Field trials and preliminary data gathering

Field trials for the implementation and optimization of the developed CS protocol took place in three countries: France (Marseille), Greece (National Marine Park of Zakynthos) and Turkey (Izmir). These included briefings to volunteer divers from local dive centres and associations, experimental dives for data collection followed by interviews, questionnaires and discussions, so as to come up with a more simplified list of requirements that clearly address the CIGESMED project objectives and make the data collection and reporting procedures as easy as possible for the participants. During these trials, the idea of developing an educational CS module to ensure a basic understanding of coralligenous bioherms and their associated communities also emerged, and was subsequently constructed.

Preliminary data gathering was performed by the researchers and divers involved in CIGESMED project, thus allowing the assessment of coralligenous sites in four regions: Western Mediterranean, Ionian Sea, Aegean Sea and Levantine Sea.