Revive Our Ocean – Greece Program page
In a landmark event for marine conservation in Greece, the Cyclades Preservation Fund (CPF) was proud to collaborate with Revive Our Ocean and National Geographic Pristine Seas, both co-producers of the film, for a sold-out special screening of Ocean with David Attenborough at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall.
The evening brought together scientists, fishers, policymakers, civil society, and government—including Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis — to unite behind a shared vision: protecting and reviving the Greek seas. The night opened with a panel discussion, “Achieving the 30×30 Target in Greece,” featuring marine experts, practitioners, and government representatives exploring the country’s path to effective marine protection and new marine reserves. A common theme echoed throughout the evening: give the ocean space to breathe, and it will recover—benefiting biodiversity, fisheries, tourism, and local communities.
The event also marked the launch of Revive Our Ocean – Greece, a national initiative led by the Cyclades Preservation Fund (CPF) as the in-country partner of the global Revive Our Ocean movement. The initiative seeks to inspire, enable, and equip local communities to create effective, no-take MPAs across Greece — to benefit fisheries, tourism, and coastal livelihoods throughout our seas.
Throughout the evening, marine leaders—including executive producers of the film Kristin Rechberger, Founder of Revive Our Ocean and Dr. Enric Sala, Founder of National Geographic Pristine Seas—shared a common message: when we give the ocean a chance, it recovers. They highlighted that locally led protection, grounded in science and collaboration, can restore marine life while supporting coastal economies.
In his keynote address, Prime Minister Mitsotakis reaffirmed the government’s dedication to safeguarding Greece’s marine environment and emphasized that protection and prosperity can —and must— go hand in hand:
“By protecting our seas and managing our resources wisely, we can not only preserve nature but also create new opportunities for the people who depend on it.”
For CPF, it was a proud moment to see so many sectors come together around one shared vision: a thriving ocean that sustains both people and nature. The event included several exhibitions conceived by designer Marcello Licitra, including a photo exhibition featuring ocean photographs from Yannis Issaris, Vangelis Paravas, and Enric Sala. Each photograph was paired with a message about the state of the Mediterranean seas and the power of effective marine protection, echoing the film’s call to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030. The event also showcased an interactive exhibition, “The Lines We Draw Together” which invited guests to take a reclaimed buoy, write what a healthy ocean means to them, or simply tie it to the mesh — turning invisible boundaries into a visible line of care and commitment to the 30×30 goal: protecting 30% of our ocean by 2030.
The Ocean with David Attenborough special screening event was organised by Revive Our Ocean and National Geographic Pristine Seas in collaboration with the Cyclades Preservation Fund (CPF).
Production director: Andriana Theochari
Photography exhibition credits: Enric Sala, Yiannis Issaris, and Vangelis Paravas
Installation and design: Marcello Licitra
Event supporters: Athinas I. Martinou Foundation, A. G. Leventis Foundation, National Geographic Pristine Seas, EKKOMED, and Megaron The Athens Concert Hall
Event Communication Sponsors: ERT, Kathimerini, 24MEDIA
Video credits: CPF/Angelos Tsatsis
Photo credits: CPF/Mariliza Kapsabeli