Greece’s Marine Parks and where to buy a home nearby

In Greece two out of three people live less than a 20-minute walk from the beach. So no wonder the Greek government takes the quality of their seawater seriously (unlike some governments we could mention…). This week Greece imposed strict new marine wildlife protection measures and announced two new “marine parks”. See what it means for you, and where you can buy a home by a Marine Park.

The turquoise seas and pristine beaches around the Greek islands attract tourists in their millions each year. Snorkelling in Greece is an amazing experience, revealing an underwater world of mindblowing colour, light and beauty.

But there is a danger of losing this underwater environment’s riches, as overfishing and pollution become a problem. Well, not if Greece can help it. Greece has designated the best of its underwater wildernesses as “Marine Parks” – home to sea life including octopus, seals, turtles, dolphins, whales and other incredible marine life – and brought in strong new protections against bad fishing practices and microplastic pollution, and a drive for more sustainable shipping and tourism.

This month [April 2024], 12 heads of state and representatives from 120 nations, the UN, EU and NATO, came together in Athens to discuss ocean-related issues at the “Our Ocean” Conference. They agreed more than €9billion in initiatives to protect oceans

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The Greek Project

To coincide with the Our Ocean conference, Greece launched plans for two new marine parks. One will be in the Ionian Sea for sea mammals and turtles, and another in the Aegean for seabirds. The boundaries of the new Greek marine parks are expected to cover a third of Greek waters.

Other initiatives include constructing charging stations at 12 ports for electric vessels and setting up a monitoring system for protected marine areas. In addition, fishing practices that damage the seabed will be banned. Greece wants to ban bottom trawling in all marine protected areas by 2030. This will be the first outright ban in one country’s marine protected areas and has been widely praised.

Some of the sea life in Greek waters

So what exactly are they protecting? The waters around Greece are home to a wide range of marine animals, ranging from whales to sea turtles. Small sea creatures include starfish, jellyfish, sea urchins, crabs, squid and octopus.

Whales: Swim far enough off the beach at Mykonos in the summer and you could come face to face with a sperm whale. They grow up to 14 metres long and enjoy a trip to the Hellenic Trench, to the south of Greece, and the Aegean Sea.

Dolphins: The best place to see them is the gulf of Corinth, although, in the Aegean you can also see the playful and acrobatic bottlenose dolphins and in the Saronic Gulf there are the smaller common dolphins. The most seen dolphins in Greek waters are the striped dolphin, as it loves jumping out of the water. If you are lucky, you might even see the smallest striped dolphin in the world (under two metres) around the Sporades, Crete and the Corinth Canal.

Seals: The rarest of all the marine animals in Greece is the monk seal which favours the sea caves of the island of Alonissos. With only between 600-700 monk seals left in the wild, this is a very rare breed.

Turtles: Loggerhead Turtles Caretta-Caretta, are most commonly seen on the island of Zakynthos. Here you can find excursion boats to look for them, as well as kayaks or boat rental. One of the most wonderful experiences has to be watching a baby sea turtle flapping its way down the beach to enjoy a swim in the sea for the first time. Although, you should be aware that this rarely happens during the day, and some beaches have time restrictions to protect them.

Greece’s current Marine Parks

The National Marine Park of Zakynthos

The Marine Park of Zakynthos was established in 1999 and covers 89 square kilometres on the south side of the island. Its main aim is to protect the Caretta-Caretta sea turtles. However, the park also is responsible for protecting species of flora and fauna, such as an aquatic plant called Posidonia. In addition, there are various species of birds such as the Falco Eleonorae and the Calonectris Diomodea.

The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta-Caretta), is a critically endangered species. Therefore, the Marine Park includes the beaches where the Caretta-Caretta turtles hatch their eggs.

Beach restrictions

In certain zones restrictions are in place such as not walking or playing over five metres from the sea, and bans on litter, fishing, umbrellas, deck chairs and even towels. Also, you may only go on certain beaches from 7am until sunset, and if you see a turtle you must keep 15 metres away from it.

People are not allowed on Sekania beach at all, as 50% of nests are found here. On Dafni and Gerakas  beach, south of Sekania, strict restrictions apply. Kalamaki is another popular beach, as it is 3,500 metres long, with white sand and shallow transparent waters. The scenery is amazing and ideal for long walks up to the nearby Lagana.

Marathonisi Island

Although it is possible to reach Marathonisi island by boat, you must limit your speed and anchoring isn’t allowed. Beach umbrellas are prohibited, therefore you wont be tempted to sunbath for long and visitor numbers are limited to 200.

Villages in south Zakynthos

Limni Keri – Twenty kilometres from Zante town, Limni Keri is nestled on the hill of Cape Marathis, looking out to the island of Marathonisi. The beach is surrounded by tavernas and pine trees and there are a few shops, where you can buy the basics. Inland is the mountain village of Keri, with small streets and ancient houses.

Laganas – This resort is great for people who are looking for nightlife. In the summer it is well equipped for young people, with clubs, shops and restaurants opening long hours. However, it is almost deserted in winter. Laganas has a long beach which is busy from May to October.

