By training fishermen from eight islands about the benefits of fishing tourism, with the guidance and expertise of our new partner Enaleia, and in partnership with the Costas M. Lemos Foundation, we are helping to create an alternative source of income for fishermen and fight against overfishing. 

Our main objective is to establish a win-win relationship between fishermen and the marine environment. We plan to achieve this by teaching fishermen about alternative paths to generate income, such as fishing tourism. Instead of overfishing, and killing sea turtles and seals to make ends meet, fishermen could instead capitalize from these marine resources through boat tours demonstrating an authentic image of Greece to travelers. 

From June 2019 to January 2020, the team of Enaleia visited a total of 8 Cycladic and 2 Ionian islands to promote sustainable fishing and fishing tourism, training a total of 92 professional fishermen. The islands that the team of Enaleia visited were: Milos, Kimolos, Paros, Antiparos, Naxos, Amorgos, Kythnos, Anafi, Lefkada, and Zante.

At least 3 professional fishermen have already started the process of getting a fishing tourism license after the training they received from our partners. Another 20 are now set to follow suit when the application for a grant to convert their fishing boat to a fishing tourism boat becomes available from Cyclades Development Agency.

Read why fishing tourism is a win-win-win for the environment, the economy, and the local society (in Greek) here.