Click here for a description of the island and more photos from the expedition.

We are excited to share the official ERWC promo video, highlighting how our experienced field crews can support your projects through onshore or offshore data collection, including aerial, submarine, and ship-based monitoring.

The topic of the master’s thesis is the identification of codas. Blowers (Physeter macrocephalus) live in long-lived social clades within matriarchal societies, which are phonetically distinguished by dialects of socially learned click series called codas. Dialectal differences in codas patterns have identified seven distinct cultural tribes inhabiting the Pacific Ocean. Studies have shown that “identity codas”, following a 3+1 click pattern, characterize the geographically and genetically isolated Mediterranean subpopulation. However, recent research suggests that this pattern may differ between Western and Eastern Mediterranean bellows populations. This Master’s research involves acoustic analysis of codas from bellows living in the Greek Trench, initially aiming to assess how closely they adhere to or deviate from the known 3+1 pattern. If this pattern differs, evidence of vocal specificity and cultural transmission would support regional diversity in this species. This, in turn, would benefit ongoing conservation efforts to promote nature and biodiversity and reduce human disturbance in important Mediterranean marine habitats.

The collaboration with ACCOBAMS will be integrated into NCCs LIFE MareNatura program research, so that the records of the two programs are harmonized and yield the best possible results.

It is a pleasure and an honor for the NCC team to contribute to such an important initiative.

What is ACCOBAMS (from the ACCOBAMS website):

The Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic area (ACCOBAMS) is a legal conservation tool based on cooperation. Its purpose is to reduce threats to cetaceans notably by improving current knowledge on these animals.

This intergovernmental Agreement provides the demonstration of the commitment of riparian Countries to preserve all species of cetaceans and their habitats within the geographical Agreement area by the enforcement of more stringent measures than those defined in the texts adopted previously.

ACCOBAMS results from consultations between Secretariats of four Conventions:

the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean and its Protocol concerning Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean,

the Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals,

the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats,

the Bucharest Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution.

Finally, given the migratory characteristics of these species, the Agreement was established under the auspices of the Bonn Convention (UNEP/CMS).

ACCOBAMS was signed on November 24th, 1996 and entered into force on June 1st, 2001.

PARIS, FRANCE (21 June 2024) – A new European consortium has been formed to provide premier ecological research and consultancy services for renewable energy projects across the continent. The European Renewable Energy & Wildlife Consortium (ERWC) proudly brings together several of Europe’s leading ecological consultancies with extensive expertise in wind and solar energy development and its impacts on wildlife. The main goal is to enable responsible renewable energy development while protecting nature.

The ERWC founding members include Waardenburg Ecology and its subsidiary BESE (the Netherlands), Écosphère and its subsidiaries TBM Environment and Somme (France), Oikon and its co-partner Supernatural (Croatia), and Nature Conservation Consultants (NCC) and its subsidiary Marine Biodiversity Surveys – MBS (Greece). Through this unique strategic partnership, the companies will take collaboration on renewable energy studies to the next level, exchange knowledge and staff, establish uniform quality standards and research protocols, and offer a cohesive Europe-wide strategy. They are dedicated to advancing renewable energy projects while ensuring high standard and effective wildlife protection and ecological research.

“With the rapid growth of offshore wind and other renewable developments across Europe, there is a critical need for high-quality ecological research and consulting and international collaboration” said Dr Wouter Lengkeek, Scientific Director of Waardenburg Ecology, which will serve as the ERWC’s administrative hub. “By combining our skills and experience, the ERWC can ensure these vital energy projects and uphold the highest standards for assessing and mitigating ecological impacts.”

The ERWC will provide significant benefits for the responsible deployment of renewable energy. This is essential for meeting climate goals and biodiversity ambitions. It will implement consistent standards to evaluate and mitigate environmental impacts on wildlife and biodiversity while establishing Europe-wide quality benchmarks for ecological research related to energy projects. In addition to combining their firms’ technical capabilities and specialist knowledge, the ERWC partners see opportunities to pursue larger renewable energy contracts requiring international experience and resources. Opportunities matching their companies’ purpose and helping them to reach their ambitious goals as leading ecologists.

Established in 1988, the Écosphère Group is one of the main independent French engineering and consulting groups specialized in terrestrial, aquatic, and marine biodiversity. Our group, with its subsidiaries TBM Environment and Somme, has over 200 employees, covers a wide range of services: environmental assessments, regulatory issues, consultancy for environmental policymaking, ecological engineering and project management, etc. At the same time, our in-house R&D department develops innovative technological tools, methodologies, and protocols for scientific programmes.

NCC (Nature Conservation Consultants) Ltd is an environmental planning consultancy focusing on the conservation of nature and biodiversity. Since 2010, we have provided consultation in environmental planning issues and implement innovative conservation activities for the protection of biodiversity. We provide evidence-based, innovative and effective solutions by making use of all the possibilities offered by modern technology and the relevant applied scientific research, and by collaborating with a constantly enriching network of expert scientists.

OIKON Ltd. – Institute of Applied Ecology is a leading licensed and accredited consulting company and research institute in the field of applied ecology in Croatia and the region. With 26 years of experience, we design practical, pragmatic, feasible, and cost-effective development solutions that meet clients’ needs while preserving the natural and cultural heritage. With us, development is natural.

Since our foundation in 1979 we develop, combine and utilize the knowledge of more than 160 ecological experts to restore and maintain a healthy balance between people and the natural world. We look for ways to prevent damage to wildlife and habitats but also benefit them. By co-creating with our clients and striving for balance between realism and idealism. We consult nature.

During the surveys, acoustic methods for cetacean monitoring (use of a sliding hydrophone with Distance sampling) and visual methods for monitoring cetaceans, seabirds and turtles (Distance sampling & ESAS protocol) were applied. With the application of these methods, bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, loggerhead turtles, artemisia, sea crows were observed, while the increased mobility of mychos towards Dardanelles was noteworthy.