The People behind AMORGORAMA

The fishing community and the Local Professional Fishermen’s Association
The starting point

The Professional Fishermen’s Association of Amorgos, consisting of approximately 40 fishermen from the island and 23 vessels ranging from 5 to 20 meters in length, is the foundational force behind AMORGORAMA. The island’s professional fishers were the first to recognize the need for change, to formulate a comprehensive plan, and to move forward with its implementation in practice.

With a strong sense of collectivity, persistence, and deep knowledge of the marine environment—and with the key contribution of individuals such as Michalis Krosman and Florian Reiche in shaping and publicly promoting the vision—they took the risk of testing new practices and advocating for a different model of marine resource management.

Cyclades Preservation Fund (CPF)
The catalyst

The Cyclades Preservation Fund (CPF) has played a pivotal role in the initiative’s trajectory. CPF was the first organization to recognize in practice the potential of the fishers’ vision and to provide initial support at a time when the initiative had not yet acquired its current institutional and operational structure.

From that point onward, CPF contributed decisively to shaping the strategic direction of the initiative, securing resources, activating partnerships, strengthening AMORGORAMA’s public presence, and steadily supporting its course up to the institutionalization of the Fisheries Restricted Areas (FRAs) through a Presidential Decree.

To this day, it continues to play a crucial role in coordination, communication, and problem-solving, acting as a connecting link among stakeholders and supporting the next phase of implementation and monitoring, with an emphasis on communication and participatory governance.

Blue Marine Foundation (BMF)
International support

The contribution of the Blue Marine Foundation (BMF) has also been decisive. Invited by CPF, BMF supported the initiative with significant funding, expertise, and international experience in marine conservation. Its involvement strengthened AMORGORAMA’s operational and strategic capacity and helped connect it to a broader international dialogue on marine protected areas and sustainable fisheries.

Following the institutionalization of the FRAs in Amorgos, BMF has taken on an important role in coordinating actions related to monitoring human activities within these areas, aiming to support the efforts of the competent Coast Guard authorities in surveillance, as well as maintaining close collaboration with the Association for voluntary clean-up activities.

Agricultural University of Athens
The scientific foundation

The scientific documentation of the initiative was supported by the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), which played a central role in developing the fisheries study for Amorgos. The contribution of the scientific team was crucial in identifying critical habitats, substantiating the proposed areas, and shaping recommendations for a broader framework of sustainable coastal fisheries management.

Following the institutionalization of the FRAs, the Managing Authority of the Programme “Fisheries, Aquaculture and the Sea” of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food launched and assigned the project AMORGORAMA – “Scientific Monitoring and Management of Fisheries Restricted Areas of Amorgos” to AUA, in collaboration with the General Directorate of Fisheries.

The project, which began in November 2025 and will run until the end of 2029, will address through a series of actions:

• (a) biological and ecological parameters (fish stocks, population dynamics, reproduction, critical habitats, interactions with mammals and reptiles, invasive species),
• (b) socio-economic dimensions (impacts on fishing communities),
• (c) technological tools (VMS/ERS on vessels), and
• (d) dissemination and use of results at local, national, and European levels.

Central administration

Ministry of Rural Development and Food (MRDF)

The General Directorate of Fisheries of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food worked closely with the AMORGORAMA initiative team and, as the competent authority, put forward the proposal for the institutionalization of the Fisheries Restricted Areas around Amorgos.

Since November 2025, it has been collaborating with AUA on the project “Scientific Monitoring and Management of Fisheries Restricted Areas of Amorgos,” co-funded by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund.

Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy (MMIP)

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy is a key competent authority for the implementation of the fisheries regulations set out in the Presidential Decree for the Fisheries Restricted Areas in Amorgos.

Under the General Secretariat for Ports, Port Policy and Maritime Investments falls the Hellenic Coast Guard Headquarters, and specifically the Directorate for Fisheries Control, which supervises, coordinates, and monitors the work of Port Authorities regarding the enforcement of fisheries legislation and the protection of fishery resources.

Following the publication of the Presidential Decree for Amorgos, the AMORGORAMA initiative team works closely with the competent General Secretariat, while the Port Authority of Katapola has been reinforced with an all-weather high-speed vessel, aimed at effectively supporting surveillance, monitoring fishing activities around Amorgos, and ensuring the proper implementation of all new FRA regulations.