Position Paper: Greece UNEP

Country: Greece

Committee: United Nations Environment Programme

Delegate: Gracelycia Angeline Serat

Topic: Actualizing Environmental Conscious Fishing Practices

"Marine scientists predict that by 2050, there will be no more large fish left in the ocean if we don’t change our relationship with the sea.” 

- Greg MacGillivray

 Overfishing (sometimes referred to as ‘overexploitation’) refers to the fishing practice that catches an abundance of marine species exceeding the growth of the fish population. As of 2018, 27.45 million tons of wild fish are caught by bottom trawling, and many more from IUU fishermen worldwide1. Causing significant harm, especially in global food security, the economic disparity between industrial and small-scale fisheries, and environmental damage.

As a coastal nation, Greece understands the severity of this topic from experiencing the causes and effects of unsustainable fishing practices. Furthermore, Greece recognizes the importance of sustainable fishing in preserving marine biodiversity, ensuring food security, and supporting economic growth. In recognition of this issue, measures have been taken to limit IUU fishing practices and support replenishing marine damages by unsustainable fishing. Including the creation of the Exclusive Economic Zones(EEZs) granted by the United Nations Convention of Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) giving coastal nations the right over natural resources for up to 200 nautical miles to a nation's shore. In Greece, this is accompanied by the establishment of the Four Fisheries Restricted Areas (FRAs) supporting the Greek Prime Minister's directive to protect 30 percent of Greek seas and allocate 10 percent no-takes zones2 Combined this creates sustainable fisheries management ensuring destructive practices do not deplete fish stocks, and marine conservation sustaining ecosystem health and future fisheries. In addition to UNCLOS and the establishment of FRAs, as a member of the European Union, Greece is bound by the EU’s approval of the Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA)3, becoming a party of the first legally binding international treaty to combat IUU fishing aiming to solve the global issue of maritime resource exploitation discouraging unsustainable fishing practices. Additionally, Greece's actions have shown commitment and alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 14, which aimed to harvest regulations, decrease IUU fishing, and provide sources for small-scale fisheries. One was being among the first countries to endorse a framework law on environmental protection (Law 1650/1986) immersing environmental protection principles into its constitution, supporting Greece's efforts to safeguard its marine biodiversity4. Moreover, Greece has given updates to the United Nations on Greece's progress in implementing national commitment related to the SDGs promoting sustainable development5. 

Greece believes that important subtopics that must be addressed are the concerns surrounding IUU fishing and resources to support small-scale fisheries. To address this problem, the delegation of Greece encourages the creation of a UNEP-backed digital platform to Guide, Educate, and Monitor (GEM) fishermen in adopting sustainable fishing practices. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between policy and practice by providing accessible, real-time guidance on sustainable fishing methods. This platform aims to achieve the goal of assisting small-scale fisheries allowing access and promotion to sustainable fishing methods while monitoring fishing vessel activities from IUU fishing. With the following mechanisms, including: 

GUIDE: Encourage collaboration between Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) in developing an Artificial Intelligence (AI) that allows fishermen to utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) providing recommendations based on fishing vessels surrounding areas. This would help fishermen achieve efficient fishing while avoiding protected marine areas from being fished. Moreover, this would allow effective fishing and allow time for certain marine species and areas to replenish after a certain period minimizing damages to marine ecosystems from overfishing. 

EDUCATE: Promoting collaborations with government and NGOs to assist in the enhancement of community-based learning in the coastal communities. Community-based learning is important, especially in the topic of actualizing sustainable fishing methods and the long-term consequences of unsustainable fishing practices. With the support of digitalization, this platform would allow international collaboration between the coastal community, providing easy access to informal education and support. Another aspect of education is the training of fishermen to be familiar with the utilization of AI in providing recommendations. Familiarization can be achieved with the support of NGO volunteers with similar interests to provide training sessions in the coastal communities. The encouragement and enhancement of community-based learning from the platform would ensure the sustainability of the platform, where experienced fishermen would assist in educating newer fishermen about the platform, allowing future fishermen to utilize the platform. 

MONITOR: Implement a monitoring system into the platform that would not only ensure compliance with existing policies but also enable consistent updates that would be beneficial to the AI system in continuation of marine conservation efforts. In addressing data privacy concerns related to the GEM platform, collaboration with the International Telecommunication UNION (ITU) is crucial in implementing data encryption protocols, anonymization techniques, and strengthening cybersecurity measures in the platform. 

This initiative aligns with Greece’s national priorities and the Global Goals (SDGs). Introducing practical knowledge and tools for fishermen, which encourage the preservation of marine resources for future generations while supporting global economic stability in coastal communities.

Works Cited:

1. Our World in Data. Fish and overfishing [Internet]. [cited 2025 Feb 20]. Available from: https://ourworldindata.org/fish-and-overfishing 

 2. Blue Marine Foundation. Greek government endorses soon-to-be-designated Fisheries Restricted Areas [Internet]. 2024 Apr 16 [cited 2025 Feb 20]. Available from: https://www.bluemarinefoundation.com/2024/04/16/greek-government endorses-soon-to-be-designated-fisheries-restricted-areas 

3. Agreement on Port State Measures. Treaties database [Internet]. [cited 2025 Feb 20]. Available from: https://www.informea.org/en/treaties/agreement-port-state-measures 

4. European Environment Agency. Greece country profile: SDGs and the environment [Internet]. [cited 2025 Feb 20]. Available from: https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/sustainability-transitions/sustainable development-goals-and-the/country-profiles/greece-country-profile-sdgs-and?utm 

5. Hellenic Aid – Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Greece presents an update on progress in the implementation of national commitments to SDGs at the UN [Internet]. [cited 2025 Feb 20]. Available from: https://hellenicaid.mfa.gr/en/greece-presents-an update-on-progress-in-the-implementation-of-national-commitments-to-sdgs-at-the un