More than 1,700 octopuses have been released back into Greek waters following an extensive environmental operation that removed thousands of illegal fishing traps from the seabed, highlighting growing concerns about overfishing and plastic pollution in the northern Aegean Sea.
According to figures circulated by the marine conservation organization Sea Shepherd Global, its 2026 Greek Octopus Campaign resulted in the recovery of 14,184 illegal traps and more than 130 kilometers of rope, while 1,717 live octopuses were returned to the sea.
The initiative involved two Sea Shepherd vessels, Sea Eagle and Conrad, working with Greek authorities and marine scientists to identify and retrieve illegal fishing equipment, particularly in the Thracian Sea. Crews systematically inspected recovered traps, releasing captured octopuses and other marine animals before removing the equipment for disposal.
Thousands of illegal traps threaten marine ecosystems
The operation focused on plastic containers and other devices placed on the seabed to attract octopuses seeking shelter. While this fishing method is permitted under certain conditions, Greek regulations prohibit its use during July, August and September, when octopuses reproduce.
According to Sea Shepherd, many recovered traps were either illegally deployed during the closed season or abandoned underwater, where they continued to capture marine animals and contribute to plastic pollution.
The organization has worked alongside the Hellenic Coast Guard, regional fisheries authorities and the Panhellenic Association of Public Ichthyologists, collecting evidence intended to support stronger enforcement and improved fishing regulations.
In 2025, Sea Shepherd reported recovering 34,546 illegal traps and releasing 1,584 octopuses. The organization also removed approximately 288 kilometers of rope, demonstrating the scale of discarded fishing equipment in northern Greek waters.
Conservationists call for stronger protection of octopus populations
Sea Shepherd Greece has repeatedly called for tighter restrictions on plastic traps, arguing that existing regulations are difficult to enforce and insufficient to protect breeding populations.
Μarine biologist Dimitris Tsianis, president of the Panhellenic Association of Public Ichthyologists, explained that fishermen are generally permitted to deploy up to 1,500 properly marked plastic traps per vessel outside the closed season. However, widespread use of unmarked equipment makes effective monitoring difficult.
The organization has estimated that hundreds of thousands of plastic traps may remain in the Thracian Sea.
The Turing Foundation, which supports Sea Shepherd’s conservation activities, has committed €100,000 to the Greek project for 2025–2026, including €50,000 during 2026. The foundation says similar operations in Italy have contributed to a substantial reduction in illegal trapping.
Conservationists emphasize that protecting octopuses is not only an animal welfare issue but also a matter of sustainable fisheries management. Octopuses are economically important to Greek coastal communities and form part of the Mediterranean marine ecosystem.
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