Area:  total: 131,940 sq km land: 130,800 sq km Coastline: 13,676 km Population: 10,707,135 (July 1999 est.) Source: CIA Worldfact Book (1999)

Greece   Basic Data Contacts CSD Data Other Links Other Data Country Contacts The Ministry of the Environment, Physical Planning & Public Works National Centre for Marine Research     (Source:  CIA World Factbook 1999)     OCEANS AND COASTAL AREAS Many thanks to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, the source of the following information. The information was taken from Greece's submission to the 5th and 7th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (last update: February 1999). For further information on the Greece's social and economic factors, natural resources, and institutional structures see the United Nations System-Wide Web Site on National Implementation of the Rio Commitments National Information for Greece at:   http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/greece/index.htm   Integrated Decision Making The Ministry of the Environment, Physical Planning & Public Works - Directorate of Physical Planning, and Department of Nature Protection is responsible for integrated coastal zone management. The Ministry of Mercantile Marine is responsible for marine pollution prevention and for combating marine pollution incidents. In 1972 the Ministry of Mercantile Marine established the Marine Environmental Protection Division (MEPD) at the Hellenic Coast Guard headquarters. The MEPD is an administrative unit charged with the coordinating in the case of a marine pollution incident. The Merchant Ships Inspectorate and the various local Port Authorities carry out the executive functions relating to the inspection and survey of Greek and foreign ships calling at major Greek ports, and the issuance of certificates for ships. The responsibility of handling minor marine pollution incidents rests with the Marine Environmental Protection Offices operating in all the above Port Authorities in collaboration with the 15 Regional Marine Pollution Combating Centres, established in selected areas at risk, which have experienced staff, appropriate anti-pollution means and equipment. MEPD is divided in four operational sections: Section A: Marine Pollution Response Main tasks are:   Surveillance of Hellenic Seas and of coastline conferred upon HCGís patrol aircrafts, vessels and vehicles  Up-grading of the National Contingency Plan Co-ordination and supervision of marine pollution combating operations at sea or on shoreline  Enforced of legislation with regard to the prevention of marine pollution  Investigation into the causes of the marine pollution incidents, prosecution and imposition of administrative fines, e.g. penal sanctions to the offenders  Mobilisation of HCG anti-pollution teams, means and marine pollution combating equipment and materials  Section B: Planning and National Legislation Main functions are:   Processing of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for new or existing infrastructures in the coastal regions  Suggesting legal measures (laws, decrees, regulations, etc.) for the protection of the Hellenic marine environment and adopting relevant EU environmental legislation  Co-ordination of the administrative units of scientific institutes, non-governmental organisations and marine research centres in marine pollution prevention related matters  Section C: International Affairs Main tasks are:   Participation of Greek delegation in the relevant meetings, sessions of Committees and Sub-committees and Diplomatic Conferences held under the auspices of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)  Participation of Greek delegation in the meetings of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution and its Emergency Protocol. Participation of Greek experts to EU meetings, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works as necessary  Ratification of International Conventions as well as harmonisation of Greek Environmental legislation with other international instruments in force.  Section D: Logistics and Training Main functions are:   The purchasing of anti-pollution means and equipment for the Hellenic Coast Guard, planning of all relevant national supplies programme related to anti-pollution equipment for oil-spill emergencies through national or European financial mechanisms  Suggesting all necessary technical measures for port reception facilities of oil residues and garbage from ships in Greek ports  Educating and training of personnel in oil spill combating techniques  Allocating of booms, absorbers, skimmers etc. to all national Regional Marine Pollution Combating Centres Co-administration of the Blue Fund comprising the administrative fines imposed on sea polluters or environmental legislation violators.  