Thracian Sea · Northern Greece · Active Operation
Octopus Traps
Removed
Illegal traps are wiping out Greece's octopus population. The Sea Eagle is pulling them up one by one.
- Illegal traps removed in Greece since 2024
- 51,946
- Octopuses released since 2024
- 2,894
- Traps removed in 2026 so far
- 10,446
Sea Shepherd / The Operation
From Italy to Greece
Sea Shepherd's octopus campaign began in Italy and moved to northern Greece, where illegal trap lines run to the horizon.
The Sea Eagle works at the invitation of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, alongside the Hellenic Association of Ichthyologists and the Greek Coastguard. The objective is simple: remove every trap and repeat what happened in Italy, where octopus numbers began to rebound once the pressure stopped.
The lawTrap fishing is prohibited in Greek waters from July through September. Every trap found in that period is illegal, and every trap pulled is one less kill.
-
2022 Tuscany, Italy
7,672
illegal traps hauled from the Tuscan Reserve in a single season. Poachers complied out of fear of confiscation and octopus numbers began to rebound.
-
2024 Northern Greece
6,500+
traps and 32 miles of rope pulled by the Conrad and the Emanuel Bronner in three weeks, with more than 570 octopuses freed. The problem was bigger than anything seen in Italy.
-
2025 Thracian Sea
34,500+
traps and 179 miles of rope removed by the Sea Eagle in a record season, with more than 1,500 octopuses released.
-
2026 Thracian SeaNow
10,446
more traps removed and 739 octopuses released by day 28 of the season.
51,946illegal traps removed
2,894octopuses released
In Greece since 2024
Sea Shepherd / The Threat
What the Traps Do
- 01
Killing at industrial scale
Trap lines run to the horizon. Tens of thousands of cages sit on the seafloor during the months when trap fishing is banned, catching octopuses that have no chance of escape.
- 02
Pollution on the seabed
Lost and abandoned traps become permanent pollution. Ghost gear keeps killing long after the boats that set it are gone.
- 03
Populations pushed toward collapse
Unchecked trapping pushes octopus populations toward collapse across the Mediterranean. Italy showed recovery is possible when the pressure stops.
- 04
No enforcement without presence
The scale of illegal trapping in Greece was unknown until Sea Shepherd arrived. Without a ship on station, poachers face no consequence.
Sea Shepherd / On the Water
What Our Crews Do
Long days on deck, every trap inspected and every animal returned to the sea.
Trap retrieval
Winch-assisted hauling of illegal trap lines. Ten-hour days, with the deck stacked every night with confiscated gear.
Wildlife release
Each trap is inspected before disposal. Octopuses and any other marine life go back into the sea alive.
Seafloor mapping
Crews work with the Hellenic Association of Ichthyologists to document trap density and guide enforcement.
Working with authorities
The Sea Eagle operates under Greek Coastguard instruction at the invitation of the regional government. The goal is compliance, not confrontation.
Sea Shepherd / Gallery
From the Deck
Sea Shepherd / Octopus Rescue
Keep the Sea Eagle in Greece
The Sea Eagle stays on station because supporters pay for the fuel, the crew and the gear. Every day at sea means more traps off the seabed and more octopuses back in the water.
51,946 illegal traps removed since 2024
Give every month and join the Direct Action Crew. Other ways to give: stock, DAF, crypto and more.
