environmental Biodiversity Indicators

HELPE Patraikos in collaboration with Nature Conservation Consultants (NCC) and the Non-Governmental Organization for Protection of the Monk Seal (MOm), is conducting systematically coastal and pelagic surveys to create an in-depth Baseline Database.

More specifically, as part of the Environmental Monitoring Program for the Environmental Biodiversity Indicators, HELPE Patraikos in cooperation with the above specialized consortium established monitoring campaigns related to the various species of cetaceans, monk seals, sea turtles and seabirds.

HELPE Patraikos has already collaborated with NCC Ltd and MOm with great success under the Environmental Monitoring Program within 2018-2019, fully covering the need to provide high-level environmental services for the overview and study of the marine and coastal environment in the West Patraikos Gulf. This Program has significantly assisted updating the existing data of protected species and their habitats in specific areas of the inner Ionian Archipelago and the West Patraikos Gulf.

This research

contributes decisively to the production of an up-to-date and detailed Marine Biodiversity Baseline Data in the West Patraikos Gulf as well as to the identification of important/sensitive areas that should receive special protection during the operations of the 2^nd Exploration Period and also in any future monitoring program.

For the above reasons

the Environmental Monitoring and Recording Program for Critical Environmental Indicators of the 2^nd Exploration Period (Drilling Operations) in the Lease Area of West Patraikos continued for the year 2019 as well, completing the following surveys:

Sampling for seals - cetaceans and seabirds - turtles with recordings by boat in the open sea from a 14-meter long research vessel, suitable for offshore work with a team of 4 specialized observers. Aerial recordings for birds and cetaceans supplemented the recordings. In particular, a small aircraft with an experienced observer and simultaneous geo-referenced high definition video recording and at the same time a cooperative inflatable escort vessel for on-the-spot recordings were used.
Sampling to record Mediterranean Monk seal breeding sites in the wider area. Detailed examination of the entire coastline of interest for the recording and evaluation of sea caverns, with a MOm inflatable boat and a team of 2 experienced diver field researchers.
Sampling for seabirds in coastal nesting sites. With a MOm inflatable boat, and a team of two (2) experienced ornithologists. Duration of one week.

In order to cover

the observations and recordings all year round, this Environmental Monitoring Program will continue during the year 2019, thus completing the following research work:

Systematic monitoring of the Mediterranean Monk seal at breeding sites in the wider area of research using an inflatable boat with two (2) field researchers and available infrared cameras.
Pelagic studies for marine mammals, seabirds and sea turtles in the wider area of the project using a research vessel. A field survey of seabirds, cetaceans and sea turtles using the available boat and hydrophones.
Study of seabird nests and telemetry in the wider area of research for locating nesting sites, estimating the breeding population size, monitoring the reproductive performance and applying the GPS telemetry for the Mediterranean Shag. The survey was carried out using inflatable boats and GPS-GSM telemetry transmitters, which were purchased as part of the project.
Study of seabird colonies (Scopolis, Shearwater, Yelkouan Shearwater and European Storm-petrel) in the wider area of the project. Field researchers using inflatable boats and available audio recording and thermal imaging equipment carried out this campaign.