In addition, the Ministry of Development has some responsibilities on the following issues: Marine environmental  protection:     a. Directorate of Water and Natural Resources     b. Directorate of Industrial Planning and Environment  Sustainable use and conservation of marine living resources (both of the high seas and under national jurisdiction): a. Directorate of Water Natural Resources (National Parks and Sensitivity mapping) b. Ministry of Agriculture c. Department of Fisheries. Strategies, policies and plans Coordination is undertaken through the National Contingency Plan (NPC) which was established in 1973 and is responsible for the preparation and organisation of all the necessary steps for the involvement and activation of public and private stakeholders in case of an incident. The system of NCP is under revision in accordance with the OPRC90 provisions. The revised NCP shall be published as a Presidential Decree. All the local port Authorities shall elaborate their own Local Contingency Plans (LPC). International experience and practice prove that whatever cautions are undertaken, incidents of marine pollution cannot be totally eliminated. Therefore, preparation is an essential requirement with respect to immediate intervention as well as for minimisation of response time.  To date the NCP is the only existing national mechanism. There is a proposal for the establishment and appointment of a coastline management organisation responsible for coordination among the different organisation according to the programme of the Organisation of Athens (which has undertaken an integrated planning strategy for the metropolitan and coastal areas of Athens under the responsibility of the Ministry for the Environment). Such proposal is important, as the programme refers to a coastal zone that cuts through eleven municipalities, involves twenty Ministries and Public Authorities, and hundreds of Non-governmental and private organisations. The NCP and the LCP's provisions are periodically revised in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention OPRC90. Since 1988 a national campaign to monitor the quality of swimming water has been established (EU Directive 76/160/EEC) under the framework of a programme undertaken by the Ministry for the Environment, aiming at protecting the environment and safeguarding swimmers' health. The findings are published annually in a comprehensive report on the status of coastal and marine areas. The 1997 campaign audited 1217 coastal areas under the supervision of the Ministry for the Environment and the Ministry of Health.  Furthermore, the Organisation for Planning and Environmental Protection of Athens has proposed a plan concerning protection, restoration, sustainable development and management of the 45 km of the South-east coastline. Another long-term monitoring programme is MED POL (Assessment and Control of Pollution in the Mediterranean Region), resulting from an agreement between the Greek Republic and UNEP. It involves sampling and analyses in several locations in enclosed bays, islands and open sea. The basic oceanographic and meteorological parameters are monitored along with micro-organisms, heavy metals, petroleum products, plankton organisms etc.  Special actions have been undertaken for the protection of sensitive areas and endangered species such as the sea turtle "Caretta - Caretta", the monk seal "Monachus monachus" etc. Major Programmes Atticaís coastline protection and management programme focuses on the following:   Preservation, protection and promotion of the landscape, the historical and archaeological sites  Broadening the reinforcement of the open-public character of the zone  The removal of incompatible activities and the de-congestion of the zone from intensive and exclusive land uses  The coordination of the existing programme for the zone  Public information and participation  The Ministry of Mercantile Marine laid out the following target areas and related programmes in the National Contingency Plan: Pollution Prevention   Precautionary tests and inspections of land-based sources (e.g. industries, shipyards, etc.)  Precautionary tests and inspections of all ships that sail in our seas and enter our ports  Training Ministry personnel as well as that of land-based sources so that they will be able to instantly face any incident  Practice drills in order to test the readiness of personnel and the suitability of means and methods  Formatting and enforcing a Local Contingency Plan in every Port Authority, where local conditions, peculiarities, abilities and disabilities are considered  Establishing and operating reception facilities at every Hellenic port  Developing and modernising the equipment and means the Ministry already possesses.  Protection of characterised sea areas and protected species Proper legislation measures have been enacted which have taken into consideration the particular characteristics of sea areas where protected sea species live or shelter, as well as places that constitute vital areas and animal shelters Development of a new "anti-pollution" view of the people (especially youth) Public awareness measures so that an improved code of behaviour is adopted towards marine environment as a source of life and wealth, and assisting and taking part in activities of protection and preservation Instantly combating incidents, which will be achieved by:   The immediate actions described in the Local or National Contingency Plan and the use of all available means and equipment  The use of scientifically approved and environmentally friendly methods