In Methana, an abandoned fish-farm that had turned into a “floating scrapyard” was completely removed thanks to the collaboration between the environmental organization Healthy Seas and the Athanasios C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation. Dozens of plastic cages, nets, pipes, buoys, and two sunken boats had trapped local biodiversity and degraded the marine environment.
The operation resulted in the removal of 40 tons of waste, filling 12 industrial containers, while part of the recovered materials will be recycled or repurposed. With operational support from the Foundation’s vessel Typhoon, the mission showcased what can be achieved when international expertise and local action come together.
The Methana intervention is part of the Foundation’s Saronikos Project, an initiative aimed at identifying pollution sources and systematically restoring the marine environment of the Saronic Gulf.
As both organizations emphasized, abandoned fish farms are an unseen yet highly damaging threat to our seas. The success in Methana marks the beginning of a new collaboration and a strong reminder that protecting the marine environment requires consistency, partnerships, and large-scale action.
