The National Marine Park of Zakynthos
The National Marine Park of Zakynthos was finally set up in 1999 by Presidential Decree after years of intense lobbying from concerned conservation groups such as Medasset, Archelon STPS, and the WWF. The park was set up to comply with Greece’s legal environmental commitments in the European Court of Justice: Greece has a legal obligation to protect the Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta-caretta) and their nesting areas from tourist development in Zakynthos. 80% of the Mediterranean Loggerhead population nests in Laganas Bay, so Zakynthos is the most important site in Europe for this critically endangered species.
Marine Park Laws
The NMPZ is composed of 3 marine zones A, B and C in the Bay of Laganas, strictly protected nesting areas, protected terrestrial zones and peripheral areas. The marine zones restrict activities to protect the turtles. All fishing is banned completely in the marine zones.
A-Zone which stretches from Kalamaki to Gerakas is a no-go area for boats. B–Zone restricts boat speeds to 6 knots and boats are not permitted to drop anchor. C-Zone allows speeds of up to 6 knots and boats are allowed to drop anchor.
Marine Park laws on the beaches include limits on numbers of sun beds and umbrellas on all the nesting beaches, which must be stacked each night to give turtles access to the soft sand at the back of the beaches. All beaches are closed to the public between 7pm and 7am to stop the turtles being disturbed. All nesting beaches are patrolled by NMPZ wardens 24 hours a day, to inform tourists and also to stop people using the beaches after dark. You will see NMPZ kiosks, information boards and vehicle access barriers on each nesting beach.
Protected terrestrial zones behind nesting beaches protect the beaches from illegal building and development. This limits light pollution from buildings seeping on to the beaches which disturbs nesting turtles and disorientates hatchlings. Laganas is a serious problem, with noise and lights from bars and clubs scaring away the turtles. Moreover, destruction of the beach — it is now a road has now meant a permanent loss of 2-3 km of former prime nesting area. WWF owns the land behind Sekania beach, thus closing the beach to the public and ensuring no building can take place. Sekania is now principle nesting beach with between 500 - 700 nests recorded each summer.
NMPZ Suspension
However, in 2003 the NMPZ ran into serious problems. The Greek government, preparing to host the 2004 Olympics, diverted all available funds to the Olympic build in Athens. This meant that there was no budget for the Marine Park, and no pay for wardens. Staff and beach wardens went on strike, and in 2004 anarchy reigned on the nesting beaches. Hundreds of pieces of uncontrolled summer furniture, canoes and pedaloes blocked the nesting beaches; sand was illegally taken from the dunes; arson was set at Gerakas; dozens of vehicles drove on the beaches damaging the sand and destroying nests; illegal coastal building development and roads sprung up; tourists and locals alike marauded across the nesting beaches at night, all with the consequence of degrading the nesting areas. Archelon STPS volunteers were also verbally and physically assaulted by locals in their bid to inform tourists and protect the beaches. So many turtles nested on Sekania beach (it was the only place they could find peace and quiet), that they were digging up nests already laid that summer.
In response Medasset started a massive lobbying and public awareness campaign in the international and Greek media, TV crews came from the UK to film and WWF International and Archelon ran a petition that was signed by thousands of tourists. The European Court of Justice then ruled against Greece again and decreed that if Greece did not take her environmental obligations seriously, reinstate the NMPZ and release funds for back pay for staff and wardens, then it would impose a massive multi-million Euro fine.
The Current Situation
In August 2005, 2 months to go before the October deadline of the imposition of the fine by the ECJ, we saw several positive steps, including the appointment of a new President who straight away showed her worth, managing to enforce almost all of the ECJ’s ruling demands throughout Laganas Bay (excluding the ‘strictly protected’ Daphne beach). Wardens, their information kiosks, access barriers and information boards reappeared overnight on nesting beaches; illegal beach furniture was removed; night safeguarding restarted; buoys marking boundaries of A,B and C marine zones were replaced; port police resumed their patrols and actually started responding to calls! Mrs Karagounis has since started to try and sort out the situation at Daphne.
The Future
The ZNMP President is still optimistic of receiving the 60,000 Euro, which has been owed to the Park since 2003 by the Mayor of Laganas and the Prefect of Zakynthos, for their share of a LIFE/ Nature EC project. She also hopes to take funds, as of next summer, for beach furniture rental tenders, and with this money run a self-financing Park. But is this possible? In January 2005 300,000 Euro was needed to cover the Park’s debts (a figure which will have increased considerably since then). Since March 2004 funds have been promised repeatedly by the Ministry of Environment, in the Press and in Parliament, but until now only 190,000 Euro has been paid, barely covering back taxes and wage bills.
The government has produced a fine smoke screen, by appointing a very capable President, but as she pointed out herself, although an appeal has been made to the European Commission for a stay of execution on the ECJ ruling, her achievements will not prevent Greece from being fined. One thing is quite clear: Greece does not act unless under extreme financial pressure! If only Greece had met its environmental protection obligations two decades ago then it would not be facing a hefty fine and the Sea Turtles of Laganas Bay, Zakynthos would face a brighter and more certain future!
Extracts taken from Medasset press release No. 25 (September 2005) and Earth Sea & Sky.
