A presidential decree permanently ensures the protection of Gyaros

After eight (8) full years, on April 16, 2026, the long-awaited Presidential Decree (PD) for the Gyaros Marine Protected Area (MPA) was signed.

WWF Greece welcomes this move by the Ministry of Environment and Energy , which had been pending since 2018 and now ensures a permanent legal framework for the protection of this unique area and the biodiversity it hosts. The signing of the Presidential Decree is a decisive milestone and a new chapter in the already rich history of Gyaros.

The Presidential Decree now officially establishes the previously provisionally designated protection zones, as well as specific management rules. A now permanent framework that can ensure the island’s natural wealth is preserved over time, while simultaneously supporting the local communities of the Northern Cyclades.

Since 2013, WWF Greece, in collaboration with various organizations, has led a multifaceted program to protect the terrestrial and marine biodiversity of Gyaros, beginning with the documentation of the region’s natural wealth and continuing with the implementation of innovative management practices, scientific research, and participatory governance.

Over the course of these thirteen (13) years of dedicated and intensive work, a number of significant achievements have been recorded, such as the restoration of terrestrial and marine habitats, the increase in fish stocks, as well as the conservation of populations of certain rare and endangered species found in Gyaros (e.g., the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus and the Yelkouan shearwater Puffinus yelkouan). With the Presidential Decree, the relevant state authorities are now called upon to continue and intensify the effective management of the Gyaros Special Protection Area (SPA) to ensure the long-term conservation of the region’s unique natural environment by involving local communities in its governance.

Gyaros serves as a practical example of the application of effective practices and tools that can pave the way for the proper management of the country’s other Marine Protected Areas, as well as the two new marine parks in the southern Cyclades and the Ionian Sea.

The issuance of the Presidential Decree does not mark the end of an important journey. On the contrary, it marks the starting point for the next phase of the Gyaros Marine Protected Area, where effective nature conservation coexists with sustainable development, research, education, and the active participation of the local community. At the same time, we hope that this marks the beginning of the issuance of the Presidential Decrees that have been pending for many years regarding the country’s other protected areas.