ARIES funded project

​ Beaver Trust.

ARIES Project

From the Ground Up: Comparing Community-Led and Government-Driven Marine Protection in Greece

Ecology and Biodiversity

From the Ground Up: Comparing Community-Led and Government-Driven Marine Protection in Greece    


Scientific background:

In a milestone achievement for marine conservation in Greece, coralligenous habitats surrounding the Fourni Island Complex, Eastern Aegean Sea, were officially designated as a protected natural formation in July 2025. This designation follows efforts by the Municipality of Fourni, the local fishing community and Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation to map black coral habitats in the region, driven by concerns over destructive trawl-fishing practices that threaten the habitats and their associated ecosystem services. The designation recognizes the 430 km² Marine Protected Area as a no-trawl zone.

Simultaneously, Greece has announced the establishment of two new large marine parks that will meet the countries commitment to the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, specifically to protect 30% of its marine area by 2030. This turning point in marine governance in Greece presents a timely opportunity to evaluate two interventions that differ in approach (community-driven vs. top-down) and scale.  

Research methodology:

The project will aim to explore the effectiveness no-trawl zone implementation through a Theory of Change Approach. The project will cross-disciplinary methods to examine evidence of the zones effectiveness, with the objective of understanding;

  • whether designation leads to reduction in destructive fishing practices (e.g. through difference in differences evaluation using Open Access Vessel Monitoring Data),
  • maintenance of black coral habitat (habitat mapping)
  • and ecosystem service delivery (interviews and InVEST® ecosystem service modelling).

Fieldwork will be conducted on the island of Fourni. The research will contribute to a monitoring framework to systematically track the implementation and performance (governance, ecological and social) of the zone. This framework will be applied to both the community-led initiative in Fourni and the government-led marine parks, enabling a comparative analysis of their effectiveness.

Training:

Through these three (governance, ecological and social) research components, the PGR will develop as an interdisciplinary researcher. Training will be provided in social science data collection and qualitative/quantitative data analysis. The individual will develop field experience at Archipelagos Institute’s research base in Fourni.

About the candidate: 

We are seeking a resourceful individual with an enthusiasm to work across disciplines. Experience engaging with communities and conducting qualitative or quantitative data analyses are desirable.

Acceptable first degree subjects: Marine Biology, Conservation and Ecology or other relevant Environmental Science subject.

Supervisory Team 

References

  • Vlachopoulou, E. I., Wilson, A. M., & Miliou, A. (2013). Disconnects in EU and Greek fishery policies and practices in the eastern Aegean Sea and impacts on Posidonia oceanica meadows. Ocean & Coastal Management, 76, 105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2013.02.008
  • Said, A., MacMillan, D. C., Schembri, M., & Tzanopoulos, J. (2017). Fishing in a congested sea: What do marine protected areas imply for the future of the Maltese artisanal fleet? Applied Geography, 87, 245–255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2017.08.013
  • Alexopoulos, K., Grandjean, T. J., Miliou, A., Tsimpidis, T., & McQuatters‑Gollop, A. (2025). Is sparse local ecological knowledge accurate enough for policy? A seagrass mapping case study from five Greek islands in the Eastern Aegean Sea. Ocean & Coastal Management, 267, 107627. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.107627
  • Seary, R., Santora, J., Tommasi, D., Thompson, A., Bograd, S., Richerson, K., Brodie, S., Holland, D., et al. (2022). Revenue loss due to whale entanglement mitigation and fishery closures. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-24867-2  
  • Seary, R., Spencer, T., Bithell, M., & McOwen, C. (2021). Measuring mangrove‑fishery benefits in the Peam Krasaop Fishing Community, Cambodia. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 248, 106918. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2020.106918    

How to apply

To express your interest in this project you must submit a Kent ARIES Expression of Interest Form and a copy of their Curriculum Vitae (CV) to kentgrc@kent.ac.uk by 23:59 GMT on Wednesday 7 January 2026.

Step 1. Download a copy of the Kent ARIES Expression of Interest Form here. 

Step 2. Submit your completed form and a copy of your CV (no more than 2 pages) via email to kentgrc@kent.ac.uk.

Step 3. Complete the ARIES EDI Form 

You must complete all three steps to be considered for this project. 

DEADLINE: 23:59 GMT on Wednesday 7 January 2026.