Restoring Our Ocean: Commitment from the Top, Action from the Shore

Last Friday, October 3rd, we were thrilled to attend the Greek premiere of David Attenborough’s mind-blowing film OCEAN at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall – an evening awash with inspiration, frustration, fury and hope in equal measure but also celebrating our shared mission to protect the seas.

Organized by National Geographic Pristine Seas, Revive Our Ocean, and our sister organisation Cyclades Preservation Fund -CPF, the documentary showcases breathtaking underwater imagery, revealing the beauty of marine life and the catastrophic damage caused by overfishing and bottom trawling; but ultimately showing how life returns when the ocean is given space to heal.

The event marked the launch of Revive Our Ocean – Greece, which partners with local communities for the creation and management of new protected marine areas, restoring nature and strengthening local economies.

A 30×30 roundtable (the global target to protect 30% of oceans by 2030) gathered leading scientists, NGOs, officials and fishers to share ideas for the future of our seas.

The screening was introduced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, highlighting his personal commitment to ocean protection.

Earlier that day, members of the AEF Board joined the Prime Minister’s meeting with the Revive our Ocean delegation, where they presented opportunities for expanding marine protection in Greece.

As Charlie Burrell, member of the Argosaronic Environment Foundation, noted: “Collaboration across all levels is the tide that can turn the course for our beloved Aegean. Lasting impact requires commitment from the top, yet true transformation starts locally, through the engagement and empowerment of coastal communities”.

At the AEF, this is exactly what we stand for: supporting collaboration and empowering local action to protect and restore the sea, the life support system for all species on this planet, including our own.