About our site

Located in the south of France near Marseille, the second biggest city of the country, in the northern part of the Mediterranean Sea, the Calanques National Park is emblematic for its cultural and environmental richness. All the marine ecosystems are inside this MPA, from the abyss with spectacular underwater canyon through the well-known Posidonia meadow. The Calanques National Park is also home to beautiful coralligenous habitats. Underwater landscapes are unique and rich in biodiversity.

The protection is one of the highest in the Mediterranean Sea, with 7 no-take zones created in 2012, dedicated to regulations of activities and improving ecological and socio-economic development. Other regulations exist and are documented on the website of the national park. Its specificity also lies in being both a terrestrial and marine protected area.

What we plan to achieve

The purpose of eDNA Expeditions is above all to improve awareness and participation of local communities by involving local students from the Marine Educative Area and students from university. The project will help to record the complex biodiversity of marine life under different types of pressure and regulations, including anchoring and fishing activities.