The Ministry of Environment and Energy submitted the draft presidential decree for the South Aegean 1 National Marine Park – Southern Cyclades to the Council of State on Friday, 16 October. Once the Council has reviewed the draft and issued its opinion, the presidential decree will be published.
With this step, the government is moving ahead steadily, according to plan and at pace with the commitment made by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Our Ocean conference in Athens in April 2024 to establish two national marine parks, in the South Aegean – Southern Cyclades and in the Ionian Sea.
The decree is a landmark initiative to protect the country’s marine natural capital. It creates a coherent institutional framework that supports biodiversity conservation alongside the sustainable development of island communities, strengthens the implementation of national and European nature policies, and makes a decisive contribution to fulfilling Greece’s international commitments to protect its seas.
The South Aegean 1 National Marine Park – Southern Cyclades includes 73 island groups and islets, the terrestrial Natura 2000 sites on the inhabited islands of Milos, Kimolos, Folegandros, Sikinos, Santorini, Anafi, Amorgos, Irakleia, Schinoussa, Koufonisi, Kinaros and Levitha, as well as the adjoining marine area of the South Aegean Region within the country’s territorial waters. The park includes 18 marine and terrestrial sites that are already part of the Natura 2000 network.
The park covers more than 9,000 sq km of sea and more than 250 sq km of land. With the establishment of the South Aegean 1 National Marine Park – Southern Cyclades, a further 8,407.14 sq km of marine area will be placed under protection, in addition to marine areas already protected under the Natura 2000 network.
The area is one of the Mediterranean’s most important centres of marine and island biodiversity. It is home to 37.5% of Greece’s Mediterranean monk seal population (19% of the global population). Its rich underwater habitats, including Posidonia seagrass meadows, coral reefs and deep-sea ecosystems, serve as key breeding grounds for other marine mammals, as well as cetaceans, fish and invertebrates. The park also contains breeding habitats for 17.7% of Greece’s Eleonora’s falcon population, 12.5% of its Yelkouan shearwater population, 11% of its Cory’s shearwater population, 36% of its Aegean gull population and 13% of its European shag population.
The draft decree establishes a unified framework for protecting and managing land and sea, for the first time clearly and in detail defining the permitted uses in each protection zone (196 zones) across terrestrial and marine areas. It also sets out management measures to be detailed in the Management Plan, including appropriate financial support for fishers affected by fishing restrictions.
In the marine area, the measures include:
- A complete ban on towed fishing gear that comes into contact with the seabed (trawling), with provision for compensation for affected fishers.
- A ban on fishing within 0.5 nautical miles of the coast from 15 April to 31 May, with the possibility of reassessment through the Management Plan.
- Incorporation of the successful measures under the “Amorgorama” initiative and the introduction of similar measures in the area around Cape Santorini.
- A gradual restriction on uncontrolled anchoring in areas with Posidonia seagrass meadows and other sensitive marine habitats, including reefs.
- Activities such as livestock farming, beekeeping and small-scale coastal fishing, which have been practised for thousands of years, will be maintained and, where possible, supported so they can continue. Dry-stone walls, terraces, cisterns and other elements of the local cultural heritage will also be maintained and showcased as part of the park.
- Activities, works and infrastructure that serve exclusively national defence purposes. will be permitted without restriction.
Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou said: “Greece is moving ahead with planning and determination to protect marine life in areas under our national sovereignty. With the establishment of the South Aegean 1 National Marine Park – Southern Cyclades, followed by the Ionian National Marine Park, Greece is expected to exceed the European target of protecting 30% of its seas ahead of its 2030 commitment, reaching more than 35% and putting the country at the forefront of marine protection in Europe. We are moving quickly to safeguard the Southern Cyclades’ unique biodiversity while supporting local communities and the sustainable development of our islands. Protecting our marine wealth is a responsibility to our country and to future generations.”