An important milestone for the project and for the future management of the Gyaros area is being accomplished, since in December the official invitations have been forwarded to all stakeholders and bodies that will participate in the Consortium of Stakeholders. The Consortium of Stakeholders of Gyaros, an informal advisory body that will operate as part of the CYCLADES LIFE project, aims to build an open and constructive consultation on the conservation measures and actions and on the future management of Gyaros island and the surrounding marine area. The goal of the Consortium is to actively involve all key stakeholders in the process of designing the new Marine Protected Area (MPA) around Gyaros and to develop commonly agreed proposals for its official designation as an MPA by the responsible State authorities. The Consortium will consist of representatives of the following stakeholders:
1) Ministry of Environment
2) Ministry of Agriculture
3) Ministry of Maritime and Island Policy (Hellenic Coast Guard)
4) Ministry of Culture
5) Decentralised Administrative Authority of Aegean
6) Regional Government of South Aegean
7) Municipality of Syros
8) Municipality of Andros
9) Development Corporation of Local Authorities of Cyclades
10) Professional fishermen of Syros
11) Professional fishermen of Andros
12) Cyclades Chamber of Commerce
13) Hellenic Centre of Marine Research/Natural History Museum of Crete
14) MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal
15) WWF Greece
The first working meeting of the Consortium of Stakeholders is planned to take place in the coming weeks, in which the rules of procedures and the Consortium’s main priorities will be co-decided.