The Municipal Council of the Municipality of Poros unanimously decided to partially accept the Strategic Environmental Impact Study (SEIS) of the new Special Spatial Framework for Tourism, while simultaneously expressing explicit and categorical opposition to the section concerning the development of aquaculture.
The decision was made within the consultation process currently underway at the level of the Attica Region for the new spatial framework for tourism. The Municipal Council emphasized that, according to the SEIS, Poros is classified as a Developed Area for the implementation of tourism policy, a fact that strengthens the argument against the siting of new aquaculture unitsa position that has long been advocated by the local community and is connected to the municipalitys longstanding opposition to the establishment of new or organized aquaculture units in the area.
Particular emphasis was placed on the municipalitys position that tourism development cannot coexist with organized aquaculture zones (POAY), with the Municipal Council requesting that the relevant provision in the spatial framework should go beyond mere avoidance and instead lead to a prohibition on the installation of new units in tourism-developed areas, such as Poros.
At the same time, the Municipal Council expressed opposition to provisions that allow, under certain conditions, the development or expansion of aquaculture in areas of high environmental protection, including Natura 2000 sites, noting that organized aquaculture burdens the natural environment and undermines tourism activity.
Otherwise, the Municipal Council acknowledged that the SEIS moves in the right direction regarding the need to strengthen infrastructure, manage natural resources, and enable the development of specialized forms of tourism, such as marine tourism, provided that appropriate environmental protection measures are implemented.
The decision was unanimously adopted by all members of the Municipal Council and will be forwarded to the Attica Region to be considered in the relevant opinion on the Special Spatial Framework for Tourism.
