Greece Expands Marine Protection: New Parks Aim to Restore Ecosystems and Meet 2030 Targets

In a decisive move to bolster marine conservation efforts, Greece announced the establishment of two expansive new national marine parks in July 2025. These protected areas are strategically located across the waters of the Ionian and Aegean Seas. Spanning an impressive total area of 27,500 square kilometers, these zones rank among the largest marine conservation efforts initiated in the Mediterranean region. This significant initiative is designed to safeguard crucial marine ecosystems, including vital populations of dolphins and whales, and represents a major step toward fulfilling the nation's commitment to protect 30% of its marine waters by the year 2030.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, while unveiling the creation of the parks, emphasized that this action forms a component of a much broader national strategy. This strategy is being implemented against the backdrop of accelerating climate change, which places considerable stress on Mediterranean biodiversity. As part of this comprehensive plan, the Greek government is allocating a substantial investment of 780 million euros toward 21 distinct initiatives focused on enhancing marine biodiversity and combating pollution along coastal areas. Key interventions include the complete prohibition of bottom trawling across all protected zones, a ban set to be fully enforced by 2030, alongside the development of necessary infrastructure to support electric vessels.

While environmentalists have largely welcomed the establishment of these marine parks as essential for the recovery of vital sea resources, the announcement has triggered a diplomatic response. Turkey issued a statement asserting that Greece’s unilateral actions in the Aegean Sea hold no legal bearing on existing bilateral issues. However, Ankara simultaneously indicated a willingness to engage in cooperation regarding environmental protection matters. This reaction underscores the reality that even conservation efforts necessitate finding common ground and points of convergence within this geopolitically sensitive region.

Despite these significant conservation advancements, Greece is simultaneously grappling with persistent domestic environmental challenges. For instance, in Attica during 2024, 22 beaches were stripped of the international "Blue Flag" designation. This revocation was attributed to deteriorating environmental performance metrics and severe overloading of existing infrastructure. This serves as a stark reminder of the necessity for integrated resource management across the country. The expansion of these protected zones is thus viewed not only as a measure to allow marine fauna to flourish but also as a crucial mechanism for strengthening the overall ecological resilience and sustainability of the entire region.