May 12th 2025

Safeguarding the Hidden Reefs of Fourni: A Call to Protect the Mediterranean’s Underwater Treasures

The research vessel Triton and its crew are currently operating in the waters of the Fourni Archipelago—a truly unique region of the Mediterranean made up of over 20 islands and islets, known for their remarkable underwater geomorphology.

Beneath the surface, some of the most biodiverse and visually striking coralligenous ecosystems left in the Mediterranean still thrive. These rich habitats serve as vital sanctuaries for countless marine species. However, their survival hangs by a thread. Because the Greek authorities have not fulfilled their legal obligation to map and designate these protected ecosystems, their exact locations remain undocumented. As a result, they are dangerously exposed to destructive fishing practices, especially bottom trawling, where heavy iron doors scrape across the seabed, causing irreversible damage.

In response, the Archipelagos Institute, the Municipality of Fourni, local fishermen, and a number of leading scientific organisations are working together—alongside the Greek Ministry of Environment—to propose the urgent establishment of Greece’s first “Towed Gear Fishing Ban Zone”. This initiative would safeguard the coralligenous habitats in the Fourni island complex from further harm.

We will continue to keep you informed on the progress of this crucial conservation effort, which aims not only to protect rare marine biodiversity but also to support the long-term sustainability of small-scale fisheries and local island communities.