Record mission against illegal fishing: over 12 thousand octopal traps in Greece removed (in just one month)

In just one month, a ship and its crew by Sea Shepard removed over 12,000 illegal traps for octopus from the Mediterranean Sea, restoring hope to an increasingly threatened marine ecosystem. These devices, composed of plastic and metal, not only kill thousands of animals, but pollute the seabed and put the natural balance at risk.

The Sea Shepherd organization has been on the front line for years against illegal fishing for years. In 2022, off Tuscany, his operations led to the removal of 7,672 traps, freeing hundreds of octopus intended for a certain death. The result was evident: a significant drop in poachers’ activities, discouraged by the constant presence of patrols at sea.

After a reconnaissance mission in Greece in 2024, which in just 17 days allowed to recover 6,500 traps, Sea Shepherd returned this summer with the Sea Eagle ship. The operation, launched on July 4, 2025, was carried out in collaboration with the local authorities, including the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Tracia, the Fishing Department of Xanthi and the Hellenic Association of Hittologists, with the support of the Greek Coast Guard.

Because octopus are fundamental

The octopus are a key piece of the Marina food chain. As predators, they regulate the populations of crabs, molluscs and other invertebrates, avoiding the above grazing of prairies of Posidonia and habitat of algae. As prey, they provide nourishment to dolphins, sharks and large fish, supporting the entire ecosystem. Their disappearance can trigger the collapse of entire marine communities.

Record numbers and even greater goals

In the first four days of the campaign, the crew recovered 4,650 illegal traps, a number that exceeds all forecasts. The Greek law prohibits fishing with octopus traps from July to September, therefore each seized device represents a direct violation of the regulations and, above all, a life saved.

The goal of the mission is to remove tens of thousands of traps within 75 days, until a recovery of the populations of octopus similar to the one recorded in Italy is obtained. For Sea Shepherd, the strategy is clear: equipped ships, expert crews and determination in contrasting those who devastate the sea.

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