The formal designation of a 430 km² no-trawl zone surrounding the coralligenous ecosystems of the Fourni island complex in the eastern Aegean Sea, represents a substantial landmark in Greece’s marine conservation journey. This regulatory measure was enacted through the Government Gazette and formalized by a Ministerial Decision of the Greek Ministry of Environment.
For the first time in Greece, these ecologically productive and largely understudied ecosystems of the mesophotic zone are receiving institutional protection. Although the legislation defining the protection of such habitats has existed for several decades, until now, their implementation had never been enforced.
The ecological significance of the Aegean’s coralligenous ecosystems is for the first time, gaining international recognition. This new protective designation for coralligenous habitats, is one of the few across the Mediterranean basin, and has been established with remarkable rapidity. As such, it’s already drawn international interest and now will serve as a precedent-setting model for the development of future marine conservation strategies. It is anticipated that this initiative will encourage the development of similar conservation frameworks in other regions of Greece and throughout the broader Mediterranean.
This achievement is the result of many years of extensive, long-term scientific research led by the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation. The initiative was developed in close collaboration with the Municipality of Fourni, the island’s fishing community, as well as international partners such as Oceana, Under the Pole, and Ionian University. Establishing the framework and identifying the true extent of these ecosystems required expert-led fieldwork over several years. This was often carried out in difficult and remote conditions.
Notably, the entirety of this effort has been carried out in the absence of government resources, instead, relying upon the support provided by our partners at the Costas M. Lemos Foundation, Pure Ocean, and self funding. As the research continues, we aim to gather further data on these biologically rich, and ecologically vital marine environments.
The Fourni island complex is defined by a unique geomorphology, that consists of 2 main islands, 16 islets, and 24 rocky outcrops, which are surrounded by several steep underwater mounts and canyons. Thousands of years old, these beautiful and ecologically precious coralligenous ecosystems are found between 60 and 250 meters below the surface.
These marine animal forests thrive due to the presence of strong, nutrient-rich currents flowing southwards, and upwelling from the nearby Ikarian Trench (a deep-sea formation that extends to depths of approximately 1,400 m).
The formal adoption of this protective framework now serves as a key policy tool for halting the ongoing destruction of these vulnerable marine ecosystems. Prominent threats include environmentally damaging fishing practices, particularly the continued operation of trawling vessels (both Greek and Turkish) over these sensitive ecosystems.
The Archipelagos Institute, alongside the Municipality of Fourni, and local fishing community have jointly committed to ensuring the urgent next step: the effective enforcement and oversight of these newly adopted regulations. Our shared objective is the permanent cessation of destructive fishing practices, regardless of vessel nationality.
The degradation of the region’s productive marine ecosystems is not a recent development. It has affected local communities for over 65 years, as documented in a 1960 report originating from this same area of the Aegean.
Watch the video below: A testimonial from a sponge diver describing how the Aegean seabed in recent decades has transformed. Over the course of a single generation, a combination of ecological ignorance, extractive overexploitation, and institutional complacency has contributed to the ongoing large-scale degradation of millenia-old marine ecosystems. This was allowed with the passive acceptance of us all. As marine ecosystems continue to deteriorate, so too does the viability of coastal communities whose livelihoods are linked to the health of our seas.
Excerpt from the documentary “A Good Catch” – Produced by Mega Channel, from the series “Horizons.”
