The aim of the project is to address the problem of the anoxic zone of Amvrakikos gulf through a multidisciplinary study. In order to achieve an integrated approach several partners with specific features and roles are involved.

The University of Patras will coordinate the project and two teams will be involved: the Marine Ecology unit of the Department of Biology and the Marine Geology and Physical Oceanography Laboratory, both of them members of the Oceanus network. They will be involved in the study of the characteristics and spatial distribution of the anoxic zone and its consequences for the fish populations and the fisheries.

The teams will be strengthened by collaborators from the National Technical University of Athens specialised in remote sensing.

The Hellenic Centre for Marine Research will study, by hydroacoustics, the distribution and abundance of small pelagic fishes in relation to the anoxic zone.

Moreover, the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Technonological Educational Institute of Western Greece will study the important lagoon fisheries in relation to environmental features.

The Department of Agricultural Technology of the Technonological Educational Institute of Epirus will study the contribution of rivers and mainly of the extended drainage channels to the Amvrakikos’ water quality.

Finally, the Management Body of the Amvrakikos Wetlands, having the responsibility of the protection and management of the Amvrakikos National Park, will be responsible for the coordination and support of the field actions, the involvement of regional stakeholders and the dissemination of the results.

The teams will present a multidisciplinary analysis of the anoxic zone and its consequences and will provide the groundwork for the development of an efficient monitoring and Integrated Management of the Amvrakikos Gulf.