Greenpeace launched the program, “A Box of Sea,” which brings fishermen and citizens together to deal with overfishing in the hope of protecting the marine environment. The program aims to reward fishermen using low-impact, non-intrusive fishing methods and support small communities, while the public at large will be informed about fish and seafood that arrives on their plate.
The summer project lets the public participate in the creation of better fishing methods through Greenpeace’s website. The activities begin with fishermen from Lesvos and Leros. Within 24 hours, “A Box of Sea” can be filled with produce from the nets of these fishermen.
Fishermen who use environmentally safe methods of fishing have substantial incentive to protect the sea. They are 95 percent of the fishing fleet of Greece with around 14,000 ships, however, they only keep a small portion of profits from the overall production. These fishermen find it hard to access the market as only 16.6 percent of consumers buy fish from coastal fishermen who use milder, ecological fishing methods.
The campaign hopes to protect and regenerate marine life while rejuvenating small fishing communities. “As a society, we need to give the necessary incentives to the fishermen who use low-impact methods so that they can continue their work with respect to the environment,” says Elk Barista, who heads the campaign.
The public at large who love the sea can get more program information on the Greenpeace website and meet with the fishermen to help the alliance of low-impact fishing communities.
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