In the rugged, mountainous landscape of Amorgos, one of Greece’s easternmost Cycladic islands, a remarkable movement is unfolding. Born from necessity and a deep love for the sea, Amorgorama is a fisher-led initiative that has become a global exemplar for marine conservation and sustainable fishing. This innovative partnership, uniting local fishers, conservationists, scientists, and government bodies, aims to protect the marine environment while safeguarding the livelihoods of the island community.

The Crisis that Sparked a Movement

For generations, the fishers of Amorgos relied entirely on the Aegean Sea for their sustenance and way of life. However, like many coastal communities worldwide, they began to face a grim reality: marine pollution and overfishing were devastating ocean ecosystems. Michalis Krosman, President of the Professional Fishing Association of Amorgos, recalled, "We thought the sea was a source that will never end. There will be fish forever." But by 2010, fishers observed dwindling catches and decreasing incomes. Their nets often brought back more plastic than fish, and the northern beaches, inaccessible by land, accumulated tons of plastic rubbish every spring after winter storms. This plastic debris posed a threat to the ecosystem and fish reproduction.

The dire situation forced many fishers to take on second jobs, or even surrender their licenses and dismantle their traditional Greek fishing boats, known as Kaïkia, in exchange for compensation under a 2014 EU overfishing regulation. Faced with an uncertain future, the approximately 40 members of the Professional Fishing Association of Amorgos, known as “Η Χοζοβιώτισσα,” decided to take matters into their own hands.

The Birth of a Collective Vision: Amorgorama

The movement began taking shape as early as 2013 when the fishing association ventured beyond Amorgos to attend the 2nd European Low-Impact Fishermen (LIFE) conference in Spain. It was there that Michalis Krosman and his colleagues realized they were not alone in their struggles, and that solutions existed. This realization sparked a vision for a different future for Amorgos's seas.

In 2019, the association co-founded Amorgorama with German artist and scientist Florian Reiche. The initiative gained early momentum through a successful crowdfunding campaign and key partnerships within Greece and beyond, including the Cyclades Preservation Fund (CPF) and the Blue Marine Foundation (BMF).  The name itself, "Amorgorama," embodies this hope: Orama means vision in Greek, signifying the fishers' vision for "clean seas full of fish".

The Four Pillars of Amorgorama’s Strategy

After extensive discussions and a hard-won consensus, the fishers of Amorgos developed a four-pillar master plan aimed at revitalizing their marine environment and ensuring sustainable livelihoods. This bold approach, unique in Greek fishing history, demonstrates their commitment to long-term sustainability.

1. Seasonal Fishing Prohibition: A critical decision was to pause fishing activities for all boats—local, professional, and amateur—during April and May. These months are crucial for the reproduction of commercially important fish species. This self-imposed economic blow, suspending fishing in the middle of the breeding season, highlights the fishers' dedication to the natural environment.

2. Coastal Clean-up Actions: During these two months of fishing prohibition, the fishers repurpose their vessels to address the pressing issue of marine pollution. They use their boats and local knowledge to clean inaccessible northern beaches, which accumulate tonnes of plastic rubbish. From 2021 to 2022 alone, 38 waste collection actions were carried out, with fishers collecting over 1,200 large bags of trash and sending more than 15 tonnes of plastic for recycling. Approximately 60-65% of the recovered plastic is recycled, along with 3 tonnes of nets and ropes.

3. Transition to Environmentally Friendly Fishing Gear: Amorgorama promotes and facilitates the adoption of more sustainable fishing practices. This includes replacing traditional gear with more environmentally friendly options, such as nets with larger mesh and hooks. The goal is to avoid capturing small, young fish, allowing them to grow and reproduce. Recyclable nets have also been introduced.

