JOINT PRESS RELEASE
The Municipality of Sitia and The Green Tank, in collaboration with the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) and Aegean Rebreath, organized a public event titled “Restoration of Posidonia Meadows and Underwater Clean-up in Atzikari Bay” as part of the Interreg Euro-MED ARTEMIS project. The event took place on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at the Sitia Municipality’s Community Center.
The Atzikari Bay area, within the Municipality of Sitia, is one of the project’s pilot areas, where model restoration actions of Posidonia meadows are being planned by the HCMR scientific team. The goal of the meeting was to inform local authorities and citizens about the ecological importance of Posidonia meadows and the restoration efforts being implemented by the ARTEMIS project partners. These efforts include developing a proposal for a modern regulatory framework and exploring innovative financing mechanisms.
Welcoming the initiative on behalf of the Municipality of Sitia, Mayor Giorgos Zervakis stated:
“Posidonia meadows, the precious forests of the Greek seas, provide invaluable benefits to both the environment and humanity, yet these vital ecosystems are constantly under threat. Our socially conscious community has already contributed to their protection in the past through regular volunteer clean-up actions. In the same spirit, we will continue with even more decisive and targeted actions, applying appropriate scientific practices.”
In his address, the Deputy Regional Governor of Lasithi, Giannis Androulakis, referred to the Region of Crete’s strategy for promoting the blue economy alongside the protection of key ecosystems such as Posidonia meadows. The Region of Crete supports the actions of the ARTEMIS project as an associated partner.
Through presentations and open dialogue, attendees learned how the pilot actions in Atzikari are paving the way for the implementation of the new European Nature Restoration Regulation in Greece and the Mediterranean. The discussion also highlighted the crucial role of local communities in the success of such initiatives.
“Protecting and restoring nature is a team effort. Alongside the advancement of scientific knowledge and the development of a new institutional framework, it is essential to inform and empower local communities to actively participate. Only in this way can the Greek state fulfill its commitments to restore degraded ecosystems and achieve meaningful results that benefit local communities as well,” said Dimitra Syrou, Nature Policy Associate at The Green Tank, a project partner.
The HCMR’s Institute of Oceanography presented recent findings from research conducted in Atzikari Bay, showing that 66% of the Posidonia meadow that once existed there has now been destroyed.
“We selected Atzikari Bay as a pilot site for the ARTEMIS project because the pressure that caused the degradation of the Posidonia meadow — a fish farming facility that operated for 20 years — has now ceased. Often, natural recovery is very slow, and active restoration of the meadows is required. After assessing the current situation, the next step is to plant new rhizomes, while the challenge will be to monitor and ensure the protection of the recovering meadow from any future pressures,” emphasized Eugenia Apostolaki, Senior Researcher at the HCMR Institute of Oceanography and project partner.
Additionally, the event featured the first results of the coastal and underwater clean-up actions in Atzikari Bay, which began on Saturday, April 26, and continued on Sunday, April 27, 2025. These efforts were carried out by a volunteer diving team from Aegean Rebreath, together with ARTEMIS project partners and with the support from the Municipality of Sitia. The coastal and underwater clean-up was essential for the removal of large debris and plastics ahead of the restoration phase — the Posidonia planting — scheduled for May and June 2025.
“This action highlights a problem we encounter throughout Greece: the lack of enforcement of the regulatory framework for the restoration of areas previously used for fish farming. This absence causes significant harm to the marine environment. However, the response and support from the Municipality of Sitia can serve as an example for other municipalities facing similar challenges,” said George Sarelakos, CEO and Founder of Aegean Rebreath.
The Interreg Euro-MED ARTEMIS project (Accelerating the Restoration of Seagrass Meadows in the Mediterranean Area through Innovative Ecosystem-Service Based Solutions) aims to improve the restoration techniques of Posidonia oceanica meadows, assess the ecosystem services they provide, and create innovative techniques for integrating them into both policy-making and investment decisions. The project is implemented by ten partners, with Plan Bleu as the project coordinator. Partners from Greece include the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) and the environmental think tank, The Green Tank. Associated partners include the Region of Crete and the Organization for the Natural Environment and Climate Change (NECCA).