of cleaning up marine and coastal pollution  Legislation, regulations, and policy instruments The National Legislation on integrated coastal management revolves around the following:    Law 1739/87 for Water Resources Management (art. 12)  Common Ministerial Decision 69728/824/96 (B358) for "measures and limits for solid waste management"  Common Ministerial Decision 114218/97 (B1016) for "Preparation of specification framework and general programmes for solid waste management"  Common Ministerial Decision 113944/97 (B1016) for "National Plan for the management of solid wastes"  Common Ministerial Decision 72751/3054/85 (B665) and Common Ministerial Decision 19396/1546/97 (B604) for "toxic and hazardous waste and elimination of PCDFs and PCTFs" in compliance with EU Directives 78/319, 76/403 and 91/689  Common Ministerial Decision 71560/3053/85 (B665) and Common Ministerial decision 98012/2001/96 (B40) for the "Disposal of used mineral oils" in compliance with EU Directives 75/439 and 87/101  Common Ministerial Decision 73537/1438/95 (B781) for the "Management of batteries and storage cells that contain some dangerous substances"  Law 2203/94 (A/58) for the "Ratification of the Besel Convention for the control of transboundary transport of hazardous waste"  United Nations Protocol for the prevention of the pollution in the Mediterranean Sea from transboundary transport and hazardous waste disposal. Law 420/1970 for Fishing.  European Community (EC) Regulations complement the National legal network.  The National Legislation for marine environmental protection includes:   Law 1739/87 for Water Resources management (art.12)  Law 187/1973: Code of Public Maritime Law  Law 743/1977: Protection of marine environment in Hellas (modified by Laws 1147/81 and 2252/94)  Law 1650/1986: Environmental Protection in Hellas  FIB 221/1965 Public Health Regulation  Prefectures Decisions related to the subject and  Port Regulations  According to the above legislation polluters face Criminal, Administrative and Disciplinary Consequences. Criminal Consequences: Any person found guilty of an oil pollution incident by the competent Criminal Court is punished with imprisonment from 10 days to 5 years. Administrative Consequences: These are fines imposed on polluters by the Port Authorities up to the amount of 2.000.000 drs. The Ministry of Mercantile Marine has the authority to impose a fine up to 150.000.000 drs. In the case of a very serious marine pollution incident. In case of marine pollution caused by land installations a similar fine of up to 100.000.000 drs. can be imposed by the Minister of Environment. Disciplinary Consequences Greek seamen responsible for marine pollution are tried before the Disciplinary Tribunal of Merchant Marine and, if found guilty, punishment varies from temporary suspension to permanent disqualification and discharge. Civil Liability The polluter pays principle is always applied for the restoration of damages caused by pollution. For Water Resources Management there is Law 1739/87 for (art. 12) while responsibilities of Water and Natural Resources Directorate are contained in the Presidential Decree 381, Gov. Gaz. 168 (16.6.89) The codes of practice, standards and the guidelines, established by the Greek Government, are mandatory. Fishing activities in Greece are compatible with integrated environmental management. The Ministry of Aegean prepared the Integrated Operational Plan for the development of the Aegean aiming at the sustainable development of the islands of the Aegean.  Involvement of Major Groups in the decision-making process Environmental NGOs such as the Ecological Society of Recycling, the Network Mediterranean SOS, the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Marine Environment, and others are engaged by the responsible Ministries in the rehabilitation works of coastal areas. Status Greece has a coastline of more than 15,000 km and about 3,000 islands. Sixty percent of the population resides along the coastal areas, seventy percent of Greek industry is located along the coastline, which is also exposed to the ninety percent of the tourist flow.  The coastal areas are currently used mainly for tourism, fishing and some urban development. There are different methods in use to encourage sustainable use and conservation of marine living resources such as: 1. Inventory of the existing marine living resources  2. Monitoring and evaluation of marine living resources  3. Management of the available water resources for conservation of marine living resources (especially of delta areas, lagoons etc.)  4. Establishment of the sea parks of N. Sporades complex of islands and of Zakynthos Island  5. Adoption of special measures for the protection and the sustainable management of RAMSAR designated areas and of coastal sensitive habitats where endangered marine mammals and rare species live, nest, reproduce or pass by.  