A dead sea turtle was discovered in the area of Chara in Nea Krini by cleaning crews of the Municipality of Kalamaria, as announced by the Municipality. All the prescribed procedures were immediately followed, in accordance with the legislation.
The competent registration company of the “Archelon” Rescue Network (Association for the Protection of the Sea Turtle) was informed, while the collection of the sea turtle, which weighed more than 70 kilos, was carried out by the specialized company with which SYPPAZATH collaborates.
This is the second similar incident to occur in Kalamaria in less than two months, which is a matter of great concern.
In a statement, the Mayor of Kalamaria, Chrysa Arapoglou, emphasizes:
“The new incident with the dead sea turtle on our coasts cannot be treated as an isolated incident. It is the second in a few weeks and should raise an alarm to the competent authorities. It is necessary to immediately examine whether there is a problem of overpopulation or other environmental factors that negatively affect marine life in the Thermaikos.
Furthermore, we cannot fail to mention the shortcomings of the new legislative framework of 2023, which transfers the responsibility for the collection of marine animals to the Municipalities, without providing the necessary tools, instructions or funding to carry out the process safely and scientifically. Municipalities do not have the appropriate personnel or the expertise to manage such critical environmental issues.
The issues concerning marine life and the marine environment are extremely serious and cannot be addressed by simply shifting responsibilities to non-competent bodies. Cooperation, a plan and, above all, political will are needed to protect our seas.
The Municipality of Kalamaria will continue to record and highlight such incidents, asking the State to immediately review the framework for dealing with similar incidents and to substantially strengthen the Municipalities in issues related to the protection of the natural environment.
The sea is the breath of Kalamaria and the entire Thessaloniki. The Thermaikos is a living organism that connects us with nature, culture and quality of life. Its protection is an obligation of all of us – state, institutions and citizens – today more than ever.
