2009 was a year of change for "EcoOcaen".
The R/V "Mediterranean explorer" almost doubled its activity compared to 2008.
We are extremely happy to strengthen our working ties with IOLR ( Israeli Oceanographic
& limnology Research) institute. This cooperation led to a joint research cruise
with ILOR's two research vessels, the R/V "Shikmona" and the R/V "Etziona", to the
"Kurkar" ridges west of Bustan HaGalil. This cruise involved many top scientists
from many institutions in Israel and covered a wide variety of scientific disciplines.
In addition there were two more big projects with ILOR. The first at the "Kineret"
( Sea Of Galilee) involving "EcoOceans" ROV and the other along the south Israeli
coast involving Geophysical work conducted by ILOR scientists and Researchers from
Germany. This joint effort is thanks to the embracement of good will and cooperation
shown by the head of ILOR, Prof. Barak Herut and by Dr. Gideon Tibor.
Continues work has been carried out with Dr. Ilana Berman Frank which included a
one week trip to the "Rhodos" Gyre. EcoOcean continued its Cooperation with the
Nature & Park Authority in the monitoring project aimed at expanding marine reserves
off the Israeli coast.
The Mediterranean Explorer has also started ongoing research with Prof. Aldo Shemesh
from the Weizman Institute of Sciences.
Many hundreds of students from five different academic institutes took academic
courses on board the R/V Mediterranean Explorer as part of their studies. Once again
the" Ruppin School of Marine Sciences" was the main user of the boat and conducted
most of its practical courses on board the R/V "Mediterranean Explorer".
2009 also saw the inauguration of the new and very much improved "Megalim center"
for marine and coastal environmental education at Kibbutz "Sdot Yam" located on
the central Israeli coast. The new center caters for up to 70 students and has a
class and lecturing room with a variety of teaching and experience enhancing tools.
The Center also has a small lab facility for researchers and houses the "EcoOcean"
head office. During 2009 over 7500 children and adults were exposed to the issues
facing the marine and costal environments through the "Megalim Center" and "EcoOceans"
education programs. EcoOcean continued its cooperation with the "Green Network"
and the Ministry of Environmental Protection in implementing and supporting educational
programs such as the "Along the Sea" with the "Green Network" and the "Clean Beach"
program of the Ministry for of Environmental Protection.
The year of 2009 also brought some structural changes to "EcoOcean" as an organization.
This reflects the expansion of activities and subjects that "EcoOcean" has been
involved in. The "Megalim Center" has allowed us to expand our activities in many
ways and hence we have been busy in creating new projects and programs as well as
improving our existing ones. We hope that our 2010 activity report will reflect
the work that has taken place in these aspects in 2009.