Underwater reforesting initiative in Gyaros

"For years, we've been witnessing the decline, but it has reached alarming levels over the past decade. Climate change and the proliferation of invasive species are exacerbating the situation. I fear what all this means for the Greek seas, especially for a country that invests a quarter of its GDP in marine-related services and activities," says Maria Salomidi, a researcher at the Institute of Oceanography at the Hellenic Center for Marine Research (HCMR).

An experienced diver, Salomidi has participated in numerous research programs, witnessing firsthand the changes occurring beneath the waves. She - along with many other scientists - contends that the situation in Greece's waters is far worse than commonly believed. Recent studies confirm what coastal residents and divers have empirically observed: the gradual degradation of crucial marine ecosystems.

To address this...