UN 
(SDGTALKING) – Volunteer divers off the coast of Alonissos Island, part of Greece in the eastern Aegean Sea, cleaned up plastic and metal waste from the seabed as part of an EU-funded environmental protection project. Over the course of two days, the divers collected items such as rotting plastic bottles, rusty anchor chains, and old tires from the seabed, aiming to raise environmental awareness.
Alonissos: Europe’s Largest Marine Park
Known for its turquoise waters and rich marine life, Alonissos has been home to one of Europe’s largest marine parks since the 1990s.
The area is home to over 300 fish species, dolphins, sea turtles, and the endangered Mediterranean monk seal.
Theodora Francis, a 31-year-old volunteer diver participating in the cleanup activities, said, “We didn’t find any trash in some areas, but pollution was severe in heavily used areas such as the port.”
New Conservation Measures from Greece and Turkey
The Greek government has pledged to establish two new marine parks in the Aegean and Ionian Seas as part of its efforts to protect coastal biodiversity, with a budget of 780 million euros for 21 environmental projects. Turkey, meanwhile, has enacted legislation to increase marine protected areas to 30% of its territorial waters by 2030 and submitted the relevant management plans to the EU.
“Everything Starts with Individual Responsibility”
George Sarelakos, president of the Greece-based environmental agency Ege Rebreath, emphasized the critical importance of individual contributions to global change, saying, “People everywhere have the power to make a difference. We are investing in this awareness.”
According to Francis, Alonissos could serve as a model for other Aegean islands in terms of environmental protection. “If every island showed the same sensitivity, our seas would be much cleaner,” he said.
