16/10/2024

Greece's Marine Protected Areas remain unprotected

logos

It is striking that only 12 out of Greece’s 174 marine Natura 2000 sites currently have a protective regime status, which in most cases, is limited to temporary or fragmented measures. Practically, this means that only 3.4% of Greece’s national waters are only partially protected, despite the country’s legal commitment to effectively protect at least 30% of its marine areas by 2030, through the establishment of a network of marine protected areas (30x30 target). In April 2024, during the 9th Our Ocean Conference, hosted in Athens, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced a series of new commitments, some of which are directly addressing the management of Greece’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). While these commitments are deemed positive and in the right direction, the country has long delayed fulfilling its existing regulatory obligations.

In this context, an evaluation report on the management and conservation status of marine protected areas (MPAs) in Greece was published today by nine (9) Greek environmental organizations. The report reveals serious gaps in key areas, crucial for the MPAs’ effective protection and the conservation of sensitive habitat types and endangered species; legislation and management, governance, conservation, necessary resources. It also formulates specific proposals to achieve the 30X30 target.

According to the conclusions of the report, the serious gaps highlighted are mainly due to the unjustified delay in adopting the necessary presidential decrees (PD) and management plans (MP) for all Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). While the relevant studies have been commissioned ever since 2019, the Ministry of Environment and Energy in charge, has not proceeded with their approval and the issuance of the relevant decrees. The same problem is faced by all protected areas in the country. As the environmental organizations point out in the letter they sent today to the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, this inconsistency and lack of political will, concerns both the Ministry of Environment and the Prime Minister himself, as he has officially committed internationally that the whole institutional process would be completed by December 2022.

At a governance level, the establishment of the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA), as the central body responsible for the management of protected areas, has helped to ensure that there is a more unified and coherent approach to their management. However, the Protected Areas Management Units remain seriously understaffed, while the inadequate coordination between the relevant ministries and agencies and the weak coordination between the weak participation of local communities remain a problem. According to the report, there is an urgent need to strengthen the staffing and cooperation between the competent authorities and bodies (ministries) as well as effective participation of the local community in order to effectively manage the areas. Finally, and most importantly, as long as institutional protection of these areas is not advanced, NECCA finds itself operating de facto, within institutional gaps and ambiguities about what is and is not applicable in each area. Lack of coordination and understaffing have, among other things, resulted in the guarding and inspections of the MPAs to be considered inadequate. The recently established Nature Conservation Bodies have few staff and limited resources, resulting in serious shortcomings in actual control and sanction enforcements. Without adequate staffing, appropriate equipment and a clear legal framework for the responsibilities and control procedures, infringements will not be punished, undermining the very concept of Protection.

Finally, on the issue of resources, as the organizations explain, substantial funding and, at the same time, effective absorption and allocation of funds to meet the needs of the Management Units and NECCA, as well as the need for the systematic implementation of the actions are deemed necessary for each of the MPAs. Given the commitment to achieve the '30X30 target', the government should immediately ensure that the necessary resources are made available for the sustainable and effective operation of the MPAs. It is also necessary to develop long-term and stable funding systems that will ensure the sustainable operation of the MPAs, irrespective of European or other exceptional funding sources. The report makes it clear that unless there are immediate and decisive interventions in the management/legislation, governance, conservation and resources, Greece risks once again being inconsistent with its international obligations; and most importantly, that our seas remain without effective protection.

The following environmental organizations contributed to the development of the assessment report:

  1. ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece
  2. Blue Marine Foundation
  3. Cyclades Preservation Fund
  4. Greenpeace
  5. Hellenic Ornithological Society
  6. iSea
  7. MEDASSET
  8. Thalassa Foundation / Aenaos Thalassa
  9. WWF Greece

Notes/Accompanying material:

  • The evaluation report was developed in the framework of the project “Promoting the 30X30 objective of an ecologically representative, coherent and well-managed marine network of MPAs in Greece” implemented by WWF Hellas and Greenpeace, funded by Oceans 5.

  • The full study is available in Greek HERE

  • The summary in Greek HERE

  • The corresponding summary in English HERE

  • MPAs are areas of particular ecological - and not only - importance, as they host important and threatened habitats, such as the seagrass Posidonia, as well as important and endangered marine species, such as sea turtles, blowholes, sea lions, dolphins, the Mediterranean seal and others. The network of Marine Protected Areas in Greece was significantly expanded in December 2017 with the inclusion of new marine protected areas in Natura 2000 network. The MPAs now cover an area of 22,796 km 2 and cover 18.3% of Greek waters.

RECENT NEWS

  1. OUR NEWS
    16/06/2025

    World Sea Turtle Day: We can all live together!