The main consequences from sea-based activities on the sustainable management of the coastal areas are limited mainly in busy shipping lanes, commercial ports and in regions with substantial shipyard activities such as Piraeus, Elefsis, Chalkida, Patra, Syros etc. The main sources of marine pollution are anthropogenic untreated sewage, industrial effluents and agricultural activities. During recent years the situation has been substantially improved due to the establishment and the operation of urban sewage treatment plants in almost all-coastal cities and of industrial treatment plants. The primary sources of sea based pollution of the marine environment are accidental oil spills and the operational illegal discharges from ships. In Salonica, the Organisation of Thessaloniki is rehabilitating the coastal zone of the city (from the Port to the Kalamaria beach) and doing other related works in the area that will draw people back to it (conversion of dock storehouses in cultural scene, promotion of sea transportation, etc.).  As for the protection of the environment, the Organisation of Thessaloniki is dealing with coast cleaning, pollution issues of the port activities, management of municipal and industrial waste, and waste treatment plant conditions of operation. The Organisation of Thessaloniki is also responsible for the management of the fragile habitats of the Deltas river flowing into the Thermaikos gulf, declared Special Protected Areas.  Lastly the Organisation of Thessaloniki proposed a plan for the creation of an underwater road to deviate the main traffic from the city's centre, adding the appropriate criteria and standards so that the coastal and marine area will not be negatively affected and the sustainability of the city will be improved.  The Marine Environmental Division has already established 11 Regional Stations, aiming to an immediate response to pollution in the most vulnerable areas. These stations are staffed with qualified personnel and well equipped to enable immediate intervention and control of any pollution incident. Furthermore, the surveillance of the countryís sea and coastline is made possible by the Hellenic Coast Guardís crafts, aircrafts and vehicles provided to the Port Authorities. The pilots of the Civil Aircraft and Hellenic Airforce as well as the Hellenic Navy airplanes and helicopter pilots also offer surveillance by air 24 hours a day. Every time pollution is identified and located, the MEPD or the R.C.C.- Piraeus are informed immediately. In these cases also Private businesses and Oil companies make their equipment available. The MEPDís Central Store of Antipollution Equipment is immediately alerted and ready to be sent to the polluted area according to the importance of the incident. The Ministry for the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works, in cooperation with the Local Authorities of the country, has co-funded several projects with the 2nd Community Support Framework, aiming at the rehabilitation of coastal areas by removing waste, bulky objects, dead sea weeds, etc and including mainly the following actions:   Study for coast cleaning organisation  Acquisition of equipment for the waste collection from the coasts (coast equipment, containers, garbage tracks)  Training of personnel to use the machinery  Education/public awareness programmes for the public.  In all of the above the planning is such that the environmental sustainability and the ground structure and coast relief will not be affected. Furthermore, several Local Authorities have been funded for the acquisition of such coast cleaning equipment and several Prefectures have been funded for coast cleaning projects. Under the framework of the European Union's (EU) Environment and Regional Development Programme (ENVIREG), waste-water processing thresholds are being established in a large number of coastal towns. Environmental Impact Assessment studies apply to marine and coastal activities. The Ministry of Merchant Marine controls waste dumping in the sea from ships and aircraft. Inspection of ships is taking place and the phenomena of sea-colour change or incidents of fish deaths are examined. The Ministry also organises educational seminars on a continuous basis for Port Authority personnel, universities, local authorities, army authorities, and the public.  Capacity-building During 1996, 1997 and 1998, the Ministry for the Environment ran awareness-raising campaigns during the summer months in the framework of the Programme for the quality of swimming waters. The campaigns have been run through TV spots, regional announcements for the cleaner coasts (based on the results of the monitoring), as well as through the "Blue Flag" award programme. The Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association, a non-governmental organization, has co-funded with the EU several projects concerning environmental protection (under LIFE and MEDSPA). Under the LIFE project 3 educational videotapes were produced that were distributed for free at schools all over Greece (these videotapes were produced in both Greek and English). Also every summer information material is distributed through the Ministry of Mercantile Marine and the Port Authorities in coastal areas and islands around Greece, in the framework of a continuing public awareness campaign that HELMEPA started in 1983. Universities and other institutions undertake research projects related to oceans and coastal areas. The