Hellenic Centre for Marine Research

HELLENIC CENTRE FOR MARINE RESEARCH (HCMR)

The Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) is comprised of three institutes and two aquariums with 180 research staff, 200 technicians and 60 administrative and secretarial staff. The Institute of Oceanography (HCMR-IO) conducts multidisciplinary (physical, chemical, biological and geological) marine and coastal research. It has successfully coordinated and/ or participated in several EU and national RTD projects and initiatives, including projects studying seagrass integrity, habitat loss and habitat damage of seagrass meadows of Greece (e.g., MSFD, MAREA-MEDISEH, 4S, Bathysent, EMODNET) and blue carbon (e.g., DRESSAGE, BlueTipS, LIFE-TRANSFER, MEDVEG), generating extensive datasets on seagrass status and function as carbon sinks. The Seagrass Ecology Lab of HCMR-IO studies the distribution and function of seagrass meadows by combining modern field studies and laboratory experiments using biogeochemical and molecular techniques. HCMR-IO also includes a Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing Unit conducting spatial analysis, statistics and visualization of land and marine data, geodatabase design and development for seascape visualization, cartography and seafloor mapping (bathymetric and habitat maps), shoreline changes monitoring and analysis, environmental hazard, vulnerability and risk GIS.