The National Marine Park has been suspended for the last 2 years.  In this time, considerable further damage has been done to the nesting beaches and land behind the beaches: new illegal buildings have been erected, illegal roads improved.  Park workers were not paid so they went on strike.  As a result there have been no warden patrols at all for the last 2 summers, so tourists have had the run of the beaches day and night.  Beach furniture increased, blocking access for nesting turtles and Archelon volunteers have been repeatedly threatened and sometimes attacked by local people.  The case against Greece has been before the European Court of Justice for years and this year the verdict was that fines wuld be imposed on Greece - whether or not she actually complies with her obligations - because so much damage has been done, and it is clear that Greece has no intention of applying and enforcing environmental laws.

However, in the summer of 2005, it seemed that changes were afoot.  A new President was finally appointed in April by the Minister of the Environment, but he had to resign after it was found that he had land interests at Daphne Beach (no President can have any links with Zakynthos, a serious conflict of interests).  A month later the Minister nominated a replacement - Professor Amalia Karagounis-Kyrtos, to impose 'law and order'.  She began her work with a list of demands from the ECJ.  All work subsequently carried out by Mrs Karagounis in Zakynthos was done alone, as she has neither a Marine Park Board nor funds to support her.

With unprecedented Governement support for her position, and just enough money (190,000 Euros) to pay wardens, she made the following changes throughout the Park - except Daphne Beach, which she considered a 'lost cause': 5 guards were posted on nesting beaches (a minimum of 25-30 guards are needed for the Park to function properly); information signs, kiosks and barriers preventing vehicle access were restored, and a port police post was established in Laganas Bay to patrol the Bay.  A boat was brought in from the mainland to temporarily patrol the sea.  Also, most buoys delineating restricted marine zones were replaced, and on some beaches excess sun beds and umbrellas were confiscated...though most did subsequently return.

At Gerakas, some of the sun bed men began wearing NMPZ t-shirts and began cooperating with Archelon volunteers and the NMPZ guards, and had 'cordial' relations.  However, the beach furniture remained above the legal limit, and illegal steps which had been cut into the hill above the beach, by at least 3 sun bed men were allowed to remain, despite protests to Mrs Karagounis by Earth Sea & Sky, citing damage to the beach and public safety.  

Archelon volunteers cordoned off most of the beach on the left hand side, protecting the principle nesting area.  The Marine Park improved the cordon and it proved to be extremely effective, with most nests hatching successfully and tourists kept off the soft sand.

By the time these changes took effect, nesting was almost over and although hatching went on into September and October, tourists numbers on the beach in September were a fraction of what they had been between June and September.  Mrs Karagounis also said that an appeal had been made to the EU Commission for an extension of the October deadline for imposition of the fine, but that the fine could not be avoided.  All her efforts were aimed at reducing the size of the fine - by showing that steps had been made in the right direction - which will be catastrophic for Zakynthos and Greece.  She said that the situation that prevails is 'man-made of the local administration's and the local people's making'.

Currently we still do not know if the extension was granted, or whether the EU Commission has actually referred the case back to the EU Court, in order for the fine to be imposed.  We do know that Greece does not act except when under immense financial pressure, so referral to the EU Court could be exactly what is needed.  

If no fine is imposed, the turtles of Laganas Bay have no future.

Earth Sea & Sky wholeheartedly supports the National Marine Park of Zakynthos and we really hope that the new President and her colleagues will be successful.  

She made a good, albeit late start in 2005, and is making steps in the right direction, but has to enforce the law as it stands and not engage in quid pro quo.  

Without firm finances and planning, the future looks difficult, so we call upon the Greek Government to face up to its obligations and responsibilites, and release funds to the Marine Park to enable it to do its job effectively.

Turtles have known how to survive for millions of years.  All they need is nature: undisturbed beaches and peace and quiet, so let's all work together to keep it this way.