4. Creation of Fisheries Restricted Areas (FRAs): Perhaps the most critical and challenging pillar involved the establishment of no-take FRAs, meaning specific zones where fishing is permanently prohibited to enhance fish reproduction and biodiversity. These areas are designed to provide undisturbed havens for fish reproduction, which has been shown in other regions to dramatically increase fish populations. Initially, the plan was to permanently halt fishing for five consecutive years in three of the island's most important fishing grounds: Nikouria, Katapola bay, and the area between the islets of Gramvoussa and Kalotaritissa. These zones will serve as sanctuaries for fish to reproduce and recover, acting as "banks" for fish stocks. The fishers themselves developed a management plan to reverse overfishing, understanding that they "had to sacrifice; they had to change, because otherwise they had to quit".

Key Partnerships and Government Endorsement

Amorgorama's success is deeply rooted in strong collaborative partnerships. From its inception, the initiative received practical support from the Cyclades Preservation Fund (CPF), which provided funding, capacity, networking, and visibility. Soon after, the Blue Marine Foundation (BMF) joined forces, further bolstering the project.

A crucial scientific partner has been the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA). Following guidelines from the Greek Ministry of Rural Development & Food, the AUA conducted a vital fisheries study for Amorgos to identify and demarcate fundamental habitats and ideal sites for the Fisheries Restricted Areas. This study also proposed alternative management and protection measures for sustainable coastal fisheries. The study was privately funded Cyclades Reservation Fund and Blue Marine Foundation, underscoring the importance of these collaborative efforts.

The initiative's community-led nature and scientific backing gained significant attention, leading to formal recognition from the Greek government. In September 2022, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between Amorgorama and the Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Food. This was a pivotal moment, signaling official support for Amorgorama's goals.

 In April 2024, at the Our Ocean Conference in Athens, the Minister of Rural Development and Food publicly announced the Greek government's approval for the proposed new FRAs around Amorgos. This commitment was also reiterated at the same conference by the Greek Prime Minister, who pledged to expand Greece's marine protected area network and ban bottom trawling in all MPAs by 2030, and to establish the FRAs around Amorgos that the fishers requested.  The study's approval is a significant step, as the establishment of these FRAs is expected to contribute to Greece's commitment to establishing more Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and FRAs by 2030 (known as the "30-30" target).

Following the positive recommendation from the Fisheries Council of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food in December 2024, a draft Presidential Decree (PD) for the institutionalization of the FRAs around Amorgos was submitted to the Council of State (ΣτΕ) in February 2025 for consultation.

The issuance of the Presidential Decree will make the Amorgorama one of a kind initiative in the world, and it’s no coincidence that the attention of both the Greek and global fishing communities is focused on Amorgos. “If it succeeds here, it will succeed elsewhere too,” emphasizes Mr. Krosman in an interview with Gastronomos magazine. “That’s why we say that during this five-year period, state support is needed. Without compensation, no fisherman will be able to survive.”

Furthermore, at the 3rd UN Oceans Conference in Nice in June 2025, the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, highlighted Amorgorama as a model initiative, emphasizing Greece's commitment to expanding its marine protected area network from 20% to 30% and banning bottom trawling in all MPAs by 2030. The Prime Minister specifically cited Amorgorama as an example of "local fishing communities…establishing specific no-fishing zones around the island as safe havens for marine life".

A Global Model and Future Outlook

It has obvious that Amorgorama’s bold actions and collaborative spirit have garnered international acclaim and its success might prove crucial for the future The initiative has also fostered peer-to-peer learning; Michalis Krosman connected with the president of the Gökova Fishers Association in Rome, whose successful marine protection efforts in Gökova Bay had originally inspired Amorgos fishers. They now meet annually to exchange insights.

While government support is critical, particularly regarding compensation for fishers during the no-fishing periods, the Amorgorama partners are committed to ensuring the long-term success of the Fishing Restricted Areas (FRAs), including matters of funding, scientific monitoring, and enforcement. The effective control and supervision of these restricted areas is a prerequisite for the success of the entire endeavor.

Today, Amorgorama stands as a beacon of inspiration and optimism not only for Amorgos but for other fishing and small communities across the Aegean Sea and beyond. What began as a desperate struggle by a handful of fishers has transformed into a globally recognized model for how local communities can lead the charge in protecting our oceans and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.

