Trawler fishing has been recorded in the Ambracian Gulf Wetlands National Park, despite being banned since 1966, according to an iSea report published by News 247. The activity was documented through drone flights, field surveys and information from the local fishing community.
The Ambracian Gulf, in western Greece, is one of the largest and most important wetlands in the Balkans.
In 2025, 223 drone flights detected a total of 23 fishing vessels. Nine were trawlers, seven were engaged in legal fishing, while the activities of the remaining seven could not be identified.
Trawlers drag large nets along the seabed, ploughing the seafloor and causing extensive, irreversible damage.
Most cases of illegal activity were recorded in October. On the night of October 13–14, two commercial and two recreational fishing vessels were identified as trawlers in the Koronisia area. Two more commercial vessels were recorded on the night of October 20–21.
Illegal fishing has serious consequences for the ecosystem and the protected species that live there. It also affects the economy by reducing fish stocks available to legal fisheries.
“Current patrols are not sufficient to address the problem,” Ioannis Giovos, who led the research, told News 247.
Source:News 247
