ΚΥΚΛΑΔΟΡΑΜΑ

The challenge 

Overfishing plays a vital role in the marine degradation of the Cycladic environment. This, coupled with the mass tourism which this region sees every summer (which puts an enormous toll on the marine ecosystem – as ferries trudge across the ocean in their thousands and the demand for fish to sell in restaurants sky-rockets), puts an enormous strain on marine life, preventing fish stock and Posidonia regeneration.

The solution

Our new initiative, ΚΥΚΛΑΔΟΡΑΜΑ, aims to support fish stock and marine ecosystem regeneration by empowering fishermen in the Cyclades to follow models of sustainable, low-impact fishing and inspire them to envision the creation of more Marine Protected Areas in the Cyclades.

The program is inspired by Amorgorama. We hope to support fish stock regeneration in the Aegean Sea more broadly.

What does the project deliver in practice?

In practice, this CPF and Blue Marine Foundation Program sees project managers travelling between the Cycladic islands to speak directly with fishing communities and engage their members in the story of fish stock regeneration. 

The aim is always to start a conversation and to provide ideas for sustainable solutions. 

A bit about the organisation?

From the Blue Marine Foundation Web site:

‘Blue Marine works using a combination of top-down intervention to improve governance of our seas and bottom-up project delivery to help local communities who are at the front line of ocean conservation.

Our key strategic interventions are as follows:

• Securing marine protected areas to ensure the protection of at least 30% of the ocean by 2030.
• Developing models of sustainable fishing proving that low-impact fishing benefits marine life, local fishers and communities.
• Restoring marine habitats to revive and protect vulnerable and threatened species and to sequester carbon.
• Tackling unsustainable fishing by highlighting poor practice and developing solutions.
• Connecting people with the sea and enhancing ocean understanding across generations.’

Photo:Giorgos Moutafis/BMF