Greece is leading European countries in significant efforts to protect marine ecosystems. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced at the Our Ocean conference that by 2030, bottom trawling practices will be banned in all of the country’s protected marine areas. Bottom trawling, which involves dragging heavy fishing nets along the ocean floor, is considered one of the greatest threats to marine habitats as it destroys habitats and releases carbon into the sea, the ocean, and the atmosphere.
The Greek government plans to end these harmful practices in three national marine parks, including the largest in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, by 2026. Additionally, Greece has committed to protecting 30% of its marine areas by 2030, with 10% under strict protection, meaning a complete ban on such activities.
This commitment also includes the creation of two large protected areas: the Ionian Marine National Park and the South Aegean Marine Protected Area. The Ionian area, covering about 11.72% of Greek territorial waters, will protect important marine species such as sperm whales, striped dolphins, and endangered Mediterranean monk seals. The Aegean area, covering 6.61% of territorial waters, will be a crucial habitat for seabirds.
The plan also involves using modern tools to monitor these protected areas and studying the movements of sea turtles to better understand how to protect them. Greece is also committed to tackling plastic pollution and managing ship traffic.
These ambitious steps are in response to a global call to protect 30% of the oceans by 2030. Currently, only 8% of the oceans are protected, with just 3% fully protected from harmful activities. Research shows that strictly protected areas offer more benefits than those allowing bottom trawling and other damaging activities.
Enric Sala, founder of Pristine Seas and author of “The Nature of Nature,” commented on these actions as a historic step for Europe, emphasizing that undisturbed seabeds are crucial for global efforts to curb the climate crisis. Sala added that countries serious about maintaining global temperatures, conserving biodiversity, and sustaining their fishing industries should join Greece in banning this outdated practice in protected areas.
Source: https://oceanographicmagazine.com/news/greece-bans-bottom-trawling-in-all-marine-protected-areas/
About the author
Grzegorz Bubak
My fascination with marine aquariums began over two decades ago when I stumbled upon an article about this topic in a magazine. Since then, the underwater world has become my obsession and passion, shaping my everyday life. I started my adventure with marine aquariums with soft corals, which were my first step into this fascinating world. Over time, captivated by the diversity and beauty of SPS corals, I decided to focus on their cultivation, which continues to fill me with constant wonder.
Thanks to my experience and passion for marine aquariums, I am ready to share my knowledge and expertise with other enthusiasts in this field. I am happy to be part of the Reef Pedia community, which serves as an invaluable source of information for all marine aquarium lovers.