2009 Itinerary
List of missions for the year 2009
mission effectuée Management of fish stocks
Gulf of Gabès - Tunisis - June 20 to July 04, 2009The Oceans are increasingly suffering from the detrimental effects of industrial pollution, climate change, overfishing and coastal development. Marine biologist Souffien MOSBAH from Tunisia will embark aboard Fleur de Passion in order to carry out an evaluation of the measures which have been implemented for the management and regeneration of fish stocks in the Gulf of Gabès. Partner: ASP
mission effectuée Marine Protected Area of Penisola del Sinis
Cape Carbonara - Sardinia - July 05 to 12, 2009This is the first trip to a marine protected area on the Changing Oceans Expedition. It is also one of the most enchanting sites along the Sardinian coastline. The Antinea crew will meet the managers of this marine park and document the management strategies they have put in place there as part of a 'best practice' database. This database will be expanded on throughout the expedition and will be u [...]
mission effectuée REPCET Project on maritime traffic
Pelagos Sanctuary - France - July 13 to 16, 2009Due to heavy maritime traffic in this area, which hosts important populations of Cetaceans, frequent collisions happen between ships and large marine mammals, often with serious consequences.The REPCET project aims to reduce the risks of collision by improving transport ships' advance detection of whales through the use of a computerized network. Fleur de Passion will be equipped with the REPCET [...]
mission effectuée Loggerhead turtle tagging with National Geographic
Grau du Roi - France - July 21 to 22, 2009The organisation CESTMED takes care of Mediterranean turtles that have been hit by propellers or poisoned by plastic bags, easily mistaken for jellyfish. A loggerhead turtle will be equipped with a crittercam, provided by National Geographic and the logistical support of Antinea, in order to assess the re-adaptation of these turtles to their natural habitat after a period of captivity. The crew f [...]
mission effectuée Blue Shark video tagging
Cap d'Agde - France - July 23 to 24, 2009Along with a group of sports fisherman, Antinea will accompany the AILERONS team and members of the National Geographic crittercam team in an effort to tag blue sharks. The success of this mission will provide a better understanding of blue sharks and their lifestyle. Nicolas Ziani, a shark specialist, is one of the few scientists to carry out field work in the Mediterranean, where sharks are most [...]
mission effectuée Port-Cros Marine Protected Area
- - July 25 to August 08, 2009Port Cros National Park, was the first marine park in Europe. Bathymetric measurements will be made and used to produce 3D models. These will then be linked to geo-localised video transects to help scientists detect and understand changes to the marine environment brought about by mankind, both negative and, in some cases, positive. Scientific Partners : Consortium Undersea.log (IUCN, Virtual Di [...]
mission effectuée Observation Protocols for Cetaceans
Pelagos Sanctuary - France - August 08 to 15, 2009The rich biodiversity found in the Pelagos Sanctuary is of incalculable value: rough estimates suggest the presence of over 8,500 animal species, representing 4% to 18% of the world's marine species. Marine biologist Céline Arnal, President of Cybelle Méditerranée, will come on board Fleur de Passion to further develop new protocols for the observation of Cetaceans, rays jellyfish, dolphins and sh [...]
mission effectuée Discovery and observation of dolphins
St Florent Bay - Corsica - August 18 to 21, 2009Charles Pinelli, president of the association of the Friends of the Agriate (region in Northern Corsica) will help the Changing Oceans expedition to discover the dolphin pods which live around Saint Florent. For many years, Charles has been committed to protect the natural and archeological heritage of this region. It is the world of the large dolphins which Charles will help us to discover if th [...]
mission effectuée Spanish Galleons - Underwater archaeology
St Florent Bay - Corsica - August 21 to 23, 2009Vestiges of human history found underwater have, for the most part, been left untouched since their submersion. This is a boon for modern underwater archaeologists seeking to unravel the mysteries of our past. Archaeological sites are often very fragile, and even during research, great care has to be taken not to destroy valuable information hidden in the remains while recording data.
mission effectuée REPCET Project on maritime traffic - 2nd mission
Pelagos Sanctuary - France - August 24 to 28, 2009The REPCET project aims to reduce the risks of collision by improving the advanced detection of large Cetaceans through the use of a computerized network linked to transport ships. Fleur de Passion will be equipped with the REPCET satellite communication system and help assist REPCET researchers in calibrating this new system. Partner: Consortium REPCET (Souffleurs d'Ecume, Chrysar Software Te [...]
mission effectuée STARESO MISSION : Upwelling Planctonique and climate change
Calvi - Corsica - August 31 to September 05, 2009On this mission we will be doing transects to study phytoplankton in order to assess its tremendous importance to marine biodiversity. It can feed an abundance of fish, but it can also be responsible for dangerous jellyfish proliferation. Scientific partner: STARESO (Oceanographic Institute)
mission effectuée Scandola Marine protected Areas
Scandola - Corsica - September 06 to 10, 2009The Scandola Natural Reserve, founded in 1975, extends for 80 km beyond the terrestrial Natural Park of Corsica. Discover the cliffs of Bonifacio with the last of the Mediterranean's Ospreys and eagle expert Jacques Oliver, who helps birds born in captivity fly by parasailing alongside them. We will also dive in this underwater paradise, which incredibly suffers no human impact.
mission effectuée The Marine Protected Areas of Bonifacio
Bonifacio - Corsica - September 11 to 14, 2009This is the third marine protected area visited on the Changing Oceans Expedition. Accompanied by Jean-Michel Culioli, the scientific manager of Bonifacio marine park, Antinea pays a visit to this 80,000 ha MPA. A scientific partnership has been established here with the Sardinian region of Maddalena. Two countries united by a common concern, that of improving the management of their respective ma [...]
mission effectuée Volcanic Aeolians Islands
Aeolians Islands - Sicilia - September 18 to 26, 2009The Aeolian Islands, geological miracles which fascinated the antique greco-roman imaginary, are very rich in life and classified as a world heritage site by UNESCO. Antinea will explore these volcanic formations, and also to its sea floors which are not yet under the protection of a marine reserve. Do these islands necessitate the double protection of UNESCO and the IUCN? Antinea will try to answ [...]
mission effectuée Protected Marine Reserve of Mljet - Croatia
Mljet - Croatia - October 12 to 16, 2009A new, little known, Marine reserve in which the problem of macro-waste is of special concern. Antinea will work with local associations to raise awareness of the problem and to propose the application of a common study protocol on macro-waste.
mission effectuée Archeology in Croatia
Dubrovnik - Croatia - October 19 to 23, 2009In the company of Irena Radic, conservationist for the marine heritage sites of Croatia, we will visit various archaeological sites in the region. The country wishes to protect newly revealed marine sites which have remained untouched until now, and lacked the money to be searched. Local archeologists have started using a system of cages which allow divers to observe the sites without getting too [...]
mission effectuée Malta : measures and video transects
Malta - Italy - November 01 to 15, 2009the Republic of Malta consists of an archipelago situated centrally in the Mediterranean. Malta covers just over 300 km² in land area, making it one of Europe's smallest and one of Europe's most densely populated countries. Throughout history, Malta's location has given it great strategic importance and a sequence of powers including the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Fatimids, Sicilians, Knights of [...]