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Marine Crete

Fish in Crete by Oscar Alexander



Marine Crete is rich and varied. We mention some of the endangered species and conservation projects on our dedicated conservation pages.




Crete is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, and each local sea, gulf and bay has its own name. In the south lies the Libyan Sea, swells ariving from Africa. Trade and transport routes have included Crete for centuries, and her sea creatures harvested for just as long.

Crete fish by Oscar Alexander The most famous of these sea creatures is of course the octopus, of which there are still plenty around Crete, sea urchins and sponges, which are becoming much rarer, turtles, fish, squid, cuttlefish, dolphins, whales and seals.

Don’t forget the delicate creatures that also make up the marine ecological landscape, such as corals, sea horses, lobsters, crabs, eels, rays, shrimps, jelly fish, star fish, molluscs and sea snakes.

The Mediterranean Monk Seal, Monachus monachus is one of the most critically endangered species in our oceans, and Crete is one of their natural habitats. There are fewer than 600 individuals surviving around the world.

Seal hunting began in ancient times, peaked in Roman times and continued in the 20th Century. Because of their trusting nature, seals were easy prey for hunters using clubs, nets and spears. Today, the remaining seals seek refuge in inaccessible caves along remote coasts with cliffs.

To learn more about all the sealife of Crete, take a visit to Aqua World on the north coast. Here you will see turtles, groupers, wrasse, eels, scorpion fish, weever fish, rays and a collection of native reptiles. Take this opportunity to get to know more about the wonderful marine life of Crete.

Below you will see some of the inhabitants of Cretan waters, with their Greek and scientific names.

The scorpion fish has poisonous spines that are dangerous to humans.

Marine Crete

Mediterranean Monk Seal Mediterranean Monk Seal Monachus monachus
Leatherback Turtle Leatherback Turtle Dermochelys coriacea
Green Turtle Crete Kriti Green Turtle Chelonia mydas
Loggerhead Turtle Greece by Chomik Loggerhead Turtle Caretta caretta
Sperm Whale by Pedro Madruga Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus
in Azores by Pedro Madruga
www.espacotalassa.com
Striped Dolphins by João QuaresmaStriped Dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba
by João Quaresma
www.joaoquaresma.com
Scorpion FishScorpion Fish - scorpidi Scorpaena scrofa
SilversideSilverside - atheriná Atherina hepsetus
 Ornate Wrasse by Anders FinnOrnate Wrasse - gílos Thalassoma pavo
Saddled Sea BreamSaddled Sea Bream - melanoúri Oblada melanura
SalemaSalema - sálpa Sarpa salpa
SalemaSinagrída Dentex dentex



All about Cretan Beaches...


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