Ionian, Aegean marine parks plan pushed to mid-2025

The establishment of two national marine parks in the Ionian and Aegean seas has been pushed back to mid-2025, according to Greece's Environment Ministry. The ministry's announcement coincides with new oil and gas exploration concessions, including a large area granted to Chevron, which has sparked concerns about the compatibility of environmental protection and hydrocarbon extraction.

The Ionian marine park, which is now set to be 50% larger than initially planned, will span 17,000 to 18,000 square kilometers. This expanded area will include regions that were previously designated for oil exploration.

The ministry has stated that some of these exploration zones will now be incorporated into the protected park, following an agreement with Helleniq Energy. This move is a direct outcome of a 2020 contract which stipulates that unused areas must return to public...