New avenues for the promotion of the Alonissos Marine Park are opened by the decision of the General Directorate of Public Property and Public Benefit Properties of the Ministry of National Economy and Finance to grant the right to use marine space and seabed to the Regional Development Fund of the Region of Thessaly, for the installation of 3D printed artificial reefs in the Park area.
The project concerns the study of the Gorgonia in the Alonissos National Marine Park of the Northern Sporades, after the installation of artificial reefs, while the research is carried out within the framework of the LIFE DREAM program.
Specifically, on an area of ??288 sq.m. sea ????space and bottom, three-dimensional reefs made of biodegradable materials are planted, with the aim of facilitating the rooting and growth of deep-sea corals.
What is Gorgonia
According to data from the National Marine Park of Alonissos Northern Sporades, Gorgonia (Eunicella cavolinii) is a common species of coral found throughout the Mediterranean. Its branches, yellow or orange in color, have an irregular shape and the total length of the colony reaches 40 centimeters. From afar, the shape of Gorgonia resembles a fan. In addition, Gorgonia prefers rocky bottoms at depths ranging from 10 to 150 meters.
What species does the National Marine Park of Alonissos Northern Sporades host?
‘As stated in the park’s photo catalog, the National Marine Park of Alonissos Northern Sporades is the first of the two Marine Parks in Greece and one of the largest in the Mediterranean and in all of Europe, covering an area of ??2,200 sq. km.
In addition to the marine area, the park includes a fairly large island complex consisting of Alonissos, 6 smaller islands – Peristera, Kyra Panagia, Psathoura, Piperi, Skatzoura and Gioura – as well as 22 rocky islets.
It is considered the richest marine area in the Aegean Sea in terms of biodiversity, as it hosts an exceptionally large number of species, from sponges, corals and sea anemones, to fish, hundreds of species, small and large, and of course, many endangered and rare species of global interest, such as the Mediterranean seal, dolphins, the loggerhead turtle and other marine species.
