Participation in the public consultation for the Special Environmental Study concerning the Natura 2000 Areas of the Regional Units of Corfu, Kefalonia, Ithaca, Lefkada and Zakynthos.

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iSea together with Tethys Research Institute, Blue Marine Foundation and Ionian Environment Foundation submitted their comments to the public consultation on the Special Environmental Study concerning Natura2000 Areas of the Regional Units of Corfu, Kefalonia, Ithaca, Lefkada and Zakynthos.

During the last two years, iSea has been studying the habitat of Posidonia in the Ionian Sea with the aim of mapping it, assessing its health and the carbon potential they store, as well as the local biodiversity hosted by Posidonia meadows.

All the data we have collected along with our proposals for the implementation of management measures for the island of Formikoula in order to protect the area as an important habitat for the Mediterranean monk seal, Posidonia meadows, as well as marine mammals, seabirds, groupers etc. have been submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Energy and have been included in the Special Environmental Study.

The Special Environmental Study for the area seems complete, including all priority species of the area, as well as measures for their proper management. However, alien species that occur in the area, are omitted, without these being mentioned in the relevant measures, as well as research, monitoring, and management actions that are of major importance for the conservation of the area.

Find our common comments with Tethys Research Institute, Blue Marine Foundation, and Ionian Environment Foundation on the public consultation here.

iSea’s participation in the consultation of the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy on the bill entitled “Integrated Maritime Policy in the Island Area and other provisions”.

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iSea participated in the consultation of the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy on the bill entitled “Integrated Maritime Policy in the Island Area and other provisions”.

We highlighted the fact that this bill does not have a truly integrated approach in regards to island and maritime areas, as it is not fully in line with the goals of Blue Growth. More specifically, it appears that the bill does not take into account the Integrated Maritime Policy of the European Union, nor United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, or the European Green Deal. Therefore, we propose that a number of changes should be made to this bill for it to better incorporate the goals of sustainable development and blue growth. Please find all of iSea’s comments here.