Karakassis Ioannis

Ioannis Karakassis is a Professor at the University of Crete's Department of Biotechnology and Applied Biology, serving as Director of Sector C (Biotechnology) from 2023-2025. He holds a PhD in Biology from the University of Crete (1991). His research focuses on marine ecology, coastal ecosystem dynamics, and the environmental impacts of aquaculture. His work emphasizes biodiversity conservation, trace element cycling, and sustainable aquaculture practices, with a particular interest in seagrass ecosystems and benthic-pelagic coupling.

Key contributions include the development of the EURO-CARBON database for European sediment organic carbon, studies on microplastic contamination in shellfish, and assessments of aquaculture's ecological footprint. His recent publications address bioremediation roles of holothurians, climate change impacts on marine organisms, and spatial management strategies for Mediterranean fisheries.

He has led projects on benthic macrofauna biodiversity (MacroBen database), aquaculture zoning (Allocated Zones for Aquaculture), and ecosystem-based management. His work bridges ecological research with policy, advocating for sustainable seafood production and marine spatial planning.