OR Turkey It will not be left in the initiatives that Greece takes for the sea parks In the Ionian and the Aegean, after yesterday’s (09.06.2025) announcements by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on the sidelines of the 3rd UN Session for the Oceans.
As SKAI’s correspondent in Constantinople reports, Manolis Kostidis, Turkey closely monitors the developments and activities of the Greek side for marine parks and more specifically for the areas where they will be created in the Aegean and the Ionian Sea.
Indeed, Ankara continues its own work rapidly and evaluates various protected areas in all seas, such as the Aegean, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, as well as other measures to protect the environment, while considering “measures against possible unilateral steps”.
It is recalled that Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on the sidelines of the UN Session for the Oceans that Before the end of June, legal procedures for the creation of the two national marine parks in the Ionian Sea and the Aegean will begin.
“For my country the sea is not just important but it is part of our identity. We are a naval nation with the largest commercial fleet in the world, thousands of islands and one of the largest coastlines in the world. Our connection to the sea not only shapes our economy and our way of life but also identifies our own identity, ”the Greek prime minister initially said.
He then added:
“Greece has already upheld the agreement and we will submit the document. Greece made a big step towards protecting seas at national level. Before the end of the month we will start the legal process For two new national marine parks one in the Ionian and one in the Cyclades. This will be the first phase and more will follow.
With the New national parks will increase protected marine areas in our territorial waters And when these parks have been finalized we will exceed the 30% threshold before the 30-30 target of 2030.
We will also ban the trawlers in all our marine parks and we will not stop there. We will ensure that we take measures to ensure that all protected areas are effectively protected. That it won’t be just on paper.
This means that efficient governability is needed in cooperation with NGOs. Essentially with these actions we are committed to restoring seas health to improve biodiversity and 10% of our seas to be economically exploited. “