Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute is a scientific
non-profit organisation whose goal is the study and conservation of cetaceans.
Cetaceans include whales, dolphins, porpoises and a few more related species.
Cetaceans have been an inspiration to people since antiquity; they appear
as a theme on many wall paintings, urns, coins, jewellery etc. In fact,
cetaceans have been a part of the Greek civilisation for over three and
a half thousand years. Furthermore, cetology, the field of biology which
focuses on the study of cetaceans, originated in Greece. The first scientific
report of these animals is "Historia Animalium" written by Aristotle and
dating back to 350 BC.
Despite the aforementioned facts, up until the early 1990's very little
was known about these animals in Greece. However, as of 1993 a team of
researchers, now constituting the core of
Pelagos Institute, has conducted extensive research with international
acclaim. Pelagos Institute has collaborated with numerous universities,
research centres, non-governmental and international organisations within
Greece and abroad, conducting research and stressing the need for the
conservation of cetaceans and their natural environment. 
Concurrently,
Pelagos Institute has developed both national and international research
projects, has published scientific papers,
participated in international research meetings, represented Greece at
various international organisations and agreements, organised lectures
and educational programmes, published articles and appeared on television,
to name a few. As a result, Greece is now amongst the most advanced countries
in the Mediterranean Basin in the field of cetology.
One of the most significant scientific contributions
of the Pelagos 
Institute
is that Greek seas exhibit a remarkable diversity in cetacean fauna. The
ecological importance of these creatures for society renders their conservation
of immediate importance. Nonetheless, the threats to these animals are
manifold, such as decrease in fish stocks, chemical pollution, competition
with fishermen which leads to intentional killing, noise pollution, drowning
in fish nets, disturbance etc. As a consequence, cetacean populations
have been drastically decreasing and facing extinction for quite some
time now.
The main objectives of Pelagos Institute are: a) to conduct scientific
research on cetaceans and their natural environment in Greece and the
Mediterranean Sea as a whole b) to spread information and knowledge towards
every direction c) to promote public awareness d) to achieve the conservation
of cetaceans and their natural environment
The conservation of whales and dolphins demands serious scientific background
and validation, as well as active public support, since occasional emotional
manipulation of the public's sympathy for these animals can offer little
to their substantial protection. Pelagos Institute strives for the conservation
of one of the most important constituents of Greek and Mediterranean natural
and cultural heritage.
Copyright Pelagos
Institute
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Texts and design by A.Frantzis, G.Paximadis, V.Alexiadou