The designation of two new extensive Marine Parks was announced as a pledge of the Greek Government on the occasion of the 9th Our Ocean Conference. One of the questions that arises is, what will be the exact borders of these parks?
Blue Marine Foundation, Ionian Environment Foundation and iSea join forces once again in the Ionian, to document and highlight the ecological importance of the marine environment of Erimitis starting this week with a visit to NE Corfu for undertaking discussions and conducting research in the area.
The initiative of the three organisations aims at increasing the scientific knowledge on priority marine habitats and protected and threatened species. They aim to highlight the significance of the Erimitis marine area and inform decision makers for delineating science-based management.
Formicula islet, covering only about 400 m2, is just a “drop” in the wider Inner Ionian Archipelago. Despite its small size, this islet provides a key habitat for the Mediterranean Monk Seal, the only seal present in the Mediterranean and one of the most endangered marine mammal species in the World.
In addition to monk seals, the area is of enormous ecological importance for Poseidonia meadows and other marine species, such as small mammals, birds and groupers.
Despite its high importance, no protection measures are in place…yet!
iSea, Tethys Research Institute, Blue Marine Foundation together with the Municipality of Lefkada during the last year are in communication for the protection of the area with the Ministry of Environment and Energy and Mr. Giorgos Amyras. As a result, the proposed management measures for the protection of Formicula an islet are included in the Special Environmental Study of the area which is now in public consultation. However, the long bureaucratic procedures for the enforcement of Formicula’s protection are cause for strong concern because of the adverse effects that such delay may have on the Mediterranean Monk Seal population in the islet and wider Ionian Sea. With the start of the busy tourist season, some irresponsible visitors seek to swim with the seals, sometimes even entering the caves. Τhe latter is of key importance for the reproductive success and well-being of these endangered animals.
We are glad to see that effective conservation measures for the protection of the area were included in the Special Environmental Study and we hope that they will be included as they are in the corresponding Action Plan. Nevertheless, the clock is ticking! There is no time to be wasted. We call for the immediate adoption and enforcement of measures for the protection of the area before summer, before it is too late!
Following the official complaint from 17 Environmental Organisations for the violation of the environmental legislation in Natura 2000 Network areas of Elafonisos, the production company of GNTM was fined, due to the off-road vehicles that appeared moving on sand dunes, which are protected.
In addition, the case is currently at the stage of preliminary examination, to investigate an offense of Law 1650/1986 “For the protection of the environment”. The response of the Department of Environment and Hydroeconomics of the Regional Unit of Laconia and the Prosecutor of the Gythio Court is a positive progress regarding the implementation of environmental legislation in our country.
We hope that the response of the competent authorities for the implementation of the environmental laws and legislation, will be a means of preventing such incidents and raising public awareness for the Protected Areas in our country.
Οn the 7th of December, thousands of TV viewers watched wheeled vehicles moving on the Protected Areas of Elafonisos island during the TV show of the STAR channel “Greece’s Next Top Model (GNTM) 3”.
Elafonisos, due to its particularly high ecological value, is a Special Protected Area according to the Natura 2000 Network (GR2540002 site, PERIOCHI NEAPOLIS KAI NISOS ELAFONISOS). Since off-road vehicles moving on sand dunes and the seashore are prohibited by law, 17 environmental organisations denounce the event asking its further examination from the corresponding authorities. We hope for the positive response of the authorities in charge, as well as for the promotion awareness among the public about the importance of the area’s preservation and respect to the protection measures.