In June, the first stage of the collaboration between Octopolis Foundation and the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation took place.
For four days, the Greek island of Samos, home to the headquarters of Archipelagos, welcomed a delegation from Octopolis Foundation consisting of its President, Cav. Antonio Rancati, and Executive Director Paolo Monesi.
Following the signing of a cooperation agreement last April, this visit marked the official launch of a scientific partnership dedicated to the conservation of the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) and, more broadly, to the protection of the Mediterranean marine ecosystem.
In recent decades, wild octopus populations have come under increasing threat due to the intense pressure exerted by the fishing industry, which continues to meet the growing global demand for octopus as a food source. Illegal fishing, marine pollution, and climate change are also having a significant negative impact on the species’ presence in our seas, to an extent that science has not yet fully understood.
Founded in the summer of 2024 and officially established in Malta in February 2025 as an international public-interest non profit organization, Octopolis Foundation is dedicated to protecting octopuses through awareness campaigns, public outreach, and the promotion of scientific research focused on the species.
The Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation has been operating since 1998 with the mission of protecting biodiversity in the northeastern Mediterranean by combining scientific research, environmental education, conservation initiatives, and active engagement with the local communities living on the Greek islands of the Aegean Sea.
Following a warm welcome at the International School of the Seas, created and managed by the Archipelagos team, and introductory meetings with Director General Thodoris Tsimpidis, work immediately began on coordinating future joint initiatives.
Throughout several days of workshops and educational activities attended by more than 80 students from across the globe, dedicated meetings were held to advance the organizations’ shared mission. Alongside the Octopolis delegation, participants included Scientific Director Anastasia Miliou and research assistants Silvia Giacomello and Emma Donald.
The exchange of knowledge and expertise between the two NGOs was immediate and extensive, particularly regarding ongoing research on octopus populations.
For several years, Archipelagos researchers have been conducting intensive monitoring of octopus populations around the nearby island of Lipsi, testing different types of artificial shelters designed specifically for these cephalopods. This work is regarded as an important scientific foundation upon which further research initiatives can be developed with the involvement of researchers and students.
For its part, Octopolis shared its experience from projects currently underway in Italian waters, as well as initiatives being developed in Maltese waters. These discussions marked the first steps toward creating an international network connecting universities and NGOs to strengthen scientific research and foster international cooperation for octopus conservation.
The visit also provided an opportunity to present the Foundation’s social initiative, Octopus Therapy, a practice originally developed by Danish healthcare professionals in 2013. The project involves crocheting small cotton octopuses that are donated to neonatal intensive care units in major hospitals, where they are placed inside incubators to provide comfort and support the recovery of premature infants.
The partnership between Archipelagos and Octopolis will continue to grow over the coming months, driven by the shared ambition of promoting effective conservation methodologies and best practices while raising awareness of the essential ecological role octopuses play in the broader mission of preserving marine biodiversity.
