In the turquoise waters off the popular tourist destination of Alonissos in Greece, volunteer divers are cleaning up the seabed, littered with plastic bottles, discarded tyres, and rusted anchor chains, in an effort to protect Europe’s largest marine park.
Funded by the European Union (EU), the clean-up operation aims to preserve the fragile ecosystem of the Alonissos and Northern Sporades National Marine Park. Created in the 1990s and famous for its lush green and blue waters and picture-perfect scenery, Alonissos attracts thousands of tourists every year. But with that popularity comes growing pressure on its marine environment, now increasingly threatened by pollution.
A haven for endangered species
The marine park is home to a wide variety of species, including 300 species of fish, dolphins, sea turtles, and one of the last surviving colonies of monk seals in the world – an endangered species.
With tens of thousands of tonnes of waste entering the waters annually, the region’s biodiversity remains at serious risk of pollution.
The two-day clean-up, organised by the Greek environmental group Aegean Rebreath, mobilised volunteers to inspect four principal underwater zones. Unsurprisingly, the area with the most waste was near the port of Votsi, a busy tourist and fishing hub.
Raising awareness locally and globally
‘But awareness here is high – and that’s encouraging,’ said Theodora Francis, a 31-year-old volunteer diver who took part in the two-day initiative. She added that public support from both locals and visitors is essential in keeping the marine environment clean and healthy.
For Francis, Alonissos could serve as a model for marine conservation across the region.
‘If every island had the same interest in taking care of their environment, we would have the Alonissos situation in many more islands.’
Expanding protection across Greek waters
The Alonissos project is part of a broader environmental strategy in Greece. Two more marine parks are currently in the planning stages to help safeguard biodiversity in the Aegean and Ionian Seas. These are included in a €780 million initiative comprising 21 actions focused on restoring marine habitats and protecting their flora and fauna.
Additionally, Greece has pledged to increase the proportion of its territorial waters designated as marine protected areas to 30% by 2030. The government has also submitted proposals to the EU to promote sustainable fishing and tourism, as well as the development of offshore renewable energy projects.
Investing in change
‘People all over the globe should know that we have the strength to change everything,’ said George Sarelakos, 46, president of Aegean Rebreath.
‘We really believe in the individual responsibility of people, we invest in this’.
Alonissos shows how united community efforts and government support can breathe new life into Europe’s endangered marine habitats.
