Greece Partners with Google to Monitor Aegean Seas via Satellite

Athens has launched a pioneering collaboration with Global Fishing Watch (GFW), a Google-affiliated organization specializing in satellite-based ocean monitoring, to enhance surveillance of Greece’s marine territories.

Signed in November 2024, a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Greek Ministries of Environment, Rural Development, and Maritime Affairs and GFW aims to protect national marine parks, combat illegal fishing, and address environmental violations. The initiative may eventually extend to monitoring Greece’s territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).

Focus on Marine Parks and Illegal Fishing

The partnership prioritizes Greece’s two newly established marine parks in the Ionian Sea and the southern Cyclades, with plans to designate 35% of Greek waters as protected by 2026, surpassing the 30% target set at the 2024 United Nations Ocean Conference. By leveraging GFW’s satellite technology alongside the Greek Coast Guard’s Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), Athens seeks to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and curb illegal fishing practices. Unlike the VMS, which relies on portable devices and struggles to detect certain violations, GFW’s satellite network offers real-time, comprehensive data, significantly reducing opportunities for illegal activities, such as vessels disabling tracking devices to fish in restricted zones.

Strengthening Surveillance Capabilities

The collaboration enhances Greece’s maritime oversight by integrating GFW’s satellite data with the expertise of the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (OFYPEKA), which provides specialized personnel, vessels, and access to EU funding. However, sources emphasize that effective monitoring requires further investment in Coast Guard personnel and equipment to ensure robust enforcement.

Data from the Coast Guard’s VMS, including vessel registries and tracking signals, will be shared with GFW, which will provide Greek authorities access to its satellite platform for real-time analysis. Only certified users will access GFW’s secure system, ensuring data integrity.

Origins and Challenges

The initiative stems from discussions initiated during the 2023 Our Ocean Conference, co-hosted by Greece and the U.S., where Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with John Kerry, then U.S. Special Envoy for Climate. Mitsotakis’ commitment to marine conservation drove the partnership, aligning with Greece’s goal to establish a reliable framework for protecting its marine parks.

Despite the agreement’s signing, bureaucratic delays—partly due to resistance from the Ministry of Rural Development—have postponed the issuance of the necessary government decree (FEK). Critics within the ministry reportedly opposed enhanced monitoring to avoid stricter oversight of fishing practices. However, sources indicate the decree is expected soon, with targeted compensation promised to trawler owners affected by fishing bans in protected areas.

Broader Implications for Security and Migration

Beyond environmental protection, the satellite system could bolster Greece’s sovereignty and national security. Turkish fishing vessels, often escorted by their coast guard, frequently encroach into Greek waters, casting nets within the six-nautical-mile limit before retreating to international waters. GFW’s technology will enable detailed tracking of such activities, providing Greek authorities with evidence to deter violations and de-escalate tensions.

The system also promises to enhance monitoring of migratory flows, particularly from Turkey and southern routes, equipping the Coast Guard with critical data to manage potential increases in irregular migration.

This partnership marks a significant step in modernizing Greece’s maritime oversight, aligning environmental commitments with national security priorities.

(Source: To Vima)