The Greek Ministry of the Environment unanimously canceled the proposed 28-fold expansion of fish farming on Poros, which would have occupied 25% of the island’s coastline and generated as much waste as a town of 35,000 people — on an island with only 3,500 year-round residents.
Key reasons behind the rejection included incompatibility with Greece’s marine spatial plan, strong public opposition, independent analyses commissioned by Rauch that exposed serious flaws in the EIAs, illegal land use by fish farms, and Poros’s recent designation as a sustainability prototype island.
This outcome is not only a victory for Poros, but also for every coastal community in Greece striving for fairer, more participatory planning. It highlights the power of rigorous research, coalition-building, and grassroots resistance.
