The Natural Heritage Mission of the Interreg EURO-MED programmes, in collaboration with the Organization for Natural Environment and Climate Change (OFYPEKA) and the National Technical University of Athens, celebrated European Maritime Day “In My Country” by organizing a workshop on “Governance solutions for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Mediterranean,” on Thursday 3 July 2025. The Green Tank and the ARTEMIS project were represented by Dimitra Syrou, while Alice Wittevrongel from Plan Bleu, the lead partner of the ARTEMIS project, coordinated the working group on the theme of ‘Restoration’.”
The workshop targeted Marine Protected Areas (MPA) managers, local and regional authorities, and organizations connected with MPAs. Its aim was to strengthen nature managers and other relevant stakeholders by presenting solutions — such as tools and strategies developed by Interreg Euro-MED projects — that could potentially be applied in managing their areas to conserve marine biodiversity.
The Green Tank presented the ARTEMIS project and explained how it aims to contribute to the restoration of Posidonia meadows in Greece and the Mediterranean. Specifically, it showcased the actions being implemented in the Atzikiari Bay, in Sitia, Crete, which serves as a pilot site for the project. The presentation emphasized collaboration with relevant stakeholders and the development of proposals to integrate Posidonia Oceanica restoration into the institutional framework and investment strategies.
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).
