Papastavrou vows South Aegean and Ionian marine parks by year-end at Delphi Forum
Greece plans to establish two new marine parks in the South Aegean and the Ionian by the end of the year, Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou said at the 11th Delphi Economic Forum, adding that Greece would be the first country in Europe to take such a step.
Papastavrou said both presidential decrees would be sent to the Council of State before the summer and that the parks would follow before the year ends. He outlined a timeline for each site. For the South Aegean marine park, environmental studies have been issued and the special environmental study for the terrestrial section is expected on Tuesday.
The presidential decree is due to be finalized on 11 May and submitted to the Council of State on 15 June. For the Ionian park, which includes three terrestrial sections, one environmental study has been issued and the other two are scheduled for May; the presidential decree is expected to be ready by the end of June.
He added that the goal is to extend similar protections to other areas. The minister noted that the presidential decree for the protection of Gyaros has been issued and highlighted the “Amorgorama” initiative as a model of local engagement.
He said private fishers on Amorgos unanimously agreed to self-imposed restrictions, designating three sensitive areas as year-round no-fish zones and dedicating April and May to removing marine litter. According to Papastavrou, the system has been put into operation, a relevant decree has been issued, and a patrol vessel has been assigned to safeguard protected areas.
He acknowledged the usual difficulties and resistance around spatial planning but said the government is proceeding to public consultation. Evi Lazou-Laskaridis, president of the Athanasios C. Laskaridis Foundation, said Amorgorama and the Gyaros protection effort took more than a decade to implement.
She noted that Greece operates a 72-metre vessel dedicated to cleaning the coastline, which she described as unique globally. The ship Typhonas has been active daily for the past seven years, she said, and in the second cycle of clean-ups, 73% of revisited shores show better results than during the first visits.
Moderating the discussion, former European Commissioner Maria Damanaki, now an advisor at Oceans5 and a professor at NOVA University Lisbon, argued that marine protection should be viewed as an investment. She said protected areas contribute to development, citing studies, and stressed the economic dimension of natural capital and the connection between marine protection and security.
Papastavrou said the immediate next steps are to complete and submit the decrees to the Council of State on the stated timetable, with the aim of formally establishing the two parks before the end of the year.