The maps of the new marine parks announced earlier today by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis have been made public.

The two parks will cover a total marine area of 27,500 square kilometers, within which trawling will be strictly prohibited.

These parks will be among the largest marine protected areas in the entire Mediterranean.

According to the Prime Minister, “They will allow us to meet the goal of protecting 30% of our territorial waters by 2030, well ahead of schedule.” He added that the parks will become vast sanctuaries of marine life beneath the waves.

“Greece can become a voice for the sea — in Europe and beyond,” he emphasized.

Surveillance with Drones, Radars, and Satellite Imaging

Just a few months after the announcement of the national marine spatial planning strategy, the government is proceeding with its decision to designate two marine parks — one in the Ionian Sea and another in the Southern Aegean (Cyclades) — as announced by Prime Minister Mitsotakis in April 2024 during the 9th International Ocean Conference held in Athens. A few weeks ago, at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, Mr. Mitsotakis reaffirmed this commitment, which is now being implemented through today’s announcement.

Several meetings were held in advance with the leadership of the Ministries of Environment and Energy, and Foreign Affairs, as the designation of the parks carries both environmental and geopolitical significance. It is worth noting that the initial announcement, particularly regarding the park in the Southern Aegean, had prompted reactions from Turkey. Similar reactions are considered likely following this formalization.

Government sources stress that the designation of the marine parks is based strictly on environmental criteria. “The areas are treated holistically, enabling better regulation of permissible uses and activities,” they explained. The key regulation is a complete ban on trawling within the parks, along with additional measures and restrictions to effectively protect the most vulnerable habitats and species.

A Comprehensive Monitoring System

A major concern is the state’s ability to monitor activities within these zones. Government sources state that a comprehensive monitoring and enforcement system will be implemented by the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (OFYPEKA), involving drones, radars, and satellite imagery, in coordination with the country’s port authorities. This setup will provide a central framework with local enforcement arms to ensure compliance.

Criteria for Selection

The boundaries of the parks were determined based on Special Environmental Studies (SES), which have now been released for public consultation. The two marine parks incorporate and unify existing and proposed protected areas that are part of the European Natura 2000 network. Specifically, the National Marine Park of the Southern Aegean 1 – Southern Cyclades includes 18 existing Natura 2000 sites, while the Ionian Marine Park includes 24 such areas.

Interestingly, according to officials, the final size of the parks exceeds initial projections. The original plan foresaw a total area of 22,000 km² (14,000 km² in the Ionian and 8,000 km² in the Southern Aegean). The current area, as determined by the SES, has been increased by 25%, now reaching approximately 27,500 km² (about 18,000 km² and 9,500 km², respectively).

The Southern Cyclades were prioritized due to their high ecological sensitivity. This region includes a critical part of the Aegean ecosystem, which faces intense pressure, particularly from tourism. As for the Ionian Sea, the designated area is vital for many marine mammal species that rely on the Hellenic Trench as their primary habitat and are threatened by human activities such as ship strikes and underwater noise.

Next Steps

The Special Environmental Studies (SES) for the National Marine Parks are open to public consultation until September 22. Following this, the Ministry of Environment and Energy will review feedback and prepare a draft Presidential Decree, aiming to submit it to the Council of State by the end of October. Once legally reviewed and published, the institutional establishment of the two parks will be finalized.