A significant milestone for marine conservation in Greece was achieved with the successful hatching and release of a small ray into the sea. This marks the first-ever hatching of a ray in an aquarium in Greece and is only the second recorded hatching of the turbot (a vulnerable ray species) in a controlled environment across the entire Mediterranean.
The achievement is part of the ongoing Thermaikos Biodiversity Project, a collaborative effort between the environmental organization iSea and the Sani/Ikos Group.
Ray species at risk of extinction in Greece’s waters
Nearly half of Greece’s ray species are listed as being at risk of extinction, primarily due to accidental entanglement in fishing gear. Ray egg capsules often end up in nets, where the embryos have no chance of survival.
The project directly addresses this issue through a collaborative rescue effort:
- Collection: Fishermen from Halkidiki and the Thracian Sea safely collect entangled ray egg capsules from their nets.
- Incubation: The capsules are delivered to iSea and transported to a specialized aquarium at Sani Resort. There, hotel guests can observe the embryos, which are nurtured under controlled conditions.
- Hatching & Release: The process proved successful when a turbot egg, only 6 centimeters long, developed into a healthy 10.5-centimeter stingray. The juvenile ray was then released into its natural habitat, where it can grow up to 80 centimeters.
This entire “journey”—from collection to release—serves as the pilot protocol for future conservation actions. The initiative leveraged expertise and hatching protocols developed by iSea’s Spanish partner, Associació Lamna.
Broader project scope
The successful ray rescue and release is an enrichment of the Thermaikos Biodiversity Project, which began in 2021 as the Thermaikos Dolphin Project (focused on monitoring dolphin populations).
The program has now expanded to protect overall marine biodiversity, restore endangered ray populations, and raise awareness among local communities and resort visitors.
Related: Hundreds of Endangered Sea Turtle Hatchlings Born in 2024 on Crete
