Construction work on the protected islet of Marathonisi in Zakynthos, where caretta-caretta turtles lay their eggs, is being reported by the environmental organizations MEDASSET-Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles ARCHELON and WWF Greece.

According to the complaint, the work is underway and includes, among other things, the arrival of a ferry boat, the unloading of a bulldozer and building materials, and the construction of a platform on the protected beach.

ERT Zakynthos has secured and is publishing photographs, which confirm the complaints of environmental organizations. It is noted that the ecological value of the Laganas Bay of Zakynthos (land and sea area) is great not only at a national, but also at an international level, as among other things it is the second largest breeding habitat of the loggerhead sea turtle in the entire Mediterranean.

The organizations complain that the permit issued in 2022 by the Zakynthos Building Service (YDOM) “completely ignores the provision of the presidential decree protecting the National Marine Park, which prohibits the construction of buildings in this specific zone, while at the time of its issuance, it does not appear that an opinion was officially requested from OFYPEKA”.

Through a letter from the environmental organizations addressed to the Zakynthos YDOM, they point out that the works “threaten with very serious and immediate degradation of the nesting beach, through the compression of the sand by heavy machinery, alteration of the geomorphological composition of the beach due to expected erosion from land reclamation, destruction of the sand dunes, and ultimately serious disturbance of the nesting process itself, the period of which begins on May 1”.