National Centre of Marine Research, in cooperation with the Institute of Marine Biology of Crete, is participating in the Topic Centre of the European Environment Agency for the marine and coastal environment. Technology A proposal for the EU Council Directive on port reception facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues is at the final discussion stage. The proposal aims at the establishment of EU common requirements to improve the availability and use of port reception facilities. Information Statistics on pollution incidents and penal sanctions since 1980 are available. New software for collecting, evaluating and disseminating available data is under development. A computerised programme has been developed for the creation of environmental maps in a GIS environment, including data for the Hellenic coastline and the depth of the Greek seas. This system is expected to be completed at the same time as the Local Contingency Plans. A new Web site is under development. Users will have free access to the information made available. Financing This sector is mainly financed from the national budget. Additional funds are provided from external assistance (European Union Funds). In 1994, a special account called the Blue Fund was established aiming at offering financial support and the necessary resources for the enforcement of preventing and combating Marine Pollution in Greece. All money derived from fines imposed on polluters consistent with the legislation for marine environment and coastline protection, is collected and allocated to this fund. This allows for the following to be supported:   Craft, aircraft and vehicle purchases, along with their equipment, repair, fuel supplies and operational costs.  The cost of combating incidents of marine pollution and replenishing supplies and equipment  The cost for the examination of specimens and samples in expert laboratories in Greece or abroad  Supplies necessary for the operations of the MEPD and Port Authorities.  Representations and participation in international organisations, councils, and seminars on the subject of marine pollution  The cost for renting buildings, crafts, aircraft and vehicles necessary to cover the emergency needs of the MEPD  The cost of extra personnel used in emergency cases  Informing the public through booklets, TV spots or exhibitions.  Cooperation Regional and international cooperation is conducted within the framework of International instruments to which Greece is party. This includes:   the United Nations Organisation  the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)  the South-east European Cooperative Initiative  UNESCO (International Hydrological Programme)  ECE (Economic Commission for Europe)  International cooperative scientific programmes: Through the MEPD (Marine Environmental Protection Division) Greece also participates in the works of:   The International Maritime Organisation and in particular the Environmental Protection Committee  The Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea  The European Union Bodies and also the works, researches and suggestions of all Organisations which are concerned with such activities (UNEP, MAP, etc)  Bilateral Committees of Transboundary Waters  the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution and its emergency protocol as the competent REMPECís (Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea) focal point  Other International Conventions ratified by Greece which relate to oceans and coastal areas include:    CLC/1969: International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (Law 314/76 - Gov. Gaz. 106A)& its Protocols of 1976 & 1992 (adopted with Presidential Degrees 36/89 - Gov. Gaz. 36A & 197/95 - Gov. Gaz. 151A) FUND/1971: International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation of Oil Pollution Damage (Law 1638/86 - Gov. Gaz. 108A) and its Protocols of 1976 & 1992 (adopted with Presidential Degrees 270/95 - Gov. Gaz. 151A)  MARPOL/1973/78: International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships(Law 1269/82 - Gov. Gaz. 89A)  BARCELONA/1972: International Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution (Law 855/76 - Gov. Gaz. 235 A) Ratification of 1980 Protocol "For the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against pollution from land-based sources" and of 1982 concerning "Mediterranean specially protected areas" (Law 1634/86 - Gov. Gaz. 104A)  LONDON/1990: International Convention on the Dumping of wastes and other matters (Law 1147/81 - Gov. Gaz. 110A, as amended with Presidential Degree 68/95 - Gov. Gaz. 48A)  OPRC 1990: International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation Cooperation agreement between the Greek republic and the Italian Republic/1979 "for the protection of the Ionic Sea marine environment and its coastal zones (Law 1267/82 - Gov. Gaz. 85A)  European Union Regulations and Directives related to marine environmental policy ECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes  Besel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal  Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control.  Other Links Mediterranean Action Plan   Other Data