I.L., with information from Amorgorama; Cyclades Preservation Fund; Revive our Ocean; Gastronomos; Κυκλαδική΄΄΄; Innovationinpolitics.eu

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The Efstathios Finopoulos Collection of travel literature and imagery, one of the most important collections of its kind -not only in Greece, but worldwide- is part of the Benaki Museum Library after the collector’s kind donation in 2013. The exhibition Travels in Greece (15th-19th century), now open at the Benaki Museum (until 29/04/2018) will showcase the Finopoulos Collection along two distinct trajectories: one dedicated to travel imagery and literature and the other to the research activity of the collector himself.

The fascination with the unknown and the allure of Greece in European thought since the early Renaissance, resulted in a constant flow of travellers who produced numerous publications and countless drawings: From the travellers on the Grand Tour in the 17th century and then to the early tourists of the 19th century, who were travelling in groups through travel agencies, the flow of travellers orginated from the West, crossed the Hellenic world and was headed towards the East. The main destination was Jerusalem, for the purpose of pilgrimage, and afterwards Constantinople. From Marseilles and Venice, travellers followed sea routes to the Eastern Mediterranean, with Sicily, Malta, Corfu and Kythera, Syra and Smyrna, as the main ports of call.

The exhibition includes rare editions, manuscript maps, loose prints and drawings as well as important documents, archival material and photographs. From the fanciful and arbitrary renderings of early centuries to the accurate depictions of later years, the variegated picture of travelling emerges alongside the multiple identities of travellers in Greek lands between the 15th and 19th centuries.

The wealth of the collection enables the study of many aspects of the intellectual, social, financial, religious and cultural life of the Hellenic world under foreign occupation (Ottoman, Venetian as well as the British protection of the Ionian islands), at certain pivotal moments in the history of Greece (the Greek Revolution, the Crimean War etc.) and the study of emblematic figures such as Lord Byron.  What is more, travel writing allows us to examine the foreign gaze of travellers at various historic periods and as well as the evolution of Philhellenism through the years.

The acquisition of the material that comprises the collection, a lifetime endeavor on the part of Efstathios Finoupoulos, started in 1963 with purchases from the burrows of book dealer George Jeffery in Farringdon Road, London. Finopoulos continued to gather a wealth of material from reproductions and transcriptions of travel journals and letters of travelers who journeyed around Greece. The adventure of amassing this impressive collection from its beginnings in the 1960s to the present day is showcased the exhibition through representative works.

I.L.

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Nectarios Santorinios, Deputy Minister of Maritime Industry & Island Policy and MP for the Dodecanese with SYRIZA, spoke to Greek News Agenda* on the need for an insularity clause at the national and EU level to ensure the equitable development of island regions, the government's effort to modernize the current institutional framework in order to tackle issues such as the islands' connection to the mainland, transport, accessibility to public services, and supply of goods. Santorinios further mentioned several government projects such as the Special Development Plan for North & South Aegean that will finance major infrastucture projects, or the target to achieve water autonomy for all islands by the summer of 2018.

Historian Ruggiero Romano and other thinkers, such as Spyros Asdrachas and Angelos Elefantis, viewed the Aegean archipelago as a dipersed city.  Insularity is a salient morphological feature of Greece. What are its specific characteristics in Greece?

The blend of characteristics that make up insularity, a concept sometimes grueling, other times redeeming, are essentially small size, long distance from places of supply of goods, seasonality in social and economic life and vulnerability to environmental challenges.

At times when insularity is experienced as redemption, the islands become pioneers of extroversion in trade and interaction with other cultures. During tougher times, insularity is experienced as isolation from current developments, like for example from the digital era.

The view of the Aegean as a kind metapolis, the promise of a different kind of city, is based on island features, such as their encirclement by the sea, the arid, dry landscape, the clarity of the sky and the seasonality of their visitors. We must keep in mind though that a major characteristic of urban centers is that they function as melting pots, merging various civilizations together. In the Aegean islands, however, one can find different cultural elements like costumes, dances, products and folk speech that have been preserved in time, precisely because of the lack of connections with the mainland or the neighboring islands.

