MEDASSET & WWF Greece

Two Cases of Environmental Law Violations in Zakynthos That Went Unpunished

This is not a mere administrative technicality. It concerns the way one of Greece's—and the Mediterranean's—most important natural treasures is protected, or fails to be protected: the Zakynthos National Marine Park.

According to publicly available records published on the Greek government's transparency platform, "Diavgeia," the Region of the Ionian Islands has not imposed a single administrative sanction for environmental violations under Law 1650/1986 on Zakynthos during the past three years. At the same time, even in cases where environmental offenses resulted in final criminal convictions, the corresponding administrative penalties ultimately disappeared. These developments raise legitimate questions about the effectiveness of environmental enforcement and the ability of public authorities to safeguard an area of exceptional ecological importance.

Since its establishment in 1999, the Zakynthos National Marine Park has been one of Greece's and the Mediterranean's most significant protected areas. Yet the implementation of its protection measures continues to be challenged by repeated violations of environmental legislation. These shortcomings have been highlighted repeatedly over the years and have even led to judgments against Greece by European courts.

From a €200,000 Fine to a Refund

One striking example concerns extensive earthworks and land clearing carried out in 2015 and 2016 within a protected area of the Marine Park. These interventions caused serious environmental degradation, altering the natural landscape and affecting protected habitats. In 2018, an administrative fine of €200,000 was imposed. In 2022, the fine was reduced to €10,000 and was subsequently annulled entirely by a decision of the Administrative Court of First Instance.

All of this occurred despite the fact that the individual responsible for the works had already been irrevocably convicted by the criminal courts for the environmental damage caused, as well as for constructing a road without the legally required approval of the competent management authority.

The Region of the Ionian Islands subsequently refunded the amount that had already been collected, classifying it as an "unduly paid amount," without pursuing the available legal remedies to defend the administrative sanction it had originally imposed. As a result, a case involving serious environmental degradation—and one that had already led to final criminal convictions—ultimately ended without any administrative penalty. More recently, the appeal lodged by environmental organizations against the decision reducing the fine was also dismissed.

These developments raise important questions. Why did the Region of the Ionian Islands choose not to defend the legality of its own administrative sanction through the available legal avenues? And how is it possible that a case resulting in final criminal convictions ultimately concluded without any administrative consequences?

Marathonisi: Construction Works at the Heart of the Marine Park

A second illustrative case concerns construction works that began in early 2025 on Marathonisi, an islet located at the heart of the Zakynthos National Marine Park, in an area where the applicable protection regime prohibits the construction of new buildings. The case came to light through the actions of the environmental organizations ARCHELON, MEDASSET (Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles), and WWF Greece. Only after these organizations intervened did the competent public authorities initiate inspections and enforcement procedures, raising questions about the effectiveness of preventive oversight in such a sensitive protected area.

Moreover, based on the available information, there is no indication that the legally required opinion of the competent management authority was sought during the permitting process. Thus, even where environmental legislation is clear, its implementation appears uncertain.

Laws Without Enforcement Do Not Protect Nature

Environmental protection cannot be achieved merely by adopting laws and regulatory frameworks. It requires effective oversight, accountability, and rules that are consistently enforced. When serious environmental violations are not met with meaningful consequences, the deterrent effect of environmental law is weakened, and public confidence in institutions is undermined. When this happens in one of the Mediterranean's most important protected areas, the issue extends far beyond a local dispute.

The available evidence indicates that no administrative sanctions have been imposed for environmental violations under Law 1650/1986 on Zakynthos during the past three years. Taken together with the two cases described above, this calls for clear answers from the Region of the Ionian Islands and the competent public authorities.

The protection of the Zakynthos National Marine Park cannot remain confined to legislation on paper. Environmental law only fulfills its purpose when it is applied consistently, transparently, and equally to everyone.