Posted on April, 10 2025

The “weseayou” Observatory is the first digital platform in Greece designed to track the implementation of national commitments and obligations for the protection of the marine environment. Open to the public, this pioneering tool aims to promote transparency and accountability in government actions related to marine conservation. The observatory is a joint initiative of WWF Greece, Greenpeace, and Vouliwatch, with the support of environmental organizations, including Blue Marine Foundation, Cyclades Preservation Fund, the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature, the Hellenic Ornithological Society, iSea, MEDASSET, and the Thalassa Foundation/ Aenaos Thalassa. 

Through “weseayou”, the participating organizations aim both to raise public awareness on this critical issue and to highlight the urgent need for effective management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Greece. According to the international and European “30x30” target, MPAs should cover at least 30% of Greek seas by 2030. 

The observatory is a publicly accessible and user-friendly tool that enables citizens to track developments related to MPAs and to monitor the implementation of necessary actions by the government and responsible authorities related to: 

• the eight  (8 out of the total 21) governmental commitments on MPAs, as officially announced in April 2024, during the 9th Our Ocean Conference, and 
• key obligations of Greece regarding MPAs, under EU law (e.g., adoption of conservation measures for Natura 2000 sites, maritime spatial planning, etc.). 

Initial Findings 

Based on the available data from the overall assessment of progress on the eight (8) national commitments for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), most are still in the early stages of implementation, while no official steps have been taken to initiate four (4) of them. More specifically: 

• Expansion of the MPA network: The process of expanding the MPA network through the designation of two new Νational Μarine Parks in the Ionian and Aegean seas is still at the first step of implementation (as defined in national legislation for National Parks). It is also alarming that the government has initiated a process for granting hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation concession rights in two areas adjacent to the planned Ionian National Marine Park; these activities are entirely incompatible with the establishment of marine parks and the protection of sensitive species and habitats. 
• MPA surveillance: The commitment to establish a national monitoring and surveillance system, with a deadline of 2025, is also still at an early stage, currently in the phase of evaluating bids from potential contractors. 
• Institutional obligations for MPAs: The current progress in fulfilling these obligations remains far from what is needed to ensure effective legal protection of Greece’s MPAs. Specifically, five years after the initiation of the project for the development of Special Environmental Studies (since 2019), the process for establishing conservation measures for Natura 2000 sites is still at an early stage, with significant delays. Only 5 out of a total of 23 Special Environmental Studies have been officially approved so far. 
• Maritime Spatial Planning: Greece has yet to comply with Directive 2014/89/EU on marine spatial planning, and the relevant procedure remains at a very early stage. It should be noted that the European Commission referred Greece to the EU Court of Justice in December 2023, and in February 2025 the Court ruled against Greece for its failure to establish maritime spatial plans. 

The majority of the MPAs in Greece is still “paper parks” 

In conclusion, one year after the commitments made at the 9th Our Ocean Conference—and four years after those announced by the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in 2021—the management of MPAs in Greece remains largely on paper. This is despite the fact that MPAs are among the most effective tools for ensuring resilient and sustainable marine ecosystems, with multiple benefits for both people and the economy. 

Notes to Editors / Supporting Material: 

• The “weseayou” Observatory was created as part of the project “Promoting the 30x30 Goal for an Ecologically Representative, Cohesive, and Well-Managed Network of Marine Protected Areas in Greece,” which is being implemented by WWF Greece and the Greek office of Greenpeace, with the support of Oceans 5.  
• You can find the full first assessment of the “weseayou” Observatory here. 
• Screenshots from various sections of the observatory can be found here.