Stratos Kalafatis photography project "Archipelago" was originally commissioned for the Greek participation at the 10th Edition of the International Architecture Exhibition in Venice 2006 ("The Dispersed Urbanity of the Aegean Archipelago")

What are the main challenges insular countries like Greece have to face? How have are they been dealt with so far from a policy point of view?

The challenge all island regions face is depopulation. The same applies to Greece, of course. Especially in times of economic recession, this trend is widening. Fortunately, we are essentially talking about islanders, people who have a particular emotional connection to their homeland, even though they travel more often than most of us; however, we cannot rely on this connection to curb the phenomenon of depopulation.

What we have to do is respect it practice the islanders΄ longstanding demand for equal social treatment: this is both a challenge and a mission for the ministry of Maritime Affairs and Island Policy. The islanders’ particular living conditions require special considerations from the part of the state. That is why we are talking about an insularity clause that would ensure that any law of the Greek state or the EU must be adjusted so that it can be applicable to island life.

What is the European dimension of the issue of insularity? EU cohesion policies are designed for land territories and Greece is a country with 277 inhabited islands. How can island regions be developed on an equal footing with land regions?

In the Treaty of Lisbon, the objective of strengthening economic and social cohesion is described as:  “The EU shall aim at reducing disparities between the levels of development of the various regions and the backwardness of the least favoured regions.  Among the regions concerned, particular attention shall be paid to rural areas, areas affected by industrial transition, and regions which suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps such as the northernmost regions with very low population density and island, cross-border and mountain regions.”

Postcard: The port of Hermoupolis on the island of Syros

Therefore, cohesion policies based on modern tools and indicators, such as the human development index, the social welfare index and the regional competitiveness index are key for the equitable development of island regions.

Another defining factor for linking the Greek islands to the European commerce flow are trans-European networks.  In Article 170 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (2007) it is mentioned that, “the Union shall contribute to the establishment and development of trans-European networks in the areas of transport, telecommunications and energy infrastructures.”

Furthermore, in article ΙΙΙ-144 of the Draft Treaty Establishing a Constitution For Europe (2003) it was mentioned that “Within the framework of a system of open and competitive markets, action by the Union shall aim at promoting the interconnection and interoperability of national networks as well as access to such networks. It shall take account in particular of the need to link islands, landlocked and peripheral regions with the central regions of the Union.”

One big concern for smaller islands is infrequently serviced lines during off-season periods. What are the solutions you propose?

At present, through state subsidized lines, the so-called "nonprofit” lines, we ensure - although at a great cost- that each island will have a stable, and as much as possible frequent connection to the major ports of the country.

However, this policy is under review and the institutional framework is being modernized along the following axes: Improving accessibility through better interconnection with the mainland, optimizing the design of the coastal routes in order to reduce the cost of nonprofit lines, striking a better balance between passenger and freight traffic, strengthening commercial and tourist activity and promoting combined transport.

The Valetta Declaration, adopted this March, mentions “equal growth for islands and insular regions.” What are Greece’s goals as far as insular policy in the EU after the Maltese Presidency?

The objective remains to create a common framework for island policy at the European level, in accordance to Article 175 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union for “reducing disparities between the levels of development of the least favoured regions” such as islands, as that will lead to the adoption a separate package of actions to tackle the issue of insularity.

Fields that call for direct developmental interventions are education, health, administration, entrepreneurship, basic infrastructure and the transport of islanders.

What are your plans and priorities for this year?

For the current period, the Government's plan is focused on promoting economic and development opportunities for the islands. More specifically:

The Special Development Plan for North & South Aegean, with an initial budget of 50 million by the National Investments Programme, is going to finance major infrastructure projects for the islands.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Islands Policy collaborated with the Ministries of Development, Infrastructure and Home Affairs, to create a dedicated unit that will support the municipalities of small islands in designing and completing infrastructure projects using the NSRF, the National Investments Programme and other funds.

