A cooperation agreement for the cleaning of the seabed and the coasts of selected overcrowded areas in the Municipality of Central Corfu and the Diapontia Islands was signed yesterday between the mayor Meropi Ydraiou, the Corfu Port Authority, and Aegean Rebreath.

In the context of this collaboration, the Municipality of Central Corfu and the Diapontia Islands, the Corfu Port Authority, and Aegean Rebreath will implement a holistic program of awareness and training for the protection of the marine environment and achieve comprehensive maritime management of marine litter aiming at their recycling and reuse.

More specifically, efforts will focus on the following areas :

  • The implementation of the seabed and coast cleaning actions in selected overburdened areas of the municipality.

  • The collection and storage of marine litter, which will then go to reuse or recycling.

  • To raise awareness of issues related to the protection of the marine environment.

  • The implementation of research activities.

  • The training and education of professionals in fishing.

  • To raise the awareness of the local community in the field of marine litter management.

  • The development, strengthening, and exchange of best practices and know-how.

In addition to the above, support is also provided for the creation of an outdoor collection station for marine and coastal waste, which will additionally assist in the implementation of this integrated marine decontamination program, based entirely on the principles of the circular economy. This will also offer the possibility of drawing conclusions about the sources of the burden on the marine environment of the municipality.

In the relevant signing of the agreement along with the mayor Meropi Ydraiou, the Corfu Port Authority was represented by the managing director Spyros Zervopoulos. Also present was the deputy mayor of European Programs, and Development Panagiota Tzanne and the scientific associate of the municipality Victor Dimoulis, since this action is part of the participation of the Municipality of Central Corfu and the Diapontia Islands in the program 100 Intelligent European Cities, where the municipality participates with the theme “Waste Management and Circular Economy”.