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Sea professionals protecting their “Home”
We protect our seas
Groups of professionals, whose activity has a significant impact on the marine environment, are being trained through a series of seminars and workshops, focusing on the Marine Protected Areas of Greece.
Sea guardians
Fishermen and representatives of bodies related to fishing activity (e.g. fishing cooperatives and associations, fishing ports and shelters, Regional Fisheries Departments etc.)
Captains, crews and other professional or amateur users/owners of pleasure crafts and small cruise ships
Hellenic Coast Guard and Police Officers, representatives from local government bodies and Marine Protected Areas Management Institutions, executives of Tourist Marinas and other interested coastal institutions.
An impactful project
- Achieve basic understanding of the marine environment, threats and the institutional framework for its protection
- Access good practices in managing fish stocks, conserving marine species, and avoiding marine pollution
- Access good practices in managing fish stocks, conserving marine species, and avoiding marine pollution
Enhance your knowledge
- Webinars
- e-Workshops
- Interactive educational field activities
- Conference participation
- e-Tool (free mobile app) to collect information for marine species and pollution
| Project Title | Training the “guardians” of our seas |
|---|---|
| Coordinator | HELMEPA – Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association |
| Partners |
AENAOS THALASSA Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency – N.E.C.C.A. |
| Scientific Assistance | Aristotle University of Thessaloniki |
| Financing Program | “Natural Environment and Innovative Actions 2020” |
| Funding | Green Fund |
| Duration | 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2023 |
| Budget | 49,900 € |
Meet the team
“Sea Guardians” is an initiative of organizations with long-term experience and specialization in the protection of the marine and natural environment. This is a participatory collaboration of non-profit organizations, in order to promote and enhance the educational knowledge and skills of those who work professionally at sea, as well as the general public. All stakeholders are distinguished for their scientific background, know-how in the development of educational activities and raising awareness programs, thus ensuring the sustainability of our seas.
Project Coordinator
Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association-HELMEPA
– HELMEPA
www.helmepa.gr/en
The Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association-HELMEPA is a non-governmental, nonprofit-making organization, that was founded in 1982 by Greek shipowners and seafarers, with the vision and commitment “To Save the Seas”. It acts as an open platform and focal point for stakeholders committed to marine environment protection and safety at sea, with members 14.000+ seafarers, 1.860+ ocean-going vessels of all types and 240+ shipping companies and organizations in Greece and abroad. It is a credible, resilient and sustainable network of active communities, representing industry actors, policy makers, social partners, academia, regulators, and civil society.
HELMEPA operates as Certified Maritime Training Center, and is equipped with a Full Mission Bridge Simulator, offering a high-standard training and skills development to seafarers-members. As Technical Advisors of the Greek Delegation to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Partners of the United Nations Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP), HELMEPA supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is actively involved in international fora, with proposals, projects and distinctions on marine and coastal protection, safety in the shipping industry and environmental awareness.
In 40 years of pioneering voluntary activity throughout Greece, we count more than 250,000 volunteers, 125,000 of which are students and 7,700 teachers, while designing and implementing innovative environmental exhibitions, seminars and educational activities. HELMEPA implements every year campaigns for Clean Seas and Beaches, starring the Association’s famous “Seagull”, while as National Coordinator of the International Coastal Cleanup, it coordinates hundreds of underwater and coastal cleanups throughout Greece.
Partners
AENAOS THALASSA
www.aenaosthalassa.com/en
The non-profit company AENAOS THALASSA was founded in 2019 aiming at the protection of the marine environment and the sustainable management of the marine ecosystems. Within this framework it supports synergies between organizations, initiatives, scientific, institutional, or other entities that share common visions and commitments for a fair and sustainable development, with the primary goal of preserving marine and coastal ecosystems.
At the same time, it seeks to maximize public awareness, mainly on coastal and islandic areas, in order to strengthen their participatory and bottom-up management ensuring that economic growth does not undermine marine stocks. AENAOS THALASSA supports scientific research, collaborates with the academic community, and promotes its interconnection with the development of a healthy, sustainable and fair entrepreneurship steadily focused to the preservation of the marine environment.
Based on the above, it seeks to develop good examples on a small scale, by creating a toolkit of actions and initiatives that can be replicated and used in a wider context.
Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency – N.E.C.C.A.
necca.gov.gr/en/home
N.E.C.C.A. is a Legal Entity of Private Law supervised by the Ministry of Environment and Energy. It was formed in 2020, being the successor of the National Center for Environment and Sustainable Development (NCESD).
The aim of NECCA is to implement the policy set by the Ministry of Environment and Energy for:
(i) the management of protected areas in Greece, the conservation of biodiversity and
(ii) the promotion and implementation of actions for sustainable development actions and climate change
Funding
GREEN FUND
www.prasinotameio.gr
www.prasinotameio.gr
The Green Fund is a Public Legal Entity, associated to the Ministry of Environment. Its establishment (Law 3889/2010) allows a wide distribution of funds (coming from environmental taxes, fees for environmental damage, etc.) to targeted environmental conservation programs.
The objective of the GF is to stimulate sustainable development through environmental conservation and by providing administrative, economic, technical, and financial support for programs, measures, interventions and initiatives to improve and restore the environment and combat climate change.
The main activity of the Green Fund is the development of projects for the financing of measures and actions to protect, improve and restore the environment and the landscape in the context of environmental and climate conservation policy. It finances projects set up by the Ministry of Environment to be implemented by other ministries and subordinated bodies, local authorities, legal entities and other stakeholders of the public sector. It is the main financier of the Greek Protected Areas System, and financially supports all the relevant Management Authorities.