On the initiative of the Ministry of Digital Policy, Telecommunications and Information, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Islands Policy, a program to improve public administration in the islands and make islanders’ access to public services easier is being implemented.

For a better balance in the supply of goods, a collaboration has been launched with the University of the Aegean to prepare a study which will set down ways to reduce the cost of transporting people and goods to and from the islands.

The Ministry of Energy, in cooperation with Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Islands Policy has introduced the innovative concept of “energy communities” in a draft bill currently under consultation. We aim to promote such projects so that islands can become energy self-sufficient.

However, the most important and urgent task is achieving water autonomy for the arid islands. By the summer of 2018 we plan to have a desalination plant on each island, providing sufficient drinking water for the needs of the island so that water tank become a thing and local communities start examining more advanced forms of water supply for the future.

*Interview by Ioulia Livaditi & Nikolas Nenedakis

 The top international sailing event in Greece, the Aegean Regatta is organised by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Island Policy

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Constadina Voulgari-Kontesopoulou was recently crowned winner in the regional (Mediterranean) semi-final of an international culinary competition, in Tel-Aviv, with her signature partridge dish "Ellinon Gefsis" (Greeks’ tastes). Consisting of partridge cooked in sous vide, at 54.5 degrees, in wine lees Vionger with mousseline pastinacas, wild root and salad with vineyard products, Voulgari’s dish swayed the local S.Pellegino Young Chef 2018 jury, securing gold. Voulgari, inspired by Ancient Greek cuisine, prepared her dish choosing rare ingredients from the Greek countryside.

1. Ingredients: Ability to select the best ingredients the market can offer in terms of quality, freshness and uniqueness, in order to achieve excellence in taste

2. Skill: Ability to work with raw materials and turn them into a dish that respects their original essence

3. Genius: Ability to explore new, challenging and innovative perspectives in relation to the culture of fine cuisine with a personal and contemporary style, while maintaining a perfect equilibrium of taste

4. Beauty: Dish presentation, giving an aesthetic enhancement of its contents

5. Message: Ability to communicate a clear message through one's work and vision.

"Ellinon Gefsis", the dish prepared by Voulgari (photo source: finedininglovers.com)

According to Athens based Michelin starred Greek chef and young chef mentor, judge Nikos Roussos, "Constadina made a dish with her heart, and you could taste the difference. Her preparations proved her high culinary skills, and she used interesting techniques as well as unique products."

Speaking of her win, Voulgari commented: “Taking part in the competition was a gift I gave myself for turning 30 years old.  For me, it is a dream come true, and I'm so happy to take part in this competition."

Next up, Voulgari, who works as a Chef in a restaurant in Ierapetra, Crete, will compete at the Grand Finale, having set the goal of perfecting her signature dish under the guidance of her chef mentor. Her dish will be tasted by a jury of seven world-renowned chefs, the so called “Seven Sages”, who will ultimately crown the S. Pellegino Young Chef 2018. The Grand Finale is scheduled for 22-23 June 2018 in Milan.

The San Pellegrino Young Chef 2018 initiative

Sanpellegrino Spa is the Organiser of the "S. Pellegrino Young Chef 2018" initiative, consisting of an international "Talent Scouting" open to young Chefs up to 30 years old. The purpose of the initiative is to support the principles of the culture of good food around the world through a project aiming to identify talented young chefs in order to celebrate their talent and encourage their professional growth. A panel of judges consisting of independent members of ALMA (authoritative training centre for Italian Cuisine at an international level -www.alma.scuoladicucina.it) will define a shortlist of a maximum of 10 Young Chefs for each of the 21 participating regions. S. Pellegrino offers talented young chefs around the world more opportunities to develop their skills under the mentorship of a top chef as well as gain valuable professional visibility.

With information from oliveoilmagazine and caruso.gr.