    Today, June 16th, we celebrate World Sea Turtle Day. On this occasion, ARCHELON expresses its warmest thanks to all citizens, volunteers, donors and supporters who actively contribute to our work.

    Read more
  2. OUR NEWS
    10/06/2025

    New Adaptation Strategies for Sea Turtles and Mediterranean Monk Seals

    Institutions, associations and researchers will work for 5 years alongside the coastal communities to evaluate and respond to the effects of rising sea levels and ocean warming. These are to be developed through the ‘LIDE ADAPTS’ project which is being carried out in Italy, Greece and Cyprus.

    Read more
  3. OUR NEWS
    08/06/2025

    World Oceans Day: Conservation and Anthropogenic “Wounds” in Laganas Bay, Zakynthos

    On the occasion of World Oceans Day, ARCHELON brings to the fore the challenges facing Laganas Bay, Zakynthos - one of the most important refuges of the loggerhead sea turtle in the Mediterranean.

    Read more
  4. OUR NEWS
    06/06/2025

    Sekania: History of the most precious refuge for the Loggerhead in Zakynthos

    Sekania, a secluded 600-meter-long beach in Zakynthos, is a global model of success in biodiversity conservation, with more than 24,000 sea turtle nests recorded over the last 40 years.

    Read more
  5. OUR NEWS
    05/06/2025

    World Environment Day: Keeping Sea Turtle Nesting Beaches Safe from Plastics and Bulldozers

    On June 5th, we celebrate World Environment Day, a day established by the United Nations in 1972. This year’s theme is #BeatPlasticPollution, and ARCHELON is calling for action on the sea turtle nesting beaches.

    Read more
  6. OUR NEWS
    02/06/2025

    Sea Turtles Return to Crete: A Shared Victory for Nature and Sustainable Travel

    ARCHELON volunteers have just located the first sea turtle nests of the season on the beaches of Rethymno, Messara, and Chania. Now the challenge to prove that tourism destinations on Crete can make a significant move towards sustainability is on again.

    Read more
  7. OUR NEWS
    29/05/2025

    Amvrakikos Project 2025: Special Call for a Field Leader

    ARCHELON is looking for a highly motivated person to lead its project in Amvrakikos Gulf, one of the few foraging sites for loggerhead turtles in Greece linking several populations nesting across the Mediterranean region.

    Read more
  8. OUR NEWS
    22/05/2025

    Sea turtle nesting has begun in Greece: learn what to look out for!

    The first nests for 2025 have already been located and protected at Laganas beach in Zakynthos, Elaia beach in Kyparissia Bay and Pachia Ammos beach in Messara Bay in Crete!

    Read more
  9. OUR NEWS
    16/05/2025

    Advancing sea turtle photo-ID research with artificial intelligence

    Sea turtle facial scales remain stable throughout a turtle’s life allowing researchers to recognise individuals from photos, often taken over decades!

    Read more
  10. OUR NEWS
    15/05/2025

    Kyparissia Bay: Balancing Nature and Tourism

    Αs the popularity of the protected area increases and pressures from tourism and climate change intensify, the question that arises is: How many people can this beach “bear” without degrading the environment?

    Read more
  11. OUR NEWS
    07/05/2025

    Discover the secret nature of Crete: Sea Turtle Beach Walk with ARCHELON

    Live a unique ecotourism experience in Crete by participating in ARCHELON Sea Turtle Beach Walks on the nesting beaches of the Loggerhead, starting on May 15th in Chania and Rethymno. Now open for reservations on our website!

    Read more
  12. OUR NEWS
    24/04/2025

    Are You Over 50? The Sea Turtles Need You!

    If you’re 50 or older and ready to dive into a unique conservation experience, we warmly invite you to join us. Help protect sea turtles, meet like-minded people, and discover the natural beauty of Greece with ARCHELON by your side.

    Read more
  13. OUR NEWS
    22/04/2025

    Turning the Tide: Sea Turtle Populations Show Signs of Recovery Worldwide

    The first, after a decade, global study brings encouraging news for sea turtle conservation: more than half of their populations across the globe show signs of recovery. Listed among the authors is the Research Coordinator of ARCHELON, Aliki Panagopoulou PhD, who is mobilizing the long term field work of our Society on the nesting beaches of Greece.

    Read more
  14. OUR NEWS
    17/04/2025

    Special 2-week volunteering opportunity on the nesting beaches – we need you this May and June!

    Read more
  15. OUR NEWS
    14/04/2025

    Groundbreaking Study on Microplastic Pollution of Marine Turtle Nesting Beaches

    ARCHELON took part in a recent global study that has uncovered alarming levels of microplastic contamination on marine turtle nesting beaches around the world.

    Read more
1 out of 0
Subscribe to our newsletter!
Learn about our latest actions and find out about our programs and how you can help sea turtles!