For at least a week, four Turkish trawlers have been fishing illegally in Greek territorial waters between the islands of Samos, Fourni and Patmos. This is one of the most sensitive and ecologically important marine areas of the Aegean Sea. By employing bottom trawling, one of the most destructive fishing methods, they are causing severe damage to marine ecosystems.
Taking advantage of a small area of international waters south of Samos, measuring approximately 8 × 13 km, four Turkish trawlers have been operating continuously across the wider region. While a single trawler could fish this stretch of international waters in just a few hours, these vessels have remained active for at least seven consecutive days and nights, fishing south of Samos and around Fourni, Arki, Patmos and Agathonisi islands. This is far from an isolated incident. This is a recurring problem that continues to escalate year after year.
The most alarming aspect is that the unlawful activity becomes even more uncontrolled at night. According to testimony from local fishermen and residents, as well as recordings from the research vessels of the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation, these trawlers are entering the Fourni no-trawl zone. This area was established in June 2025 as the first in Greece where a total ban on trawler fishing applies, aimed at protecting its unique coralligenous ecosystems, representing a milestone for marine conservation in Greece.
The Archipelagos Institute has an ongoing research presence in the waters of the area and, alongside its research activities, identifies and, whenever possible, spends hours or even days attempting to prevent incidents of illegal and destructive fishing. Although the Institute has research vessels throughout the area, they cannot be there at all times, nor does the monitoring and enforcement of fisheries legislation fall within the Institute’s mandate.
The complete lack of intervention by the Greek authorities encourages the continuation of this destructive and illegal activity. After at least a week of continuous illegal fishing within Greek territorial waters, it is now clear that no orders have been issued to intervene. All of this is happening in an area where dozens of state-of-the-art and extremely expensive patrol vessels of the Hellenic Coast Guard and Frontex are based.
These events unfold during the annual closed season, when Greek law prohibits the use of all towed fishing gear within Greek territorial waters. This is the only time of year when fish stocks and marine ecosystems have an opportunity to recover from the intense fishing pressure caused, particularly in this region, by bottom trawling. Illegal fishing during this critical period undermines one of Greece’s most important fisheries conservation measures.
Our position as the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation is clear: it is not driven by nationalism, but by our commitment to protecting the marine environment and Greece’s marine natural resources. Our greatest concern is not only the destructive and illegal activities of foreign fishing vessels, but also the inaction, tolerance, and failure of the Greek authorities to intervene effectively.
Even after years of delay, we must finally recognize the urgent need to protect marine ecosystems and enforce existing legislation, ensuring that even this brief pause in intensive fishing is respected to allow fish stocks to recover. There is no need for new policy announcements or new laws. What is missing is the effective implementation of the existing legal framework, together with effective monitoring and enforcement measures. Unfortunately, their absence has become common knowledge among those who choose to fish illegally in the Aegean Sea, enabling them to continue their destructive activities with impunity.
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For the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation
Thodoris Tsimpidis: t.tsimpidis@archipelago.gr
