Greece: 15,000km of coastline to protect

Greece has one of the longest coastlines in Europe, but suffers from multiple threats that include overfishing, pollution, coastal development, unsustainable tourism, invasive species and marine traffic.  

Blue Marine has launched more than ten collaborative projects across Greece in the past five years to create new marine protected areas (MPAs), strengthen management of existing ones, and safeguard vital habitats and species. 

The Greek government has committed to expanding its MPA network from 20 to 32 per cent and announced a ban on bottom-trawling in MPAs by 2030 – the first in Europe. In 2025, two major conservation milestones were achieved. A highly protected area was designated around Formicula Island in the Ionian Sea to safeguard endangered monk seals, the result of work by Blue Marine, iSea and Tethys Research Institute. In the Aegean, four fishing protected areas were designated around Amorgos, marking Greece’s first community-led marine protected area.

These designations pave the way for inclusive, science-based marine conservation. The fishing bans around Amorgos are designed to allow fish stocks to recover, supporting the long-term sustainability of local economies. The power of the Amorgos community-led model was recognised at a meeting on the island, moderated by Blue Marine’s Angela Lazou Dean, where the Prime Minister announced his intention to replicate the Amorgos approach and establish 10 additional fishing protected areas. These measures would advance Greece’s progress toward achieving 10 per cent strict marine protection. 

For invasive lionfish, blue crabs and long-spined sea urchins 2025 was not a good year – people started to eat them! Fishers, suppliers and buyers were encouraged to catch, sell and promote delicious invasives through national outreach alliance Pick the Alien. More than 3,000 guests attended our first Blue Crab Festival, and we are developing market chains for crab and urchins. At the Athens Culinary School, we held a masterclass for 40 students, who will take invasive recipes to the plates of city restaurants. 

We also launched a restoration project in the Amvrakikos Gulf, where resident dolphins, rays, sharks, seabirds and turtles are under threat. Collaborating with local partners, Blue Marine has initiated actions to restore key habitats, protect biodiversity and promote sustainable practices. Elsewhere, mapping supported by our Blue Climate unit has gathered enough evidence to advocate for the protection of Erimitis Bay in Corfu.