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In 2005, Ecotours Thalassa, in collaboration with the Mammal Research Group from the Universities of Athens and Thessaly, made 4 research trips to the Atlantic, Western Mediterranean, Eastern Mediterranean (outside Israel\u2019s territorial waters) and Greek seas (Cyclades, Dodecanese, Gulf of Corinth).

During the period of 8 months that these trips lasted we researched more than 7,000 nautical miles, mainly in the open sea. We observed whales and dolphins 126 times, while acoustically spotted Sperm Whales in 36 cases. 48 skin samples were collected from various sites in the Mediterranean and their evaluation, by means of molecular techniques, has already begun. We collaborated with the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre ARION in Greece, the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, the Cetacean Research Centre OCEANUS in Italy and the University of Haifa in Israel.

We created a network for the study stranded Cetaceans the help of the Coast Guard; while we also helped by freeing and saving a young bottlenose dolphin from the central port of Piraeus (the dive in the port was worthwhile). In the same spirit, we inaugurated the Center for the study of Mammals-Fisheries interactions, which studies the death of dolphins resulting from fishing tools as well as the material losses caused by these organisms.

We have presented our work at three international conferences. Our activities have resulted in three thesis and we helped educate 24 new scientists and several fishermen. We would like to thank QUALCO for its continuous support during the past three years, allowing us not only to achieve our goals but to keep our vision of the sea alive.

Finally, we gathered and distributed educational materials and stationary to schools in Capo Verde, helping the development of this country and organized a trip for environmental education as well as recreation for the volunteer assistants of people with special needs from Ag. Nicolaos Institution in Galaxidi. In 2006 we undertook 2 trips to Central and Western Mediterranean and 4 more in Greece (Sporades, Crete, Ionian and Southern Peloponnese).

The data which has been gathered and continues to be gathered is analyzed regularly and we expect to obtain the first results by the first half of 2007. This data will help define the vital habitats of striped dolphins in the Greek seas, data which is necessary for the implementation of a management and protection program.

We hope that our intervention with the fishermen in Magnesia will expand into other areas as well, helping to soften the "conflict" between fishermen and protected species and decrease the number of mammal deaths caused deliberately or by accident. With the proper data, we will study the need for payment of indemnities regarding damages to fishing equipment, taking care of the people who work at sea as well.

Finally, we will organize trips for people with special needs, allowing them to share an experience which we believe is unique. We would like to thank QUALCO for its continuous support during the past three years, allowing us not only to achieve our goals but to keep our vision of the sea alive.