Meganisi’s municipal council has unanimously rejected a private company’s request to install and commercially operate floating moorings in four bays around the Ionian island, citing environmental, social and economic concerns.
The proposal covers the coastal areas of Atherinos, Ampelaki, Limni and Elias/Petalou.
Mayor Gerasimos Katopodis told the council that the company had advanced its plans without first informing or consulting the municipal authority or local community. He also criticised the procedure, saying the Port Authority had asked the municipality to express an opinion on the request rather than seek a substantiated recommendation or formal council decision.
The council argued that the proposed moorings could alter the natural landscape and turn the bays into commercial anchorages, reducing the available sea space for independent fishers and visitors. It also raised concerns about navigational safety in enclosed bays and the potential impact of increased boat concentrations on the marine environment.
The council highlighted the inclusion of Meganisi’s marine and coastal areas in the Natura 2000 network, warning that the project could threaten sensitive ecosystems, including Posidonia seagrass meadows and local biodiversity.
The municipality called for an immediate halt to any licensing process that could lead to the privatisation or degradation of the island’s coastline and waters. It authorised the mayor to forward the decision to the relevant ministries and authorities and urged local associations and organisations to state their positions.
The council also warned that it would take legal action if authorities proceeded with licensing or implemented the project despite its opposition.
(Source: AMNA)
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