Participation in the public consultation for the Special Environmental Study for the new Ionian National Marine Park
iSea together with the Tethys Research Institute, the Blue Marine Foundation the Ionian Environment Foundation, the Sustainable Sailing Greece, the Municipality of Xiromero, the Nautilus Diving Club and Anemos Villas submitted their comments to the public consultation for the Ionian National Marine Park.
iSea works in the Ionian region, focusing on the Inner Ionian Archipelago, and, together with its broad network of partners, collects scientific data on habitats, biodiversity, and the pressures they face, with the aim of using this information to improve protection policies and ensure more effective implementation of measures by the local communities themselves.
All our proposals, submitted as comments on the Special Environmental Study for the new National Marine Park of the Ionian, are based on data we have collected over the years in the area.
Overall, the environmental study under consultation includes many species and habitats, and is enriched with numerous science-based measures and the latest scientific research, drawing information from successful examples of conservation and management of pilot projects and other protected areas in the Mediterranean.
We particularly welcome the incorporation of measures for the protection of Formicula and the Nature Protection Zones established for it, which represent a holistic approach to the protection of priority habitats and species. After many years of effort, we hope to finally see the island fully protected—a very important habitat for the Mediterranean monk seal as well as for various other species such as cormorants. It is worth noting that Formicula is already strictly protected under the measures we proposed to the Ministry of Environment and Energy, in collaboration with the Tethys Research Institute and the Blue Marine Foundation.
Other key comments on the Environmental Study include:
1.Strict Protection Zones
However, the Strict Protection Zones proposed cover only 0.05% of the territory, while the Nature Protection Zones account for approximately 49.3%. Therefore, for the country to fulfill its commitment to strict protection, these zones need to be expanded and effectively enforced in practice.
2. Hydrocarbon Extraction at the Park’s Borders
On the other hand, the study does not incorporate protective measures or restrictions regarding hydrocarbon extraction. Instead, the park boundaries clearly avoid exploitation blocks, indicating that the delineation was guided primarily by geopolitical and economic factors rather than environmental criteria. The exclusion of the Hellenic Trench area and the ongoing licensing of hydrocarbon extraction near the park raise serious concerns.
3. Fish Farming within the National Park
Furthermore, it is suggested to re-examine the POAY and Aquaculture areas within the Ionian Marine Park to ensure they are not located in priority habitats. The presence of Posidonia meadows, for example, near many existing units and Aquaculture/POAY areas, sometimes at distances of less than 400 meters, highlights the need for stricter environmental study protocols and controls to prevent further degradation.
