Türkiye Accuses Greece of Illegal Fishing Zones in Maritime Dispute

Türkiye has accused Greece of illegally declaring fishing restriction zones in parts of the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean beyond its jurisdiction, saying the move violates international law. Ankara rejected the maps published by Greek authorities, calling them legally invalid and warning they could restrict Turkish fishermen’s activities. Despite the dispute, Türkiye said it remains open to resolving maritime disagreements with Greece through diplomacy and in line with international law and good neighbourly relations.

Türkiye has accused Greece of establishing fishing ban zones in parts of the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean where Ankara says Athens has no legal authority, describing the move as a breach of international law and established maritime practice.
In a written statement issued on Tuesday, the Turkish foreign ministry said it had reviewed maps published on Greece’s Fisheries Monitoring Directorate’s official website. According to Türkiye, these maps designate restricted fishing areas that extend beyond what it considers Greece’s lawful jurisdiction, effectively creating boundaries that Ankara rejects as legally unfounded.
The ministry argued that the maritime boundaries shown in the maps include “non-existent” or “imaginary” demarcations between Türkiye and Greece in both the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean. It maintained that such representations distort established jurisdictional limits and therefore cannot be regarded as having any legal standing or validity under international law.
Ankara further stated that it considers any unilateral fishing restrictions imposed by Greece beyond its 6-nautical-mile territorial waters to be invalid. It insisted that such restrictions also apply to areas outside national jurisdiction, including international waters, where no single state has exclusive authority to regulate fishing activities in the manner described.
Türkiye also warned that it would not accept what it called unlawful measures that could interfere with the legitimate activities of Turkish fishermen. It emphasized that these activities are protected under international law and supported by what it described as historical rights in the region, reinforcing its position that such restrictions are unacceptable.
At the same time, the Turkish foreign ministry stressed that Ankara remains committed to resolving disputes with Greece through diplomatic channels. It reiterated its preference for dialogue conducted in line with international law, principles of equity, and good neighbourly relations. In this context, it referred to the Athens Declaration on Friendly Relations and Good Neighbourliness, signed on December 7, 2023, as a framework for maintaining constructive engagement between both countries despite ongoing disagreements.