Greece Launches Major Marine Parks
Greece has announced the establishment of two large marine parks in the Ionian and Aegean Seas. The initiative aims to protect marine biodiversity and critical habitats for threatened species. This move is part of a broader strategy to balance environmental preservation with the economic needs of tourism and fisheries in the region.
- The two new parks, named the Southern Aegean Marine Park and the Ionian Marine Park, cover a combined area of approximately 27,500 square kilometers, making them the largest marine protected areas in the Mediterranean Sea. - This initiative increases the total percentage of Greece's protected territorial waters to over 35%, surpassing the international "30x30" target of protecting 30% of marine areas by 2030 well ahead of schedule. - A central regulation within the parks will be a complete ban on bottom trawling, a fishing method known for causing significant damage to marine habitats on the seafloor. - Management will be handled by the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (OFYPEKA), which will use drones, satellites, and radar systems for surveillance and establish new local branches on the islands of Milos, Amorgos, and Kythira. - The project is supported by a €15 million grant from the European Union's LIFE Program, intended to fund marine conservation efforts in Greece from 2026 to 2034. - While many environmental groups have welcomed the news, some, including WWF, have cautioned against the new zones becoming "paper parks" that lack effective enforcement. - The establishment of the Aegean park has created geopolitical tension with Turkey, which argues that the park infringes upon disputed maritime boundaries; Greek officials maintain the initiative is purely for ecological preservation.
