Santorini. Photo: SHUTTERSTOCK Greece Sets Sail for Environmental Leadership. The life beneath the Mediterranean Sea is no less important than life above it. This is the approach taken by the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who announced today (July 21, 2025) the establishment of two new marine reserves - marine parks in the Ionian Sea (west of the mainland) and in the southern and popular Cycladic Islands (in the region of Ios, Mykonos, Santorini, Naxos, and other islands).
As part of a strategic move to preserve the marine environment, 27,500 square kilometers will be designated as national marine parks, 25% more than originally planned, making Greece one of the leading countries in the Mediterranean basin in terms of protected marine area..
Mykonos Port. Photo: SHUTTERSTOCKUnder the new regulations, trawling activities with nets on the seabed in park areas will be completely prohibited. There is a possibility that in the future, activities of cruise ships and polluting ferries in these areas will also be restricted.
The plan will be presented for public comment this week, and subsequently will move to the Council of State for approval and signing of a presidential decree. The initiative is expected to allow Greece to meet the goal of protecting 30% of its territorial waters by 2030, ahead of scheduled timelines..
Prime Minister Mitsotakis stated in a special video he filmed and broadcasted in Greek media, "The sea has always been part of who we are; we will be an example for sea conservation for Europe and beyond."