Evidence of Illegal Turkish Fishing in the Dodecanese to Be Submitted to the European Commission – Coast Guard Reinforced
New developments regarding illegal fishing activities by Turkish fishing vessels in the Greek territorial waters of the Dodecanese have emerged following a written response from Greece’s Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Vasilis Kikilias, to a parliamentary inquiry submitted by New Democracy Dodecanese MP Manos Konsolas.
According to the press release, Coast Guard authorities in the Aegean have been instructed to prepare surveillance reports and collect photographic and video evidence documenting incidents of illegal fishing by Turkish vessels. This material will be forwarded to the European Commission, as well as to Greece’s Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Rural Development, for further action under the relevant European procedures.
Mr. Konsolas noted that he has repeatedly called for the activation of EU Regulation 1005/2008, which allows the European Union to impose restrictive measures, including trade sanctions on fisheries products, when illegal fishing is documented. The collected reports will include sufficient vessel identification details to support any future request for activating the regulation.
The Minister’s response also confirms that the operational capacity of the Hellenic Coast Guard in the Dodecanese is being strengthened. Graduates of Coast Guard training academies have already been assigned to local services, while additional personnel will be temporarily transferred from other Coast Guard authorities to reinforce surveillance and maritime security in the region.
