📋 Tender Overview
The need to save the Mediterranean sea protect fish stocks and support the income of fishermen was highlighted by the Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Food Mr. Simos Kedikoglou speaking at the event of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the oceans in the context of the organization by Greece of the 9th International Our Ocean Conference in 2024.The above factors result in a difficult equation as characteristically mentioned by the Deputy Minister recalling the Memorandum of Cooperation promoted by the Ministry of Anti-Corruption in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and concerning fishing tourism. In this way we catch many whitefish with one kill protecting fish stocks and offering the possibility of an alternative source of income for fishermen. At the same time we offer an additional pole of attraction for our country which is an ideal destination for al. Tourism he emphasized giving as an example the program Amorgorama which includes the abstention of local fishermen from fishing activity during the breeding months and the participation of their fleet in coastal marine cleanups. For this purpose the cessation of fishing in the months of April and May is required by all professional and amateur fishing vessels.Within a month they managed to collect 12.5 tons of waste he added. Our goal in the consultation with the partners for the new Programming Period of the Fishing Program is to strengthen such actions as well as to subsidize the change of engines because small boats leave a heavy environmental footprint.Furthermore the Deputy Minister of Rural Development Food emphasized the total destruction of mussel farms due to high temperatures . The destruction concerns a percentage of 90 and this was not the most serious consequence. Rising temperatures allowed the entry of tropical invaders from the Indian Ocean that crossed the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean. These species like the hare fish have no natural enemies multiply uncontrollably and upset the ecosystem. A problem that does not concern one country but a comprehensive and long-term effort is required to reverse what should not worsen. Afterwards Mr. Kedikoglou developed the actions taken by the Ministry of Anti-Corruption in matters of protection of fishing resources and the balance of the marine ecosystem. We have already instituted a multitude of additional national regulatory measures for the exercise of fishing activity mainly based on the rational management of fish stocks and the protection of the marine environment but also taking into account the socio-economic impacts in the sector he said and emphasized that a multitude of local and temporary bans on the exercise of fishing activity by professional fishing vessels while the examination of new proposals is also ongoing.According to what is mentioned in the Strategy of the E.E. for biodiversity with a horizon of 2030 for the good of the environment and the economy nature should be protected more he underlined stressing that at least 30 of marine areas should be protected in the EU. which constitutes a minimum additional percentage of 19 for marine areas compared to today at EU level when today this percentage amounts to less than 1. As he explained our country has already fulfilled the global and European goal regarding the expansion of protected areas to 17 of the land and 10 of the marine area of the planet such as Natura 2000 areas and national parks.He noted that without being officially designated protection measures have already been taken in the Aegean Sea with an extremely large number of extensive Fishing Restriction Areas in the vast majority of which fishing activities with towed or mobile gear are prohibited on a permanent basis.Mr. Kedikoglou referred to the Action Plan Mediterranean an exemplary sea by 2030 proposed by France in which our country participates and focuses on the 4 main challenges for the protection of the marine environment of the Mediterranean which are loss of biodiversity unsustainable fishing pollution of the seas especially from plastics unsustainable maritime transport. At the same time he reiterated that the priority of our country is the support of small coastal fishing which is a vital pillar of the economy while at the same time he pointed out the need for the co-evaluation of other human activities apart from fishing that contribute to the degradation of the sea environment and the reduction of stocks and marine biodiversity.In conclusion the FSA highlighted the need to avoid unfair competition between the fishermen of the member states who are obliged to apply a strict institutional framework and the fishermen of third countries .
