By Presidential Decrees of 15 August, published today in the Turkish Official Gazette, Türkiye declared two “national marine parks” in the North Eastern Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, which extend beyond Turkish territorial waters.
To the extent that the parks in question cover high seas areas, their establishment is illegal, as no State is entitled, according to the Law of the Sea, to unilaterally establish marine protected areas in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Furthermore, the marine parks in question are also illegal insofar as they extend within the Greek continental shelf. This is, therefore, an action that creates no legal effect whatsoever, either in respect of the high seas or in respect of Greece’s rights over its continental shelf.
The unilateral establishment by Türkiye of “national” marine parks also in areas beyond its jurisdiction cannot create faits accomplis or affect in any way rights deriving from International Law.
In this regard, it is recalled that our country took the initiative to establish National Marine Parks in the Ionian Sea and in the Aegean Sea, in full compliance with the Law of the Sea and exclusively within Greek territorial waters.
Actions that attempt to create faits accomplis or to unilaterally affect the status of maritime zones in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean violate International Law, do not contribute to the consolidation of good-neighbourly relations and seriously undermine efforts to maintain relations of mutual understanding between the two countries.
Greece will continue to act consistently and decisively to protect its sovereign rights, safeguard the freedoms of the high seas as provided in the Law of the Sea, as well as to protect the marine environment in accordance with International Law.
August 16, 2026