MEDASSET – the Mediterranean Association To Save The Sea Turtles was founded in 1998, to protect sea turtles in their natural habitats throughout the Mediterranean Sea.
The organization has been a partner to the United Nations Environment Program Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP) and a Permanent Observer-Member to the Bern Convention (Council of Europe), since its establishment.
MEDASSET develops actions in the following areas: a. sea turtles and their marine and coastal habitats, b. Marine Protected Areas, c. the interactions of sea turtles with fishing activity, d. the impact of tourism and marine pollution, e. climate change, f. the impact of ship and yacht traffic, and g. marine research and seabed mining.
The grant pertains to the implementation of an observation, evaluation and restoration program of habitats at the Marine Protected Area of Sounion.
MEDASSET, with the assistance of professional technical divers, has dragged up and recycled approximately 3 tonnes of nets and elastics from the area. The aim of the program is to continue cleaning the seabed in the Marine Protected Area of Sounion, and to reuse the litter through upcycling. Throughout the project, MEDASET will utilize the conclusions on the impact of fishing activities and plastic pollution on sea turtles, alongside proposing measures to alleviate the problem, while it will also hold awareness-raising events for the public on matters pertaining to the importance of protecting Marine Protected Areas, sea turtles and their habitats.