E.A.

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Four months after the 1st Mediterranean EU Countries' Summit,  a Greek government initiative held in Athens last September with the aim of enhancing cooperation between Southern European Countries, the leaders of seven EU southern countries will meet again this Saturday 28.01 in Lisbon to coordinate their actions in anticipation of upcoming EU summits. On the table will  the issues of security and defense, economic and social development, migration and refugee flows, Brexit, the arrival of Donald Trump at the White House, as well as be the rise of populism in Europe in view of the critical elections in the Netherlands, France and Germany.   

A major focus of 1st Mediterranean EU Countries Summit was the Southern EU countries' call for fostering growth and investment. Besides that, the declaration adopted proposed the following measures: ensuring the internal and external security of Europe, reinforcing cooperation in the Mediterranean and with African countries, promoting programmes for youth mobility and employment and effectively addressing the challenge of migration.

In the 2nd Mediterranean EU Countries' ("MED Group") Summit in Lisbon, Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa will host the presidents of Cyprus (Nikos Anastasiades) and France (François Hollande) and the Prime Ministers of Spain (Mariano Rajoy), Malta (Joseph Muscat), Greece (Alexis Tsipras) And Italy (Paolo Gentiloni).

The participating countries stress that they do not want to create an alternative front within the EU. "It is not a separate club, but a contribution to the whole European Union that wants to identify its priorities to relaunch the European project before Brexit," said a Portuguese government source to Portuguese news agency Lusa.

The seven countries intend to "make a concrete contribution" ahead of the informal Malta summit (3 February), the Spring European Council (9-10 March in Brussels), and in preparation of the Rome Declaration, which will mark the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome on 25 March.

For Greece, the Lisbon summit "will contribute to the European dialogue", irrespective of the "ideologies or political orientations of the participating countries," said a spokesman for the Greek government to French news agency AFP.

Portuguse PM Antonio Costa : We need a new cycle of growth 

Faced with the rise of "nationalism, protectionism, populism and xenophobia", the EU needs "a new cycle of growth and convergence," the meeting's host, Socialist Prime Minister Antonio Costa, said on Tuesday.

Outlining the issues in view of the Lisbon EU-MED Summit, the Portuguese PM, also spoke of the creation of a European Monetary Fund and the extension of the Juncker plan to support investment as well as "positive discrimination” in favor of countries that are hardest hit by the crisis, such as Portugal and Greece.

The meeting next Saturday "will also be an opportunity to reaffirm the confidence of these countries in the European project and the conviction that building a stronger and more cohesive European Union" -of 27 members- is "a priority that responds to the national interest of each member-state".

The Portuguese prime minister stressed that an "incomplete" monetary union, "aggravates difficulties and accentuates asymmetries," and will present to the Summmit a new policy mix that combines the monetary policy of the European Central Bank with the coordination of the budgetary policies of the Member States and the completion of the banking union through the completion of the European Deposit Guarantee Scheme and the creation of an eurozone budget.

The participating countries will also uphold the importance of moving forward with the European Fund for Strategic Investments. "We need European rules, defined within the framework of the Stability Pact, which will help to promote development, instead of block braking public investment", explained to AFP Margarida Marques, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs.

As for security and defense, the leaders of the seven countries will discuss strengthening the EU's external borders through the operation of the European Coast Guard and Frontiers  and promoting security within the EU, in particular against the terrorist threat, but without prejudice to the free movement of enshrined in the Schengen Agreement.

In the field of migration, countries will reaffirm their solidarity with states "particularly affected by the migratory crisis" - Greece and Italy - and reflect on the need to avoid diverting Eastern Mediterranean migration routes to the Central and Western Mediterranean, which implies a "fight against the root causes of migration and cooperation with the countries of origin"  and supporting investment and economic growth in Africa.

Read more: Athens Declaration of the 1st Mediterranean EU Countries’ Summit - September 2016; Greece to foster close partnership of European South; Tsipras: Euro-Med summit will unite Europe, not divide it

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