Greece is on track to create two new major marine parks in the Ionian Sea and the Aegean Sea by the end of this year, according to the country’s environment and energy minister, Theodoros Skylakakis. The parks will offer protection to various species and implement measures based on scientific studies. The creation of the park in the Aegean Sea has caused tension with Turkey, with Ankara accusing Athens of pursuing a geopolitical agenda under the guise of environmental conservation. The NATO allies have been at odds over territorial claims in the Aegean for decades.
Turkey’s spokesman for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party, Omer Celik, stated that Turkey would not allow the creation of marine parks in the Aegean and called on Greece to reconsider its plans. The Turkish government believes that the establishment of these parks could harm diplomatic efforts to normalize relations between the two countries. The park in the Aegean Sea will focus on protecting seabirds and cover a significant portion of Greece’s territorial waters. The park in the Ionian Sea aims to protect marine mammals and span over 14,000 square kilometers.
Skylakakis also announced the development of a new monitoring system for the parks that will utilize drones, satellites, and artificial intelligence by 2026. Until then, traditional monitoring methods will be used to ensure the protection and conservation of marine life in these areas. The creation of these parks is part of Greece’s commitments during the Our Ocean Conference, where the country pledged to ban bottom trawling in national marine parks by 2026 and in all marine protected areas by 2030. Other measures include reducing plastic pollution and mapping marine habitats in protected areas. The conference saw participation from nearly 120 countries and raised $11.3 billion in commitments for marine-related environmental protection.
Despite the tension with Turkey, Greece remains determined to move forward with the establishment of the marine parks to protect its marine biodiversity and habitats. The country’s foreign ministry dismissed Turkey’s accusations of politicizing the issue, emphasizing the importance of environmental conservation. With the implementation of scientific studies and monitoring systems, Greece aims to ensure the long-term sustainability and protection of its marine ecosystems. The international community’s support for marine conservation efforts, as demonstrated during the conference, highlights the significance of preserving our oceans for future generations.
