Round Table Conversation in Corfu – Thalassa Mas

Thalassa Mas — A dialogue for the future of the Ionian Sea

📍 Corfu, February 2026

The Ionian Environment Foundation organised its first Round Table conversation in Corfu, creating an open space for dialogue about the Ionian Sea and the people who interact with it every day.

Professional and recreational fishers, divers, and members of the local community came together to share their observations, concerns, and ideas about the marine environment.

The meeting took place in Faliraki, Corfu, a traditional fishing area, in a venue kindly provided by the Municipality of Central Corfu and the Diapontia Islands. It was facilitated by Sophia Michalopoulou, Steering Committee Member of the Ionian Environment Foundation and mediator with the London Society of Mediators, and was organised in a circle format so that all participants had equal space and time to speak.

A circle where all voices are heard

The conversation began with a simple question: “What does our sea mean to you?”

The responses highlighted the deep connection of the participants with the sea, as a memory, their livelihood, their identity, and a way of life. Fishers who grew up on the water, divers so familiar with the seabed around Corfu, and citizens who simply cannot imagine life away from the sea shared personal experiences and stories. The conversation unfolded in an atmosphere of trust, where people who do not often meet, such as professional and recreational fishers, were able to speak and exchange perspectives on equal terms.

Observing the changes at sea

The discussion then turned to the changes participants are observing in the marine environment. Participants spoke about:

  • fewer large fish
  • increasing human pressure on coastal areas
  • more boats and anchoring activity
  • impacts on seagrass meadows
  • pollution, microplastics and invasive species

 

A shared understanding emerged that these changes are not caused by a single factor, but by many small pressures accumulating over time.

From concerns to ideas

The final part of the discussion focused on possible actions. Among the proposals discussed were:

  • seabed and coastal clean-ups
  • mapping areas where ghost nets and pollution are found
  • collaboration between local associations
  • volunteer initiatives and community awareness
  • environmental education for children

These ideas emerged directly from the practical knowledge of people who spend their lives at sea.

Left to right: Stamatios Louvros, Professional Fisherman; Grigoris Papageorgiou, President of the Corfu Amateur Fishermen Association (PASFYTHEA); Spyridon Poulimenos, Secretary of PASFYTHEA; Sophia Michalopoulou, Founder of Mermaids Corfu, IEF SC Member and Mediator; Dimitra Tsoukala, Marine Biologist and Professional Diver; Vasilis Tsoukalas, Professional Diver and Fisherman; Angelos Moumouris, Professional Diver and Fisherman; Petros Lavranos, Corfu Chamber of Commerce, Environmental Association of Yllikos Port. Also present: Dr. Simon Karythis Ex. Director of IED & Spyridon Katsaros, Professional Fisherman.

What emerged from the meeting in Corfu

This first meeting in Corfu created a new space for dialogue between people who live and work around the sea.

Professional and recreational fishers, divers, and members of the local community exchanged experiences and shared ideas for practical actions and collaboration.

For the Ionian Environment Foundation, this meeting marks the beginning of a broader effort to strengthen local capacity and build a network of cooperation for the protection of the Ionian Sea.