Ioli Christopoulou, Policy Director and Co-founder of The Green Tank, joined Nicolas Entrup, Director of International Relations at OceanCare on ERT’s Voice of Greece program “Infinitely Curious”, hosted by Katerina Batzaki. The discussion shed light on the growing threats facing one of the Mediterranean’s most iconic yet endangered marine species — the sperm whale — and the way that the SAvE Whales project complements the efforts to ensure its survival.
A Deep-Diving Giant in Danger
Sperm whales inhabit the deep waters of the Hellenic Trench, stretching from the Ionian Sea to Crete. This area is home to a unique, genetically distinct population of just around 200 individuals, and their future is in jeopardy.
“Ship strikes are the number one threat to the sperm whale in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Ioli Christopoulou explained. Other threats include underwater noise pollution, entanglement in fishing gear, plastic waste, and declining food availability. But the severity and frequency of ship strikes make them the most immediate and preventable danger.
The Hellenic Trench, recognized as an Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA), is also a major shipping corridor, increasing the risk of collisions. Between 1992 and 2021, over half of all recorded strandings have been linked to ship strikes—a figure likely underestimated, as many carcasses never reach the shore.
Technology Meets Conservation: The SAvE Whales Project
To address this threat, SAvE Whales—System for the Avoidance of ship-strikes with Endangered Whales—was developed as a pioneering technology by the Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute and the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH). The pilot project ran from 2019 to 2021 in Crete and was fully funded by OceanCare. SAvE Whales uses underwater acoustic technology to detect whale clicks in real time and alert nearby vessels, allowing them to adjust speed or course to prevent collisions.
Ioli Christopoulou described it as “one of the most innovative and promising marine conservation efforts globally,” while Nicolas Entrup emphasised that “SAvE Whales exemplifies how scientific research can directly inform policy and conservation action”.
Turning Commitments into Action: Greece steps up
A major step forward came when the Greek government announced its commitment to adopt the SAvE Whales system at the 9th Our Ocean Conference. The commitment was implemented with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in June 2024 by the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy (MEEN), the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA), OceanCare, and The Green Tank. This agreement provides for the scaling up and the full implementation of the system in the Kythira Strait (a critical passage where rerouting is impractical) by 2028. With €3 million in funding—€700,000 from OceanCare and €2.3 million from Greek authorities—the initiative has transitioned from advocacy to practical action.
“With the support and engagement of the Greek national authorities, the project now has both institutional support and the scientific and technological tools to succeed,” Ioli Christopoulou noted. Nicolas Entrup added optimistically, “We now have dedication, hope, and commitment.”
A steering committee is now in place, and work is underway to collect acoustic recordings, refine the system’s design, and coordinate with the shipping industry. The aim is to fully integrate the SAvE Whales system as an official ship strike mitigation measure by 2028.
Shipping Industry Engagement: A Promising Signal
Encouragingly, in April 2025, at the 10th Our Ocean Conference, the Greek-owned shipping company Arcadia Shipmanagement became the first to announce that it would test the SAvE Whales system on its vessels. The company is also revising routes where feasible, demonstrating a tangible commitment to reducing whale collisions.
“The recent growing interest by shipping companies and various sectors of the industry in cooperating is a fundamental testimony for us that the project works and is implicit in their activities,” Nicolas Entrup affirmed, urging other shipping companies to follow suit.
A Model for the Future
Ioli Christopoulou and Nicolas Entrup concluded by reflecting on the broader significance of the SAvE Whales initiative, describing it as “a project that brings hope.”
“This isn’t just about saving whales — it’s about coexisting with nature,” Ioli Christopoulou said. “It’s a model for how we can use technology to protect biodiversity without halting economic progress.”
“Awareness is what drives action,” Nicolas Entrup added. “Understanding fosters empathy, and decision-makers are compelled to respond.”
Nicolas Entrup also shared a poignant insight into sperm whale social behaviour: “Whales are remarkable creatures: in a group, the older ones risk their lives to protect the entire pod.” Ioli Christopoulou emphasised, “Every whale counts. These are social, intelligent beings. Saving even one means keeping a family — and a species — alive.”
The episode of the English language program “Infinitely Curious” with Katerina Batzaki aired on May 25, 2025, on ERT’s Voice of Greece online radio.
Listen to the full interview here: Infinitely Curious: In the path of Giants – The Sperm Whales | 25 May 2025 – Voice of Greece
