Members of AEIPLOUS Institute have paid particular attention in examining the underwater environment. Βy undertaking diving expeditions and by studying the sea-bed of the Patras Gulf area they have reached to certain conclusions.

 

The gulfs of Patras and Corinth are closed seas surrounded by land. Like a micrography of the Mediterannean sea this sensitive environment is vulnerable to human activities and needs protection and special care. We live in an era that the survival of the underwater ecosystem and healthy seas have critical importance to the survival whole areas.

 

What can we hope for Patras and the Corinthian Gulf?

 

Thoughts of a diver.

In recent years I have become a witness of the disappearance of fish from Patra’s and the Corinthian gulf area, where I dive as I live in Patras. In certain areas, I observe the dramatic reduction of populations of certain species of fish.The main reasons for this bad situation are known- pollution and overfishing... As time passes by, I am sure that the options for saving Patra’s and the Corinthian gulf are narrowing down.

The main problems are:

  • - 750.000 tonnes of red mud with heavy metals are discharged annually in the sea of Antikyra.
  • - Uncontrolled disposal of municipal and industrial waste water in Thisbe.
  • - Huge power plants with natural gas and coal at Thisbe-Antikyra.
  • - A great number of port facilities, ships and dozens of 'karvounadika' up to 120,000 tonnes per day in Corinth.
  • - New heavy polluting industries and a large commercial port in Thisbe.

 

Protected Species

The protection of certain species that are rare or under extinction should be taken into account in the creation of marine or diving parks as well as the protection of the surrounding areas. One such species that is found in the Corinthian gulf belongs to the Paramuricea clavata and can be found only at the areas of Milokopi and Lampiri Achaias.

 

Shipwrecks

Shipwrecks are reefs of life; provide protection to many fish that try to escape from trawls and nets. But even there, fish are not protected from dynamite… It would be great if all the wrecks were monitored with radar by the port authorities, thus protecting them as shelters for fish but also as sites of cultural heritage.

 

Overfishing

The biggest problem with the overfishing of these gulfs are the trawlers. The trawlers with their heavy metal doors destroy everything they find… The trawlers often throw back to the sea anything that is not marketable, even reaching 70% of the total catch. The directives from the European Community that outline that no fishing is permitted within 3 miles from the coast are not applied, at least at the coast of Peloponnesus, fact that the locals are witnessing every day ...

 

The unknown Patras Gulf http://patraikosgulf.wordpress.com

 

 

The Institute of Innovation and Sustainable Development –AEIPLOUS is a key helper to the effort conducted by George Karelas, for the exploration of the Gulf of Patras, and states active contributing to the rescue not only of the local but also the general history.

 

The purpose of the research cited here, is not for the description of the history of Patras Gulf, this has been done by several and competent historians, but for the revival and documentation of historical events, having as reference, the findings and wrecks on the seabed, with simultaneous appointment of persons who attempted to fill the "puzzle" of the history of our country.

We have to emphasize, that the wrecks are not junk of the sea but part of the history. Most of them remain forgotten in the unseen world of the sea, having the 'capacity' to freeze the time at the moment of their unfortunate creation. In Patras Gulf was held the biggest sea battle of all time, the one of Nafpaktos (Lepanto), and little have been done in terms of research of its remnants. The research field of this period, like anything before 1900, is under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Service.

Another important part of this effort is the detailed description with drawings, maps, documents and photographs, of the stories of ships sunk in the Gulf of Patras. Where research is under the responsibility of the archaeological service, the historical facts are summarized by filling some interesting data presented for the first time, some persons with active role as well as many untold stories. Besides, the findings in the Gulf from those times are very few.

Regarding the most recent shipwrecks, which have been researched, there are many photographs from diving, but also documentation and products of intense study and research.

The Gulf of Patras, therefore, encompasses much more history than it has become widely known. As the signs of the major historical events of Greece are at the bottom of the Gulf, the emergence, publicity, protection and promotion of these products, is of particular importance for the general "scene" of the area.