LIFE MareNatura
The LIFE MareNatura project is the largest marine biodiversity project ever undertaken in Greece. Using a multidisciplinary approach, the project focuses on the conservation of nine endangered species of marine mammals, sea turtles and seabirds. By mapping biodiversity hotspots in the Ionian, South Adriatic and Aegean Seas, the project aims to extend the Natura 2000 network and strengthen marine nature management in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030.
- Client: Nature Conservation Consultants (NCC)
- Location: Greece
- Project period: 2023 - 2029
The LIFE MareNatura project, launched in July 2023, aims to improve the protection of nine endangered marine species in Greece and Italy. The species in question include the monk seal, false and green sea turtle, sperm whale, harbour porpoise, common dolphin, Yelkouan shearwater and Audouins gull.
The project area covers more than 48 million hectares, which is equivalent to over 20% of the Mediterranean. Extensive ecological studies are being carried out within this area, including aerial and marine surveys, the use of drones, thermal cameras, radar, e-DNA analysis and the placement of more than 200 satellite transmitters on individual animals.
A key element of the project is the identification and mapping of biodiversity hotspots, including migration routes, foraging areas and staging areas of the target species. This information will be used to propose new marine protected areas and expand the Natura 2000 network, with the aim of adding at least 10 new protected areas in Greece. Furthermore, the project is developing tools for decision-makers. These include risk maps for each species and an online decision support system for marine spatial planning. A system is also being established to provide early warning of potential threats to target species.
Our contribution to the project focuses on underwater noise mapping. As part of this project, noise maps of the area are produced, which are essential to quantify underwater noise as a threat to marine life and supporting marine spatial planning. In order to predict noise levels and the propagation of sound from dominant sources such as shipping, models are developed based on existing human activity data.
The model results are validated with field measurements carried out as part of the LIFE MareNatura project. This process enables the creation of accurate maps of sound levels and the primary sound sources in the designated marine areas. The generated maps are a valuable tool for policymakers and nature managers, as these facilitate a more nuanced understanding of the cumulative effects and contributions to protection strategies for noise-sensitive species.
For more information about the entire project, visit lifemarenatura.eu.
Take a look at our other projects
Research into Scour Pits
Offshore wind farms use different types of foundations depending on the site conditions. The most commonly used foundation types are monopiles, gravity-based structures and jacket foundations. In collaboration with Leo van Rijn, WaterProof investigated the expected dimensions of scour pits around offshore wind turbine foundations. The study combined physical scale experiments carried out in WaterProof’s flow and sediment basin with numerical modelling.
Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on Harbour Porpoises
The installed export cables that connect offshore wind farms to the mainland generate electromagnetic fields (EMF) due to the amount of electricity flowing through the cables. These EMF may potentially affect marine life in the immediate vicinity of the cables. To determine and better understand the potential effects of EMF on the acoustic activity of harbour porpoises, we work together with Wageningen Marine Research (WMR) and Witteveen+Bos on various measurement campaigns and analysis studies.
Underwater sound DEMASK
The DEMASK project aims to develop and test policy scenarios for continuous underwater noise in the North Sea. Through measurements, the project investigates to what extent anthropogenic noise sources contribute to underwater noise and what impact this has on the marine ecosystem. With measurement setups on the bottom of the North Sea, long-term measurements are conducted, and data is collected that provides insight in the noise distribution in the North Sea.
