May ’26 – As part of the first international meeting of the Guardians of the Coasts project, the Fotoessa team and our Portuguese partners visited the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) and met with the Director, Dr. Vassilios Kapsimalis, Dr. Alexandra Gogou, Research Director of the Institute of Oceanography, Dr. Maria Salomidi, Biologist – Oceanographer, Researcher and Scientific Diver at the HCMR Institute of Oceanography, Dr. Stylianos Petrakis, Geologist – Oceanographer at HCMR and Dr. Konstantinos Tsirintanis, Research Associate at HCMR researchers from the Institute of Oceanography. The meeting provided an excellent opportunity to exchange knowledge and experiences on the challenges facing Mediterranean coastal areas and on the role that active citizens can play in their protection.

Participants discussed coastal erosion, climate change impacts, marine ecosystem protection and the importance of science-based environmental policies. Particular attention was given to Posidonia oceanica, one of the Mediterranean’s most valuable ecosystems, which plays a key role in biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration and shoreline protection. The discussion also highlighted the environmental impacts of inappropriate beach-cleaning practices and the importance of preserving natural coastal processes.

A key conclusion of the meeting was that scientific knowledge must be transformed into accessible information and practical tools for citizens and local authorities. Coastal protection is not solely the responsibility of scientists or public institutions but requires the active participation of society as a whole. As highlighted during the meeting, “Knowledge is power” and “We must be active citizens every day and in every aspect.”

The project partners also discussed the next phases of the initiative, including educational workshops in Greece and Portugal, awareness-raising activities, communication campaigns and the development of a practical handbook for citizens interested in protecting coastal commons.

The meeting reaffirmed the importance of cooperation between scientific institutions, local authorities and civil society organisations. Such collaborations create the conditions for a more informed, participatory and effective approach to coastal governance and environmental protection.

Fotoessa warmly thanks HCMR and its researchers for their hospitality, expertise and valuable contribution to the success of the project.

Our beaches: A common good. A shared responsibility. A common future.