Baseline Study in the Kyparissiakos Gulf concession area

Project description

The NCC has undertaken the recording of the status of the important fauna species in the Kyparissia Gulf (Block 10) concession area. In order to achieve this objective, it conducts:

(a) Pelagic surveys for marine turtles, seals, cetaceans and seabirds, both inshore and offshore, through marine vessel recordings combined with single-engine aircraft and drone aerial recordings.

(b) Coastal surveys for monitoring the Mediterranean seal and the breeding sites of Scopoli's shearwater and European shag in the coastal zones of the adjacent Natura 2000 sites.

(c) Telemetric monitoring of sea turtles by placing satellite transmitters to record the distribution of adult individuals in the lease area during the intervals before and after nesting, and to record their presence in the wider area.

(d) Telemetric monitoring of the Scopoli's shearwater species by placing GPS/GSM transmitters on breeding individuals in order to assess their seasonal distribution and presence in the Block 10 area, to assess the use of this area as foraging habitat, to estimate the combined potential impacts of the project in relation to adjacent leases and fishing activities, and also to evaluate the overall sensitivity of the breeding population of the Strofades islets to the potential impacts of hydrocarbon exploration and production activities.