May 28, 2025 

Coralligenous Habitats Under Stress: Evaluating Ecological and Legal Gaps in Marine Protection in Fourni, Greece

Feature report on Star Channel’s news segment, highlighting the recent research and the proposal for the immediate and effective protection of coralligenous ecosystems of global environmental importance, located in the deep waters of the Fourni island complex.

In close collaboration with local fisheries, the Municipality of Fourni, and academic and research institutions from Greece and abroad, our shared goal is the urgent and meaningful protection of these unique, vulnerable, and highly productive coralligenous habitats. These habitats are found at depths of 60 to 250 meters and estimated to be hundreds to thousands of years old.

These important marine ecosystems, virtually unknown until recently, are under constant threat of irreversible destruction, mainly due to the use of heavy fishing gear — especially the iron doors of bottom trawlers — which are dragged across the seafloor.

What’s most alarming is that destructive practices against Greece’s supposedly “protected” habitats are often considered legal. This isn’t because the law allows it, but because existing environmental legislation, despite clearly providing for their protection, simply isn’t being enforced.

The footage presented in the report comes from our most recent research mission and underwater filming carried out in collaboration with the French research organization UNDER THE POLE and their team of specialized deep divers, at depths of around 100 meters.

We will soon share more detailed updates on this important initiative.