Kalamaki – This village boasts a long sandy beach, which tends to be fairly quiet, if you walk to either end. The main street has hotels and restaurants, which blend quite well into the landscape. There is a supermarket, bakery and other shops for souvenirs etc.

Vassilikos – Houses are scattered across the countryside. There are pine woods and several beaches. While the beaches are well equipped, and you can find mini markets and bakeries, there isn’t a village as such.

Zante town – A short drive from the southern villages is Zante town and the main port of the island. The town has a lot to offer tourists from museums to squares with restaurants and bars. Near the seafront is an interesting area around the ruins of the ancient Venetian castle, which is on the hill behind the city. Here there are alleyways, and old houses with courtyards and flowers. North of the town is a long narrow beach. The town has a population of almost 40,000, therefore it has all the amenities you need for year-round living.

Getting to Zakynthos

All year long, daily direct flights connect from Athens International Airport (ATH) to Zakynthos International Airport (ZTH). The flight takes 50 minutes. The three main airlines operating this route are SkyExpress, Olympic and Aegean.

However, in the summer season low cost carriers such as Ryanair and EasyJet, offer direct flights connecting many European cities to the island.

Alternatively, you could travel to Zakynthos by ferry from Killini port, mainland Greece, or Pessada port, Cephalonia Island. In addition, ferries connect with Bari and Brindisi, in Italy.

See property for sale on Zakynthos.

The National Marine Park of Alonissos, Northern Sporades

The National Marine Park of Alonissos was established in 1992, and is currently the largest marine protected area in Europe. It covers a vast sea area of approximately 2,260 square kilometres and includes the island of Alonnisos, six smaller islands, and 22 islets and rocky outcrops. The park protects a variety of marine life, including the endangered Mediterranean monk seal. However, they are rarely seen by visitors, as they live in the sea caves around the coast.

Alonissos Island

Just as beautiful as Santorini and Mykonos, but without the crowds, is the island of Alonissos. It’s a place to relax, in beautiful natural surroundings. Hikers love the many trails and spotting wildlife such as Eleonora’s falcon.

Alonissos beaches

The big attraction for visitors to Alonissos are the beautiful beaches and clean waters. The most famous beaches are Votsi, Chrissi Milia, Glyfa and Rousoum Gialos, but there are many more to discover. Many of which are pebble beaches in small bays with pine trees as a back drop. However, there are sandy beaches at Chrisi Milia and Lefto Gialos. One of the most photographed beaches is Agios Dimitrios, which curves around the headland.

Alonissos villages

On Alonissos there are pretty villages with cobbled streets and tiny ports. They all have the Greek charm people dream of, with plenty of white washed houses, terracotta roofs and blue shutters.

The village of Alonissos (Chora) is on a hilltop surrounded by pine forest, and boasts some amazing views. Other charming villages include: Rousoum Gialos, Votsi, Milia, Chrisi Milia, Steni Vala on the east coast, and Gerakas on the north coast.

Alonissos’s largest village Patitiri is built around a pretty bay. It is home to less than 2,000 people, but more arrive in summer by ferry at the small harbour. Here you can sit at a taverna and watch the world go by. Or lie on the town’s beach, to soak up some sun.

How to get to Alonissos

You can reach Alonissos by ferry from mainland Greece and the ports of Volos and Evia (Mantoudi or Kymi) . Alonissos also has frequent ferry connections to the nearby islands of Skopelos and Skiathos. The island has no airport so the closest airport option is either Skiathos or Volos.

Skiathos

For tourists, the nearby island of Skiathos is the most popular island in the Sporades island group. Despite its small size, it attracts thousands of visitors every year. It has a romantic atmosphere, but is also popular with young people, due to the nightlife on offer and the many beautiful beaches.

See property for sale on Skiathos

Aquarium on Crete

To see a large variety of marine life up close, The CretAquarium is an amazing place to visit. Located 15km from the city of Heraklion, in Gournes, on the island of Crete, it is one of the largest sea life centres in Europe.

It has over 2,000 examples of Mediterranean and tropical marine life. These include everything from tiny clown fish to sharks. Some of the most popular with visitors are the stingray, turtles, sea horses, octopus and jellyfish.

Sea Life around Crete

Although not part of a marine park, the waters around Crete are still rich in sea life. There are some wonderful places to go snorkelling or scuba diving. North of Rethymnon you might even spot sea horses.

North of Rethymnon you might even spot sea horses.

Other scuba diving centres can be found at Agios Nikolaos, Agia Pelagia, Pirgos, Chora Sfakion, and Kokkinos. The Archelon Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, is also active on Crete. There are protected nesting sites for Caretta-Caretta in Chania, Rethymnon and Heraklion, and turtles can be seen in many waters around the island.

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Protect Sea life

Next time you are sat on the seafront in Greece, admiring the sparkling clear waters, think how you can help keep it that way. Don’t use plastic bags, bottles etc. and if you see some near the sea, the kindest thing to do is to pick it up. Remember that a plastic bag in the sea can look like a jellyfish to a hungry turtle.

Have you ever been on a busy beach and noticed an oil slick of sun lotion on the sea. Imagine what that does to coral reefs and sea life. Yet, you can actually buy reef-safe sun lotions. If we all play our part we can help save the oceans and the sea life that call it home.