Contents
Maritime Meanderings |
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The New Ferry Arrives |
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The maiden voyage of the new fast ferry service
between Pireus and Rethymnon (operated by NEL lines) arrived on the
evening of May 11th accompanied by fireworks and razzmatazz. Or at
least we think so, but a confession has to be made. Some of the
editorial committee who were on their way to the marina to see the
celebrations got waylaid by a third bottle of Spanish wine in a
certain hostelry. We did, however, make it for the ferry open-day
the next morning when we were given the chance to wander round and
explore the boat from top to bottom (or from prow to stern, port to
starboard, etc.). Visitors were offered refreshments and given
goodie bags containing NEL lines souvenir T-shirts and stickers. The
new ferry appears to be very swish - seats with plenty of leg room,
air conditioned throughout, on-board video entertainment and
refreshment outlets. The crossing takes approximately five hours
(same day departure and arrival), which halves the journey time of
the standard overnight ANEK crossing. According to the timetable we
were given, the ferry will run four times a week (each way) in June,
then from 2nd July until 9th September NEL will operate daily
crossings, the ferry winding down for the season towards the end of
September—as this is a high-speed vessel we presume that lack of a
winter service relates to weather conditions. The NEL ticket office
is located at the marina, you can also buy tickets at local travel
agencies and book online at the
www.nel.gr website. Standard adult
fares quoted on the website range from about €55 per passenger one
way for economy class, though check for discounts and special offers
- when we checked the website NEL was offering a limited number of
seats at the promotional price of €35 per crossing. Standard prices
for cars range from about €80, one way, here again, check for
discounts and concessions. As far as we are aware, ANEK will
continue to operate their service (Ferry Boat ‘Preveli’) between
Pireus and Rethymnon as is for the rest of the year. Currently the
Preveli runs three times a week each way, leaving Rethymnon at 8pm
and arriving in Pireus at 6am the next morning. Prices per passenger
(one way) quoted on the www.anek.gr website range from €29 deck
class, €59 for berth in a shared cabin and €84 for cars. We see some
price wars ahead! |
Sharks don't need sex!
 This
month’s shark story, widely reported in the international press, is the
news that sharks are able to reproduce without having sex. It’s rather a
sad tale, all round, actually. In 2001, a hammerhead shark gave birth to
a pup at Henry Doorly Zoo, Nebraska without having had any apparent
contact with a male. The new-born was killed by a stingray before
keepers could rescue it from its tank. Subsequent tests carried out by a
research team from Belfast, Florida and Nebraska have now established
that the pup’s tissues contained no paternal DNA, leading to the
conclusion that the female reproduced via parthenogenesis.This is the first time that parthenogenesis has been observed in carteliginous fish such as sharks. The discovery is a cause of concern for shark conservationists. Shark populations in the wild are in decline due to over-fishing and marine pollution. Scientists say that if female sharks resort to parthenogenesis when they have difficulty finding mates, then this is likely to put species at even greater risk in the long term. Asexual reproduction limits genetic diversity. This in turn reduces the potential for the introduction of novel traits which may be advantageous for species adaptation to changing environmental circumstances and in resilience to new diseases. |
Friendly Flippers
Sea
Turtles: Between June and August loggerhead sea turtles return to
beaches where they were born to lay their eggs, with newborns hatching
after about 55 days. The beaches around the Rethymnon area are some of
the last remaining nesting sites in the Mediterranean for this
critically endangered species. If you come across a protected nest on
the beach - generally enclosed by metal frames and clearly marked–
please don’t disturb it. It should be obvious to most people in any
case, but dispose of rubbish carefully, plastic bags and bottles are a
particular hazard as sea turtles mistake them for jelly fish. Finally,
if you are lucky enough to see a baby turtle making its first journey
from the sand into the sea, please don’t touch it.
ARCHELON: The Sea Turtle Protection of Greece, carries out a number of
conservation initiatives in the Rethymnon area. You can find out more
about their work on the
www.archelon.gr website.June is a really great month for novices to try out one of the many water sports that are on offer. The bays around Plakias on the South Coast are particularly good for windsurfing, snorkelling etc. Scuba diving is becoming increasingly popular—for many years scuba diving was prohibited due to issues relating to the protection of underwater archaeological remains around the coast of Crete. Diving restrictions have now been lifted in certain areas and there are a number of companies offering scuba-diving courses. Check for PADI registration and qualifications before signing up.
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